Newfoundland Discovery

Arrive in St. John’s, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador province and pick up your rental vehicle. The rest of the day is at leisure exploring.

Spend the day sightseeing in and around St. John’s. Perhaps discover ‘the Rooms’, home an extensive collection of artefacts, art and archival records. Drive up Signal Hill for spectacular views over the harbour and visit the quaint fishing village of Quidi Vidi, famed for it’s colourful cottages and local brewery. Take a trip out to Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site, the most easterly point in North America.

Drive to Bay Bulls to take a boat excursion to see whales and the Atlantic puffin – if you are lucky you may even spot an iceberg. The best time to see the iconic humpback whales is during July and August however, whales can be spotted from May to September. Along the way explore the little villages that dot the coastline. After your whale watching excursion you may want to continue to Cape St. Mary’s Ecological reserve. The reserve is settled by thousands of sea birds nestled along the rocky shore’s edge, including thousands of northern gannets. Return to St John’s this evening.

Today make your way to Trinity on the beautiful Bonavista Peninsula. You may wish to take the opportunity to drive to New Bonaventure to visit the film set of ‘Random Passage’, a mini-series outlining the story of the trials and tribulations of early settlers. The site today provides the opportunity to step back in time and experience what life might have been like in a fishing outpost in the early 1800s.

Explore the enchanting village of Trinity with its restored white and pastel coloured clapboard houses. Set along a dramatic coastline, here you’ll discover a sense of Newfoundland’s history and nature. Join the Trinity Pageant (Wed & Sat only), a walking theatre that meanders through the village enticing viewers to live the history of the area. If you’re feeling active, hike the short but steep 20-minute trail up Gun Hill for spectacular 360 degree views of the Trinity and surrounding areas.

Recommended is a trip to Port Rexton to hike the Skerwink Trail. This easy walking trail will take you along the rugged coastline for spectacular views of the surrounding villages, set against a backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean. Perhaps also visit the Ryan Premises National Historic Site at Bonavista, a 19th century replica fish processing factory. Nearby you will also find the red and white striped Bonavista Lighthouse, and the Matthew Legacy, a replica of John Cabot’s ship which voyaged across the Atlantic to discover land in 1497.

Enroute to Twillingate, pass through Terra Nova National Park and explore the expansive coniferous forests, ponds, and walking trails. Take a stop in Boyd’s Cove to visit the Beothuk Interpretation Centre and an ancient Beothuk village, discovered by archaeologists in the 1980s. On arrival in Twillingate, take your camera and head out on afternoon Iceberg Watch boat tour. You will have an opportunity to spot icebergs, whales and take in beautiful views.

Head west today to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gros Morne National Park. This wild and rugged landscape was shaped by colliding continents and ancient glaciers, and is scattered with little villages, bare-topped mountains, fjords and dense forests populated by moose and caribou.

Enjoy a scenic boat tour on Western Brook Pond, a landlocked fjord surrounded by deep rock walls and home to plenty of wildlife and waterfalls. This stunning fjord was carved by glaciers 25,000 to 10,000 years ago. The rest of the day is free to explore the sites of the Gros Morne National Park.

Spend a full day exploring the stunning Gros Morne National Park. Discover glacial valleys, intriguing rock formations, magnificent sea arches and numerous types of wildlife. Witness the internationally known Tablelands, a rare outcrop of the Earth’s mantle pushed skyward half a billion years ago.

Today you’ll follow the Viking Trail route north to St. Anthony. Allow time for a stop in Port Au Choix and Port Au Choix National Historic Site where three ancient cemeteries of the Maritime Archaic People were discovered. The Visitor Centre gives great background to this culture with exhibits and artefacts.

Take a short drive to visit the L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, the remains of the earliest European settlement in the Americas. Many of the artefacts uncovered from the 1960s excavation of the Vinland colony and are on display and supported by a film. Walk to the original village and discover the full scale replicas of Norse buildings. Return to St. Anthony for the night.

Make your way back down the peninsula to Norris Point, your base at the gateway to Gros Morne National Park. Perhaps stop off at Jenniex House, a traditional salt box house that has been restored as a museum, gift shop and cafe, with fantastic views of Bonne Bay and the Tablelands. The Tablelands were designated a World Heritage Site in 1987 to acknowledge its geological diversity and striking barren shapes.

Upon check-out of your hotel drive to Deer Lake Airport where your Newfoundland discovery ends.