Newfoundland Discovery

The itinerary shown is an example of this self-drive holiday. We have many other hotels and route recommendations which can be tailored to your requirements. Please discuss with our Travel Specialists who can put together a bespoke itinerary for you.

Day 1: St. John’s

Arrive in St. John’s and pick up your rental vehicle. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 2: St. John’s

A morning of sightseeing in St. John’s. Discover ‘the Rooms’, drive up Signal Hill for spectacular views and take a trip out to Cape Spear National Historic Site, the most easterly point in North America. Visit one of the province’s most photographed places, Quidi Vidi Village just 3 km from St. John’s. You may want to stop at Quidi Vidi Brewery for a drink.

Day 3: St John’s - Avalon Peninsula - St John’s

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. 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.

Day 4: St John’s - Bonavista Peninsula - Trinity

Today embark on your journey to the Bonavista Peninsula. Visit the Ryan Premises National Historic Site, a 19th century replica fish processing factory. Other attractions include the red and white stripped Bonavista Lighthouse, and the Matthew Legacy, a replica of John Cabot’s ship which voyaged across the Atlantic to discover land in 1497.

Day 5: Trinity

Explore the enchanting village of Trinity with its restored white and pastel coloured clapboard houses. Set along a dramatic coastline you will 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.

Day 6: Trinity

Now that you have a sense of the area, venture to Port Rexton today and hike the Skerwink Trail. This easy walking trail will take you along the rugged coastline for spectacular view of the surrounding villages set against the ocean. In the afternoon, make your way to Bonaventure to visit the film set of ‘Random Passage’ a mini-series outlining the story of the trials and tribulations of a settling people.

Day 7: Trinity – Twillingate

Enroute to Twillingate, pass through Terra Nova National Park, home to coniferous forests, ponds, and a plethora of walking trails. Continue towards Twillingate. In Boyd’s Cove make another stop at the Beothuk Interpretive Centre and visit an ancient Beothuk village discovered by archaeologists in the 1980s. Arrive in Twillingate, grab your camera and head out on the ocean with the afternoon Iceberg Watch boat tour, where you will have an opportunity to see icebergs, whales, sunsets and many other spectacular views that the beautiful island of Twillingate has to offer.

Day 8: Twillingate - Norris Point

Bound for the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gros Morne National Park, words do not give the vistas justice. The park is populated by little villages, bare topped mountains and forests populated by moose and caribou.

Day 9: Norris Point - Western Brook Pond

The morning is free to explore the area with your rental car. Enjoy a boat tour of the freshwater fjord of Western Brook Pond. The landlocked fjord is a rare sight. Carved by glaciers, and home to plenty of waterfalls and wildlife, it's worth the trip alone. The rest of the day is free to explore the sites of the Gros Morne National Park.

Day 10: Gros Morne National Park

Enjoy a day exploring Gros Morne National Park on your own, viewing glacial valleys, intriguing rock formations, magnificent sea arches and numerous types of wildlife. Ensure you take a hike on the Lookout trail which provides panoramic views of the park, or take the Tablelands Hiking Trail, a 4 km track that cuts across the barren rock.

Day 11: Norris Point - St. Anthony

Heading toward St. Anthony, make 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.

Day 12: St. Anthony - L'Anse aux Meadows

Visit the L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site comprising the remains of the earliest European settlement in the Americas. The colony of Vinland was excavated in the 1960s and the artefacts are on display 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.

Day 13: St. Anthony - Steady Brook

Make your way back down the peninsula to Steady Brook. This picturesque community is surrounded by beautiful mountains with the Humber River flowing through its heart.

Day 14: Steady Brook - Deer Lake

Upon check out of your hotel drive to Deer Lake. Return your rental car and depart from Deer Lake Airport (local one way drop off fee applies).