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Magnificent Newfoundland tour
16 nights
Newfoundland has hundreds of little towns and thousands of guts, coves, and bays. Every little place has its own charm, its own personality, and its own collection of colourful characters. Which leaves you with plenty of places to visit, big and small.
The Lighthouses of Newfoundland are symbolic of the rich history, ties to the sea and enduring spirit of the people of Newfoundland. Revisit the past and discover the legends of daring rescues, fearsome storms and seafaring folk. This journey provides a glimpse into the hardships and triumphs of the steadfast lighthouse keepers and the remarkable structures they called home.
Wendy Driver has written a fantastic article for the Daily Mail on this trip. Click here to read about her adventure.
Holiday idea
| Day 1 |
Arrive in St John’s, collect your rental car and explore the oldest city in North America. This historical, vibrant city has many attractions with the added bonus of a wide selection of restaurants from fine dining to traditional Newfoundland fayre, St. John's has the highest concentration of pubs per capita on the continent and a visit to the infamous George Street is a must! Enjoy a city tour of St. John's - highlights include Quidi Vidi Village, Government House and Signal Hill to name a few! This evening perhaps enjoy dinner theatre, an evening of hilarious wit, musical talent, character interaction and sumptuous food. Overnight St. John's at Leaside Manor. |
| Day 2 |
Depart St. John's along the scenic coastal drive north to Brigus. En route visit Conception Bay - on a clear day you will be able to see the still active Bell Island Lighthouse. Continue on to the charming town of Brigus - once residence of the world famous northern explorer Captain Bob Bartlett. Overnight St. John's at Leaside Manor. |
| Day 3 |
Depart St. John's along the Irish Loop to the scenic Avalon Peninsula, the home of 5,500 woodland caribou. En route visit Cape Spear - the most easterly point in North America. Continue along the south shore via Ferryland where you will experience a picnic like to other! This unique experience offers exquisite food at one of the most beautiful locations in the world - Ferryland Head. If time permits, drive on to Canada's most significant landfall marker - Cape Race Lighthouse. On April 14th 1912 this station received the distress calls from the HMS Titanic. Continue back to Witless Bay. Overnight Witless Bay at Elaines Bed and Breakfast. |
| Day 4 |
Take a morning cruise to view puffins before driving the western shore of the Avalon Peninsula to Cape St. Mary's. Take time to visit the Ecological Reserve Seabird Sanctuary. Continue back to Witless Bay. Overnight Witless Bay at Elaines Bed and Breakfast. |
| Day 5 | Depart Witless Bay westward along the Burin Peninsula to Marystown. The Burin Peninsula was once a haven for smugglers; pirates and privateers. In 1942 two American warships ran aground just offshore during a terrible storm, losing 203 lives. Overnight Marystown at the Marystown Hotel. |
| Day 6 | Drive north through the scenic Bonavista Peninsula on to the cultural capital of Newfoundland - Trinity. Trinity is renowned for its unique historical architecture including the Ryan Store, Hiscock House and the Blacksmith Museum. Trinity also hosts the New Founde Lande Trinity Pageant - a humorous look at Nwefoundland & Labrador history. Overnight Trinity at the Fishers Loft Inn. |
| Day 7 |
Enjoy a whale watching cruise of Trinity Bay. Afternoon at leisure to explore the Bonavista Bay further. Be sure to visit the Ryan's Premises and learn about the history of the fishery in Newfoundland. Also visit Cape Bonavista Lighthouse - a National Historic Site. Overnight Trinity at the Fishers Loft Inn. |
| Day 8 |
Depart Trinity and take a leisurely drive through Terra Nova National Park, a beautiful example of typical Newfoundland landscape, sheltered bays, rugged ocean coastline and rolling forested hills. Keep an eye out for ospreys, eagles, lynx and moose. Continue onto Notre Dame Bay. Take time this afternoon to visit the 1876 still active Long Point Lighthouse near Twillingate. Overnight Notre Dame Bay at the Bluewater Lodge. |
| Day 9 |
Depart Notre Dame Bay through the scenic Exploits Valley and continue west via Deer Lake. Take the Biking Trail north through Gros Morne National Park and see the landscape changing as you pass through many small communities before arriving at Hawkes Bay. Overnight Hawkes Bay at the Torrent River Inn. |
| Day 10 |
Continue along the Viking Trail stopping to visit Port au Choix National Historic Site and view the artifacts of the Maritime Archaic people. Continue on to Quirpon. Transfer by boat over to Quirpon Island. Your accommodation will be in the renovated 1922 Light keeper's home, adjacent to the still active 1884 Lighthouse. Overnight Quirpon Island at the Quirpon Lighthouse Inn, all meals included. |
| Day 11 |
Relax and enjoy your Quirpon Island Experience - a unique home away from home experience at the recently refurbished original 1922 light keeper's residence. Quirpon Island is one of Newfoundland's best locations for iceberg viewing as they drift the Labrador Current on their journey south. In season expect to see many whales including Minke and Humpbacks and maybe the Orca and Right whale. Overnight Quirpon Lighthouse Inn. |
| Day 12 |
Drive back down the Viking trail to Gros Morne National Park. Places en route to visit include; Portland Creek, the Arches lookout and the SS Ethie near Sally's Cove to see the remains of the shipwreck before arriving at Gros Morne National Park. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Stie since 1987 for it's impressive geological features. The 1805 sq kilometre park offers beauty and adventure that are unsurpassed by any in the world. Overnight Gros Morne National Park at the Red Mantle Inn. |
| Day 13 |
Today take time to fully explore this outstanding area of Newfoundland. Visit the impressive Discovery Centre in Woody Point, if time permits, visits the community of Trout River or take the stunning Western Brook Pond Fjord Boat Tour and see the dramtic ravine-like sides of this inland fjord tower over 600 metres above you. Take time to visit the still active 1987 Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse, located at the western entrance to Bonne Bay near Rocky Harbour. Overnight Gros Morne National Park at the Red Mantle Inn. |
| Day 14 | Depart Gros Morne National Park and drive to Corner Brook - Newfoundland's second city located on the south shore of the Humber Arm. Places to visit within Corner Brook are the City Museum, the Newfie Bullet Historic Train and the Captain James Cook Monument. Further afield visit the spectacular Bay of Islands, site of the former Frenchman's Head Lighthouse and the picturesque communities of Bottle Cove and Lark Harbour. Overnight Corner Brook at the Glynmill Inn. |
| Day 15 | Depart Corner Brook along the Three Rivers Scenic Drive southwest through the Codroy Valley. to Cape Anguille. Overnight at the Cape Anguille Lighthouse Inn. |
| Day 16 | Spend the day exploring. Visit the community of Rose Blanche, which has a rich Basque whaling history and later became inhabited by the French fishermen. Overnight at the Cape Anguille Lighthouse Inn. |
| Day 17 | Depart Cape Anguille and drive to Deer Lake Airport. Drop off your car in time for your flight home. |
More information
| Dates | 1 May to 31 October |
| Prices | From £1500 per person |
Recommended stay
Quirpon Lighthouse Inn
Located on Quirpon Island off the tip of L'Anse aux Meadows. Experence the unique island experience of staying in a 1922 lightkeeper’s home on the shores of ‘Iceberg Alley’, the perfect place to view icebergs as they drift southwards on the Labrador Current. The inn, a Registered Heritage Building has ten beautiful rooms in two houses at the base of an operating lighthouse. All meals and 1/2 hr boat transfers included in price.
| Dates | Contact us for further information. |
| Prices | Contact us for further information. |
Hike to Inn may be required depending on weather (hiking boots and suitable clothing may be required). Boat transfer departs from Quirpon Dock at 4 pm sharp. Please take only an overnight bag not suitcases. Kayak amongst the whales and icebergs ($75 per person, payable locally). Guide and equipment included.
Click here to go to the Maritime Provinces overview page