Newfoundland & Labrador Explorer
SELF DRIVE TOURING
ST JOHN’S | TRINITY | TWILLINGATE | ROCKY HARBOUR | L’ANSE AU CLAIR | ST ANTHONY | COW HEAD | GANDER
Canada’s most eastern province celebrates European and First Nations histories amidst a diverse landscape of coastlines, mountains and ancient forests. This excellent introduction to Newfoundland and Labrador begins and ends on the island in the modern gateway city of St. John’s – a city in dynamic contrast to the colonial ports and fishing villages along the northern shores. Journeying along the coastlines of Labrador display some of the most rugged and raw meetings of ocean and shore in Canada, perfectly complemented by visits to the immaculate Great Northern Peninsula, Gros Morne National Park and the incredible experience of seeing icebergs and whales up close. This itinerary is ideal to be enjoyed either as a casual, stop-and-visit package or as a base to incorporate signature hikes and other outdoor adventures.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Maritime history of St. John's
- Go Iceberg Watching at St. Anthony
- Spectacular Gros Morne National Park
- The white sands of Shallow Bay Beach
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Your Itinerary
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Day 1
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Day 2
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Day 3
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Day 4
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Day 5
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Day 6
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Day 7
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Day 8
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Day 9
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Day 10
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Day 11
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Day 12
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Day 13
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Day 14-15
Day 1 : UK - St. John’s
Arrive at St. John’s International Airport collect your rental car and make your way to your centrally located hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to enjoy some of the local sights of Newfoundland and Labrador’s largest city. Overnight in St. John’s.
Day 2 : St. John’s
A full day is yours to explore this city that blends a proud Canadian Maritimes heritage with the amenities of a modern city. Perhaps you made choose to visit Signal Hill National Historic Site at the entrance to the city’s deep natural harbour, featuring preserved battlements from the earliest colonial days of Canada. Overnight in St. John’s.
Day 3 : St. John’s – Trinity (184 miles)
The road northward today travels through Iconic inlet villages of Clarenville and North West Brook, boasting the classic colours and architecture of Atlantic Canada. Take some time to stop and visit some of these towns for a quick break, or perhaps a delicious lunch of local fare. Overnight in Trinity.
Day 4 : Trinity
Local towns and villages offer a glimpse of the island’s past, such as the weather-beaten fishing houses of the small town site of New Bonaventure. The echoes of the 19th century still ring in the steeple of St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Trinity, just as the English Arts Harbour Centre celebrates crafts, traditional art and music of the island. Overnight in Trinity.
Day 5 : Trinity – Twillingate (192 miles)
Today’s journey travels through Terra Nova National Park on the way to the northern shores of the island. Photo opportunities abound at this small, but spectacular park. You may wish to stop for lunch in Gander at approximately the half way point to your destination of the waterside community of Twillingate. Overnight in Twillingate.
Day 6 : Twillingate
Embark on a two-hour narrated tour in search of icebergs and whales on a true Newfoundland cultural adventure. Explore Iceberg Alley and marvel at 12,000 year old Greenland icebergs on their epic journey from the Arctic Circle to Newfoundland and beyond. Hear the ice crack under the Newfoundland sun. Observe majestic humpback whales as they feed in Twillingate’s coastal waters and watch elegant seabirds frolic along the coastlines. Overnight in Twillingate.
Day 7 : Twillingate – Rocky Harbour (265 miles)
Crossing the top of the island, the road travels through small communities that live in close connection with the bountiful natural resources of the province. Perhaps plan to stop in the village of South Brook, its multicoloured houses adorning the steep hillsides. Pass through the gates of Gros Morne National Park to reach the coast and your overnight destination. Overnight in Rocky Harbour.
Day 8 : Rocky Harbour – L’Anse Au Clair (170 miles)
Today the road leads up the north coast of the island’s ‘finger’ peninsula where it narrows against the Labrador coast, creating the Gulf of St. Lawrence. A short ferry ride across the mouth of the bay reveals the untamed beauty of the eastward Atlantic Ocean as it continuously carves the shoreline. Overnight in L’Anse au Claire.
Day 9 : L’Anse Au Clair
The shores of Labrador are some of the most untamed, open-water shorelines in North America. Once a centre for whaling in the 19th century, the area is now a centre for historical and eco-tourism. Perhaps take a trip to Red Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that preserves some of the buildings and equipment essential to the European whaling industry at its height.
Overnight in L’Anse au Claire.
Day 10 : L’Anse Au Clair – St. Anthony (105 miles)
A short ferry ride across to the island begins the day before crossing the tip of the island en route to St. Anthony. An early arrival gives you a chance to explore the local amenities of this small village at the northern edge of Newfoundland. Overnight in St. Anthony.
Day 11 : St. Anthony
No trip to St. Anthony is complete without an afternoon at Fishing Point Municipal Park! This coastline park is famous for iceberg watching into the early summer, its iconic square lighthouse overlooking the waters. Local restaurants serve up local fare, making it the perfect place to spend the day. Overnight in St. Anthony.
Day 12 : St. Anthony – Cow Head (188 miles)
A return trip along the southern shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence gives you a second chance to visit the small coastal villages that populate the route. In Cow Head, take some time and lounge on Shallow Bay Beach – the white sands and clear waters inviting all visitors to spend some time under the sun. Overnight in Cow Head.
Day 13 : Cow Head – Gander (259 miles)
A return trip across the heart of the island to the riverside small city of Gander – a community celebrating its rich aviation history and ideal, central location in the province. The airport museum displays the town’s relation both to the earliest days of Canadian aviation, and later its importance as a flight staging area during World War 2. Overnight in Gander.
Day 14-15 : Gander – St.John’s (206 miles) - UK
Today your tour comes to an end as you drive back to St. John’s International Airport for your flight home.
