Holidays in Newfoundland and Labrador

It’s entirely possibly that Newfoundland and Labrador will be like nowhere else you have ever visited. Mother Nature reigns supreme over colourful fishing villages, a rich provincial heritage, abundant wildlife and seabirds and a province with its own time zone, that’s only a five-hour flight from London!

St. John’s is the colourful capital city and one the of the oldest in North America. Vividly painted houses sit shoulder to shoulder, packed together on the steep hillsides and cascading down the narrow alleyways to the harbour.

Gros Morne National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was 485 million years in creation. A hike through the park will take you over the vivid red crust of the earth’s mantle whilst a boast trip will take you through fjords carved by glaciers, millions of years ago. In comparison a visit to the relatively young L’Anse aux Meadows, is to stand where the Vikings once stood over 1,000 years ago. This, another of the provinces UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is the only authenticated Norse site in North America.

For many however Newfoundland is synonymous with Iceberg Alley, and Twillingate embodies this and so much more. Here you’ll find a stunning, rugged coastline and sea water teaming with whales, dolphins, harp seals and seabirds. At the right time of the year, it’s also here that you will find icebergs, for this is perfect spot to see the icebergs serenely float past on the Greenland Current.

St John's City Break

Day 1

Depart the UK, on arrival in St John's make your own way to your hotel.

Day 2

Spend the day exploring the city, visit Signal Hill and Cape Spear. In the evening check out the local folk music in one of the many venues.

Day 3

Spend the day on a whale watching trip.

Day 4

Make your own way to the airport for your return flight home.

Newfoundland Discovery

Day 1 - Arrive St John's

Depart the UK on your chosen scheduled flight to St. John’s. Upon arrival, collect your rental car and proceed to your hotel, located in the heart of town.

Day 2 - St.John's

Spend the day exploring the city

Day 3 - Avalon Peninsula

Explore the local area, visit Signal Hill

Day 4 - Bonavista

Leaving the city, embark on a journey into the Bonavista Peninsula. In the small town of Bonavista, visit the Ryan Premises National Historic Site, the red and white striped Bonavista Lighthouse and the Matthew Legacy, a replica of John Cabot’s ship which voyaged across the Atlantic to find land in 1497.

Day 5 - Trinity

Following an overnight in Trinity, spend your day exploring the enchanting village, with its restored pastel coloured clapboard houses. Join the Trinity Pageant, a walking theatre that meanders through the village enticing viewers to live the history of the area.

Day 6 - Port Rexton

Now that you have a sense of the area, venture to Port Rexton and hike the Skerwink Trail. This easy walking trail will take you along the rugged coastline for spectacular views of the surrounding villages. In the afternoon, perhaps visit Bonaventure before returning to Trinity.

Day 7 - Twillingate

Today is a scenic drive via Terra Nova National Park, home to coniferous forests, ponds, and a plethora of walking trails, to Boyd’s Cove. Here you can visit the ancient Beothuk village, which was discovered by archaeologists in the 1980’s. Once in Twillingate, why not include an afternoon Iceberg Watch boat tour for an opportunity to see icebergs, whales and a beautiful sunset?

Day 8 / 9 - Gros Morne National Park

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gros Morne National Park is spectacular. The park is home to quaint villages, bare topped mountains and forests populated by moose and caribou. Visit the village of Rocky Harbour and take a short hike to Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse. Ensure you include Lookout Trail which provides panoramic views of the park, and Tablelands Hiking Trail which cuts across the barren rock. Your accommodation is located in Norris Point.

Day 10 / 11 - Main Brook & L’Anse aux Meadows

Heading toward St. Anthony, make a stop at Port Au Choix National Historic Site where three ancient cemeteries of the Maritime Archaic People were discovered. On the second day, visit L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, the earliest European settlement in the Americas. We suggest a walk to the original village to see the full scale replicas of Norse buildings.

Day 12 / 13 - Steady Brook

Make your way back down the peninsula to Steady Brook. This picturesque community is surrounded by beautiful mountains and has the Humber River flowing through its heart. We’ve included a second day so you can explore the Humber Valley and Bay of Islands.

Day 14 - Grand Falls-Windsor

Crossing the island into central Newfoundland, an oasis awaits in the tranquil setting of Grand Falls-Windsor.

Day 15 - St. John’s

It is over 250 miles back to St. John’s, but a wonderfully scenic drive, and you are rewarded with another evening in the capital city.

Iceberg Alley

Day 1 St. John’s |

Arrival Arrive in St. John’s and pick up your rental vehicle. You may have a late arrival so the rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 2 Avalon Peninsula | Whale Watching, Puffins | 66 km/42 mi

Spend the day exploring the stunning coastline and the little villages of the Avalon Peninsula. Start your day driving to Bay Bulls for a boat excursion to see whales and the Atlantic Puffin - if you are lucky you may even spot an iceberg (May/June only). From Bay Bulls follow the Irish Loop to Ferryland, the home of the original Colony of Avalon founded by George Calvert, later Lord Baltimore, in 1621. The site of the Ferryland settlement is now being excavated, and archaeologists have uncovered over a million artifacts from the stone constructed buildings including gold rings, Portuguese ceramics, and other unusual objects. (breakfast included)

Day 3 St. John’s to Trinity | 269 km/167 mi

Today embark on your journey to the Bonavista Peninsula, known for its scenic and rugged coastlines. The peninsula also contains some of the oldest settlements in Newfoundland, particularly the towns of Bonavista and Trinity. Before settling in to your accommodation for the night, you may want to drive 20 minutes south of Trinity to New Bonaventure and visit the Random Passage Site. Constructed in 2000 for the filming of the international TV mini-series “Random Passage”, 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.(breakfast included)

Day 4 Trinity | Bonavista Penninsula

Sightseeing 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, a walking theatre that meanders through the village enticing viewers to live the history of the area. Time permitting , venture to Port Rexton today and hike the Skerwink Trail. This very walkable trail will take you along the rugged coastline for a spectacular view of the surrounding villages set against the ocean. You may also want to head north to the town of Bonavista, where you can visit the Ryan Premises National Historic Site, a 19th century replica fish processing factory. In this small village 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. (breakfast included)

Day 5 Trinity to Twillingate | 309 km/192 mi

Enroute to Twillingate, pass through Terra Nova National Park. If you feel the need to commune with nature, a stop will introduce you 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 then 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. (Breakfast included) Day 6 Twillingate to Gander | 112 km/70 mi Today drive the short distance to Gander International Airport where your Newfoundland discovery ends