Welcome to Newfoundland and Labrador, Atlantic Canada, located on the most easterly edge of North America.
This is where the sun rises, and Vikings landed over 1,000 years ago.
This province is home to the oldest European settlement and one of the oldest cities in North America, but it is also one of the youngest provinces in Canada.
A vast land with a relatively small population, Newfoundland and Labrador has some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet.
Within this travel guide, I will share my experience of going on a road trip around Newfoundland and Labrador and what I got up to.
Here, you can experience a solitary wilderness one day and immerse yourself in a vibrant culture the next.
This is a land of rich history and natural wonders: stunning coastlines, breaching whales, icebergs, and some of the most incredible landscapes you’ll ever see.
Newfoundland and Labrador are perfect places to enjoy outdoor adventures like hiking and kayaking in the late spring, summer, and fall and snowboarding, skiing, and snowmobiling in the winter.
From vibrant cities to quaint, historical outports, mountain ranges, rivers, waterfalls, and winding coastlines — there are always fascinating places to see and countless things to do.
Let’s explore Newfoundland and Labrador!
Fly into Deer Lake and Head to Gros Morne National Park
We arrived at Deer Lake Airport, picked up our rental car from Hertz, and were ready to start our adventure.
After checking in at the Holiday Inn Express Deer Lake to drop off our bags and freshen up, we hit the road, heading towards Woody Point in Gros Morne National Park.
The drive was beautiful, and the landscape became more stunning as we approached the park. We couldn’t wait to explore!
Parks Canada Discover Centre, Woody Point, Lookout Trail
Our first stop was the Parks Canada Discover Centre in Woody Point, where we started our day with an overview of Gros Morne National Park.
The exhibits gave us a good understanding of the park’s unique geology, wildlife, and cultural history.
From here, you can easily hike up to the Lookout Trail. I highly recommend this to be your first trail of the trip, as it’s a good one to start on.
From the top, you will be rewarded with stunning panoramic views of Bonne Bay and the Tablelands, complete with those iconic Parks Canada red chairs you might have seen before at popular lookout points across Canada.
Hiking around the Tablelands of Gros Morne National Park
One of the must-do activities in the park is walking the Tablelands Trail.
This 4.8-mile out-and-back trail leads through the barren, orange, rugged rock landscape – it felt like we were walking around on Mars!
This area is one of the few places on Earth where you can walk on the planet’s mantle.
The trail was easy to navigate, and there were boardwalks on parts of the trail.
Take the Eastern Point Trail
After the Tablelands, we headed towards the nearby Eastern Point Trail.
This is an easy 1.5-mile out-and-back trail that will take you along the spectacular, scenic, and rugged coastline in the sun.
Hold on to your hat; it might get windy!
You’ll have fabulous views of the Trout River and the Bay from here, making it the perfect spot for an epic selfie.
Enjoy a sunset at Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse
After our three hikes, we drove to Lobster Cove Head to end our day.
This cove is home to a century-old lighthouse – Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse.
If you want to hike more, several trails wind through Tuckamore forests and along the coast.
Known for its history and scenic beauty, this is a popular spot for photographers, especially at sunset, so make sure you plan your visit well in advance.
Make your way to Rocky Harbour
We took a short drive around the cove to Rocky Harbour. Here, you’ll find plenty of options to eat with stunning harbour views.
There’s no shortage of options to enjoy Newfoundland cuisine and the local flavours.
I recommend checking out Buoy & Arrow Restaurant for dinner. They do a massive lobster roll if you’re brave enough to take on the challenge. I opted for the smaller version, and that was plenty for me.
Check out the great outdoors with Under the Stump ATV Adventure
Our next activity for the day was an ATV adventure with Under the Stump.
We met our guide, Trina, and then set off on a side-by-side ATV through the rugged terrain.
Trina shared stories from the indigenous elders and taught us about wilderness survival.
Views of the impressive Gros Morne National Park fjord accompanied this.
I loved how Trina made us feel at home in the outdoors. We even got invited to her cabin to make a fire, put together a wild cocktail using the berries we picked earlier, and eat homemade venison soup and fish cakes. It was a delightful experience.
Explore the Western Brook Pond by Bontours Fjord Boat Trip
Visit the Western Brook Pond trail, where we took a 1.9-mile walk over marshland filled with unique plants like butterworts, pitcher plants, and orchids.
The trail was beautiful, with plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife.
Make sure you time the hike with the boat departure, as the walk itself can be around 40 minutes and has no car access.
At the trail’s end, we cruised through the glacier-carved fjord with BonTours.
This is by far the best way to see the fjords up close from the boat’s top deck.
The towering cliffs and waterfalls were outstanding, and we even got close enough to feel the spray from some of the highest falls in eastern North America.
Check out the Arches Provincial Park
Then we headed to Arches Provincial Park, a quick stop that was well worth seeing.
The park is home to impressive natural rock arches formed by thousands of years of wave erosion.
We spent some time exploring the area, taking photos of the unique formations against the backdrop of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Port Au Choix National Historic Site
Our final stop was the Port au Choix National Historic Site, where we learned about 6,000 years of human history, a UNESCO world heritage site.
This rugged coastline was once home to the Maritime Archaic, Dorset, Groswater, and Beothuk people.
They were drawn to the area by the abundance of resources provided by the sea.
The archaeological finds here are fascinating, and walking through the site gave us a deep sense of Newfoundland’s cultural history.
Taking the ferry to Labrador to Stay in Red Bay
We took the ferry to Labrador and stayed in Red Bay – a town with plenty of history and natural beauty.
We checked in at Whaler’s Restaurant & Cabins, a family-run place right by the water with views of whales and icebergs (if you’re there in season).
After settling in, we visited the Red Bay National Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we learned about the 16th-century Basque whalers who once worked here.
Then, we went on the Saddle Island Boat Tour, which helped bring the whaling history to life.
If you’re interested in hiking, I recommend the Boney Shore Trail or the Tracy Hill Trail. Both have stunning views of the coastline.
Lastly, we joined the Whalers Quest Ocean Boat Tour to explore more of the area’s unique history and marine life.
Head to the top of Point Amour Lighthouse
Next on our itinerary was Point Amour Lighthouse.
Located on the south coast of Labrador on the limestone cliffs, we climbed the 132 steps to the top for beautiful panoramic views of the Strait of Belle Isle.
This is the tallest lighthouse in Atlantic Canada!
After enjoying the scenery, we hiked along the coast to the HMS Raleigh shipwreck site, where we could hunt for fossils.
Nearby, the Maritime Archaic Funerary Monument marks the 7,500-year-old burial site of a young child and includes various ancient artefacts.
Visiting L’anse Aux Meadows – the Viking UNESCO site
Our journey continued to L’Anse aux Meadows, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and North America’s only verified Norse settlement.
At the Viking Encampment, we tried our hand at blacksmithing and weaving and gathered around the skáli (kitchen) to listen to stories of Thor, Loki, and Erik the Red, which brought the ancient Viking sagas to life.
Staying at Raleigh – Burnt Cape Eco Reserve
From Point Amour Lighthouse, we headed to Raleigh, about a 1.5-hour drive away.
We stayed overnight at Raleigh Rooms. The rooms here have views of the village, just a short drive from Burnt Cape Ecological Reserve.
We headed to Burnt Cape Ecological Reserve, a stunning area home to over 300 plant species, including the rare Burnt Cape Cinquefoil.
To protect the reserve’s delicate ecosystem, you can drive on the main road to protect and visit the sea caves here.
There are a few, but Big Oven at Whale Cove is the most spectacular. On the northwest side, we found the smaller but equally beautiful Little Oven, known for its incredible views and photo opportunities.
Become an honorary Newfoundlander and take part in Schreecher
Become an honorary Newfoundlander during a traditional Screech In with local Rob At the Saltbox,
Make sure you don’t miss out on the incredible clam chowder and fish and chips beforehand at the Saltbox; they also run Everoutdoor Adventure, offering Zodiac Safari tours and hiking trips.
The idea is that you head to a shed by the dock, take a shot of Screech rum and kiss a cod to become an honorary Newfoundlander
take in incredible views with oceanfront dining.
On the covered patio, enjoy snacks, dinner, and drinks in the
great outdoors.
Take in the sunshine, or linger on the deck to watch the last rays of sunset over the picturesque Bay of
Islands.
Head out with Everoutdoor Adventure on a Zodiac Safari of the Bay of Islands
We went on a Zodiac Safari with Everoutdoor Adventure around the Bay of Islands to wrap up our trip.
This is a unique way to experience Newfoundland’s wild beauty.
The small Zodiac boat took us along the stunning coastline of the Bay of Islands, getting us up close to places larger boats can’t reach.
The views were incredible, and we had plenty of chances to spot marine life.
Cruising through the Cabox aspiring Global Geopark, we kept an eye out for moose, caribou, osprey, and even bald eagles. It was the perfect finale to our adventure!
Thank you for reading my guide to Newfoundland and Labrador
Thank you for reading my blog post guide to Newfoundland and Labrador.
I hope this article helps you plan your trip to this unique province in Atlantic Canada.
If you have any further questions, please reach out; i will be happy to help.
Have an incredible trip exploring Newfoundland and Labrador.
Be sure to check my YouTube video about Newfoundland and Labrador
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