St. Philip’s Harbour Webcam – Watch Newfoundland’s Coast

The St. Philip’s Harbour Webcam looks out over the Broad Cove marina on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula, where small fishing and leisure boats sit tied up along a working wharf. Conception Bay opens out beyond the breakwater, with the rocky shoreline of Broad Cove running off to one side and a scattering of sheds and parking area filling the near ground. The scene shifts with the tide and the season. Calm mornings show the harbour at its stillest, afternoons often bring a light chop and passing boat traffic, and in midsummer the water along the beach turns silver when capelin roll ashore by the thousand. Watch long enough and the changing light off Conception Bay becomes the real subject of the frame.

About St. Philip’s Harbour

St. Philip’s is part of the town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s, a seashore community on the Avalon Peninsula about 15 minutes’ drive from St. John’s, the provincial capital. The town covers 56.43 square kilometers (21.79 square miles) of coastline along Conception Bay and had a population of 8,415 at the 2021 census.

The harbour sits at Broad Cove, where the Broad Cove River meets the sea in a sheltered pool used for launching boats. It was once a working fishery marina, and today it serves mostly leisure sailing, kayaking, and scuba diving, with a beach of typical Newfoundland beach rock immediately beside the wharf. The town has held an annual Regatta on this water since the 1870s, pausing only during wartime.

St. Philip’s and the wider Portugal Cove area are among the oldest settled places in Newfoundland. Portuguese fishermen are credited with founding the settlement, which takes its name from Portugal, and Broad Cove itself was settled in 1790 by John Squires and Robin Tucker, who split the cove between them. The community was attacked and burned by the French in 1696, and local tradition holds that the first road built outside St. John’s ran through here. Portugal Cove is also where Newfoundland’s giant squid, the source of the province’s kraken legends, was first documented and brought ashore.

Weather and Climate in St. Philip’s

The nearest official weather station, at St. John’s International Airport just down the coast, gives a reliable picture of conditions on this stretch of the Avalon Peninsula. Winters run cold and windy, with January averaging a high of about -0.7 C (30.7 F) and a low near -7.8 C (18 F). The region also collects roughly 363 centimeters (143 inches) of snow across the year, and pack ice can rim the shoreline in the coldest weeks. Spring arrives slowly, with April highs only reaching about 5.6 C (42.1 F) as the last snow clears.

Summer is the harbour’s busiest season, with July and August highs around 20.9 C (69.6 F) and 20.8 C (69.4 F) and the water at its calmest for the boats moored in frame. This is also when capelin spawn along Broad Cove Beach next to the marina. Fall brings the sharpest change, with October highs near 11.2 C (52.2 F) and the first cold fronts off the Atlantic. Year round, the coast is among the foggiest in Canada, averaging around 124 foggy days a year, and steady onshore winds averaging 24.3 kilometers per hour (15.1 mph) can put a chop on the harbour even on an otherwise calm-looking day.

Things to Do Near St. Philip’s Harbour

The Bell Island passenger and car ferry leaves from the Portugal Cove terminal, about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the St. Philip’s wharf, and takes roughly 20 minutes to cross Conception Bay to Bell Island. Bell Island’s Wabana mines once made it one of the world’s largest iron ore producers, and the Bell Island Community Museum, built over the old No. 2 Mine, runs guided underground tours from early June to late September. Nearby, two Second World War coastal defense guns still stand near the ferry port, installed after German U-boats torpedoed four ore carriers in Conception Bay in 1942, an event remembered locally as the Battle of Bell Island and one of the few enemy attacks to strike North American soil during the war. The island’s Gregory Normore Coastal Walking Trails follow the shoreline past its lighthouse and sea cliffs.

Back on the mainland side, the East Coast Trail runs directly through Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s. The Broad Cove River Trail follows the river past the marina, the Botanical Interpretive Hike links St. Philip’s to Beachy Cove’s small beach and waterfall, and the Brock Head path climbs Prince’s Mountain for views back over both harbours and, in season, a chance to spot whales and seabirds working Conception Bay.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

For more harbour views from Atlantic Canada, try these live cameras.

• St. John’s Webcam
• Halifax Waterfront Webcam
• Baddeck Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is St. Philip’s located?

St. Philip’s is part of the town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula, in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, about 15 minutes’ drive northwest of St. John’s.

What can you see on the St. Philip’s Harbour Webcam?

The camera looks across the Broad Cove marina, with fishing and leisure boats moored along the wharf and Conception Bay open beyond the breakwater. In midsummer, capelin can be seen spawning on the beach next to the harbour.

What is the weather like in St. Philip’s?

Winters are cold and windy, with January highs averaging about -0.7 C (30.7 F), while summers are mild, with July highs near 20.9 C (69.6 F). The coast is foggy for roughly 124 days a year and sees steady onshore winds.

How do you get to Bell Island from St. Philip’s?

The Bell Island ferry leaves from the Portugal Cove terminal, about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from St. Philip’s Harbour, and crosses Conception Bay in about 20 minutes.

Is there a beach near St. Philip’s Harbour?

Yes. Broad Cove Beach sits immediately beside the wharf, a rocky Newfoundland beach that draws visitors in mid-summer when capelin roll ashore.

What is the history of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s?

The area is among Newfoundland’s oldest settlements, credited to Portuguese fishermen and settled at Broad Cove in 1790. It was burned by the French in 1696 and is where the province’s giant squid, the source of its kraken legend, was first documented.

Can you go hiking near St. Philip’s?

Yes. The East Coast Trail runs through town, including the Broad Cove River Trail, the Botanical Interpretive Hike to Beachy Cove, and the Brock Head path up Prince’s Mountain.

Who operates the St. Philip’s Harbour Webcam?

The camera is run by the Harbour Authority of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s, which manages the Broad Cove marina.

Source: Harbour Authority of Portugal Cove – St. Philip’s