Newfoundland & Labrador - Great Finds

Battle Harbour

Preserved in an era. Nestled in the Southern Labrador oceanscape on Battle Island, without modern annoyances obscuring your view.

For two centuries, Battle Harbour – once known as the saltfish capital of Labrador – was the economic and social centre of this area. Today, this National Historic District of Canada has been revived, as a place to immerse yourself in the life and times of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Here, houses, stores, fishery buildings and churches have been restored and filled with original items of years ago. During your stay, you’ll sleep in a merchant’s home or doctor’s charming period cottage, or maybe a policeman’s house. Here, fully experience the simple pleasures of older times. Just the sound of the ocean, and the deepest and most refreshing sleep you’ve ever experienced.

During the day, take a walk through historic structures, walkways, and work areas. Then hike around the craggy shores of the island and everywhere in between. Explore the oldest and most diverse fishing rooms in Newfoundland and Labrador and experience the lives of fisherman and merchants living in the community in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. In the evening, eat with your fellow traveller’s and be entertained by traditional song, dance and recitation. Really take the time to meet other people.

Take a moment or two to enjoy the company of others in the Sir Wilfred Grenfell Cottage. Have your conference where Commander Robert E. Peary spoke to the press and wired news overseas detailing his historical trip to the North Pole in 1909. Get married in the second oldest Anglican Church in Newfoundland and Labrador. Spend your vacation in a different place and time.

Battle Harbour is located on Battle Island, off Labrador’s southeast coast. To reach it, sail from Mary’s Harbour onboard the MV Trinity Pride, which makes two round trips daily. This hour-long journey across St. Lewis Inlet offers a great opportunity to view whales, icebergs, dolphins, seals, and seabirds.

Bonavista

When Italian explorer Giovanni Caboto (or John Cabot as he is locally known) first discovered North America in 1497, his first words were “O buono vista!”. When translated into English, this phrase means, “Oh happy sight!”, certainly fitting for the town of Bonavista.

Rocky shores, pebbled beaches, and picturesque fishing boats line small formations of houses, new and old. Whales, seabirds, and icebergs are usual guests along the amazing shorelines surrounded by dense trees. In “The Dungeon”, the cliffs give way into a mammoth opening with two seaward-side channels where you can swim, hike, climb, and explore amid a glittering sheen of iron pyrite.

In the harbour, step inside a full-sized, floating replica of The Matthew, and imagine John Cabot as he made his first voyage to North America.

From the top of the Cape Bonavista Lighthouse Provincial Historic Site, witness the waves of the Atlantic Ocean crashing upon the rocks and look out over the horizon where our keepers have stood watch for centuries.

At the Ryan Premises National Historic Site, Bonavista Museum, and the Mockbeggar Plantation Provincial Historic Site, walk into a lesson about the saltfish trade – the cornerstone of our economy for centuries.

After you’ve explored all of Bonavista’s heritage buildings, stroll along our narrow roads and quaint laneways. Friendly and approachable people say hello in distinctive accents reminiscent of our Irish and English ancestors. At Christmas, we still dress up in all forms of clothing, identities disguised, and “mummer” from house to house - laughing, singing, and dancing until all hours of the night.

When you visit the town of Bonavista, you might be hard pressed to decide what impresses you most: the community’s tangible history, its traditional personality, or the stunning beauty of this place. A trip to Bonavista is not only a happy sight, but a happy stay as well.

Bonavista is located on the island of Newfoundland on the Discovery Trail Route 235, just three hours from both Gander and the Argentia ferry, and three and a half hours from the capital city of St. John’s.

Brigus

Wake up to a stunningly beautiful harbour. Take a leisurely hike around the charming streets sloping up into green cliffs. Then, stop for a delectable slice of homemade blueberry cheesecake.

Brigus. A lovely little town, reminiscent of the quaintness often found in European villages. Even the name “Brigus” is derived from “Brickhouse,” an old English town, pronounced with a flavour only found in this part of North America.

Here history thrives. It’s well kept old-style architecture, rustic stone walls, lush, green gardens, and winding narrow lanes are reflective of the beginnings in England, Ireland and Wales.

Take the opportunity to visit Hawthorne Cottage National Historic Site, the former home of Captain Bob Bartlett who was hailed as the greatest ice navigator of the century. This historic gem has been revived into a monument of the Captain’s northern expeditions and his simple way of life.

Brigus is more than just a scenic and historic place. Every summer, our little community comes alive with the annual Blueberry Festival. Over 12,000 visitors from all over the world come to enjoy three days of music, traditional foods, dancing, fireworks, and of course, blueberries. Sing and dance. Shop and relax. Fill your belly with the sweetest berry fixin’s in the world.

Brigus is located approximately 80 kilometres from the capital city of St. John’s. There are two ways to access the town: from the Trans Canada Highway, or on the Admiral’s Coast Route 60 west from St. John’s, which carries travellers through other beautiful communities along Conception Bay.

Cape St. Mary's

Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve is a wonderland for bird watchers and explorers alike. Thousands of gulls, razorbill, common murres, black-legged kittiwakes, northern gannets, and double-crested and great cormorants nest here. Where 20,000 scoters, oldsquaw, harlequin, dovekies, thick-billed murres, and kittiwakes winter. This captivating area is one of six seabird ecology reserves protected by our provincial parks system. Its natural beauty makes it perfect for nature walks and family adventures.

Cape St. Mary’s is the most accessible seabird rookery in North America. Bird Rock is the third largest nesting site and southernmost colony of Northern gannets in North America. Cape St. Mary’s is also the southernmost breeding area for thick-billed murres in the world and the southernmost major breeding site for common murres in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. This site is overflowing with perching, diving, and scrambling birds from edge to edge - melding together into an awesome moving, breathing spectacle of colour and sound.

Hike to the edge of rugged shores and spend hours watching the daily lives of some of the world’s most interesting seabirds. The stunning, majestic scenery of the Cape is perfect for a relaxing walk or a challenging hiking adventure. Mosses, lichens, low-growing shrubs, and alpine wildflowers blanket the plateau. Ponds, bogs, and brooks embrace the landscape and cliffs plunge into the sea. Snap photos of eiders, eagles, osprey, cormorant, and guillemot against a brilliant glowing horizon.

In the interpretation centre, take a moment to understand the lives of seabirds in the wild and watch them soar from a giant viewing window. Friendly and hospitable staff can guide you through the reserve and answer any questions you may have. The reserve can be visited year-round, and the interpretation centre is open from spring until fall. During the summer, visit our annual concert series that includes traditional music, dancing, food, drink, and fun!

Cape St. Mary’s is located on the Cape Shore Drive off Route 100 on the southwestern tip of Newfoundland’s Avalon region, approximately 2 hours from St. John’s by road.

Change & Fogo Islands

Brimstone Head, a piece of rocky landscape jutting into the sky. The Flat Earth Society believes that this is one of the four corners of the Earth. Standing at the top, facing the Atlantic, you can see why they deem this to be true. It's a sight worth the venture.

Fogo Island, the largest island on Newfoundland and Labrador’s vast coast, is home to eleven communities – each with their own distinctive flare and allure. In Tilting, a National Historic Site of Canada, you can wander through the tall lush grasses and run your fingers over the red paint of fishing rooms once occupied by our forefathers. Truly step back in time in an area that has been restored and maintained to its original 18th century splendor.

At the Lane House Museum and The Dwyer Premises, learn about our heritage and the fishing industry. Then, investigate the drying racks at Keefe’s Stage. Set up your tent and sink your toes in the white sand of Sandy Cove Beach. Walk the trails throughout the island and catch a glimpse of caribou herds grazing along the rolling hills. In the summer, Fogo erupts with music and fun with the Brimstone Head Festival. Camp, hike, and enjoy the festivities you’ll only find at the edge of the earth!

Across the glistening waters of Notre Dame Bay stands the beautifully formed shores of Change Islands. Humpback whales migrate through these waters and icebergs drift along the currents down Iceberg Alley. As seabirds soar overhead, you can relax in the salty ocean breeze and look out over the sights on the ferry ride from Farewell.

Change Islands has one small community nestled along a narrow tickle and causeway. Meander around historic buildings, over granite outcroppings, and into the greenest grasses and gardens. Small community charm and rich fishing culture combine with a prominent sense of history to make this place a tourist and artist’s paradise. As you have a delectable snack at the café, look out over the striking geological features and the babbling brooks that wind around red ochre fishing stages built years ago.

On the islands of an island, we’ve retained our culture and ancestry, including pieces of our forefathers’ dialect. We’ve treasured our land and nurtured our history to create a place all our own. Would you expect any less from the edge of the earth?

The ferry service running from Farewell, a northeasterly point in central Newfoundland on the Road to the Isles scenic driving route, sails visitors to Change Islands in 25 minute. The ferry service from Farewell to Fogo Island is approximately 50 minutes.

Codroy Valley

Green. The deepest and most vivid shades of green, transposed through lush meadows of soft grass perfect for long walks and lazy midday picnics. Sheltered by the Long Range Mountains, dramatic churches stand on cliffs overlooking the ocean. Clouds float suspended over traditional farmlands dotted with grazing Newfoundland ponies.

This is Codroy Valley, a collection of 15 communities tucked away in western Newfoundland. There is nothing else like it in all of Newfoundland and Labrador. A haven for birders, nature lovers, adventurers, historians, and travellers alike.

Start your journey with a visit the Grand Codroy Estuary Ramsar Site, located at the mouth of the Grand Codroy River - a 925-hectare area recognized by the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. Here, you can stand at the waters of this estuary and spend the day watching and photographing birds in their natural habitat. This is a stopover for migrating water and land fowl heading north in the spring and south in the fall and a landing place for the rare species occasionally blown off course. Head to the interpretation centre and then hike the trail along the rushing riverbank, making note of the plants and wildlife you see along the way.

If fishing is your fancy, put your flies and tackle to good use on two of our scheduled salmon rivers – the Grand Codroy and Little Codroy. Then, get a better look at our wildlife at the Grand Codroy Wildlife Museum and Art Gallery. Here you can have your picture taken with Newfoundland’s largest mounted moose, and view hundreds of species of animals, birds, and fish set in artificial displays of their natural surroundings.

In St. Andrews, play on a nine-hole golf course complemented by a background of mountains. After the game, take the short drive to Cape Anguille, the most westerly point of the island, and take a look at its lighthouse.

Codroy Valley is located on the Codroy Valley International Wetlands scenic driving route in western Newfoundland, 35 kilometres northwest of Port aux Basques.

Cupids

People have been finding and falling in love with Cupids for centuries. It was the first English colony in Canada, and it's about to turn 400 years old.

You might think that Cupids has a history reminiscent of February holidays. John Guy would tell you otherwise. In 1610, he brought a boatload of settlers and established a plantation in Cuper's Cove. It was the second English colony in North America after Jamieson, Virginia, United States in 1607. Today we call it Cupids.

The people of Cuper's Cove built a settlement out of nothing. They cleared the land and built dwellings, fortifications, and boats. They fished, farmed, and explored for minerals and tried to establish fur trading with the Beothuk, the now extinct aboriginal people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The colony was plagued by pirate attacks and the harsh conditions of early settlement. "Pirate Admiral" Peter Easton enjoyed looting in Cupids and other colonies like Renews, before he bought a title in Europe and lived happily ever after.

Squanto lived in Cupids in 1618 before he greeted the Pilgrim Fathers at Plymouth Rock in 1621. And the first recorded birth of an English child in Canada took place here. It's no wonder really, considering Cupids is located in Conception Bay.

Around 1700, settlers abandoned the Cuper's Cove plantation, and the secret of its location was lost for decades. Today, not only can you visit the English colony's site, you can watch historians and archaeologists uncover it piece by piece. The Cupids Museum is home to many exhibits, and the Methodist Church is one of the oldest in Newfoundland and Labrador.

What you'll notice as you wander this town is the heart, soul, and courage of the people of Cupids. Maybe the people who lived here - John Guy, John Mason, Squanto and others - inspired a sense of pride and strength that has lived on for centuries. For 400 years, our people have persevered against challenges unfamiliar to all others. And we think that's something worth celebrating.

And celebrate we will. As 2010 approaches, this charming oceanside town is gearing up to celebrate it's 400th birthday. Watch Cupids transform from a quiet English-inspired community to a centre of music, food and festivities. It will be a time you won’t soon forget.

Cupids is located in Conception Bay on the Avalon Peninsula of the Island of Newfoundland. It is approximately a one hour drive from St. John's on the Baccalieu Trail near Brigus.

Ferryland

Ferryland is where George Calvert, better known as Lord Baltimore, founded the Colony of Avalon in 1621. Today, you can peer over the shoulders of archaeologists as they uncover the foundations of houses and a cobblestone street built in the seventeenth century, and see some of the thousands of artifacts at the interpretation centre.

Even before Baltimore, the Ferryland area had been used as a summer fishing station by migratory European fishermen. It had also drawn the notice of the Beothuks, the now extinct aboriginal people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Baltimore stayed only a few years before transferring his energies into another colony in Maryland. But Ferryland survived his exit and prospered, despite a raid by the Dutch in the 1670s until the 1690s when French raids drove the English away. But the Colony of Avalon was close to rich fishing grounds and too good to be abandoned, and was soon reoccupied.

There’s a distinct Irish feel here, and with good reason. The Irish came to dominate this shore - first as summer workers for English and Irish fish merchants, then as permanent settlers as the eighteenth century wore on.

Today, this area is known as the Irish heart of Newfoundland and Labrador. Irish traditions, attitudes, and music continue to survive here. The town of Ferryland regularly hosts summer musical events and dinner theatre productions with a strong local flavour, and no shortage of the famed Irish wit. After a day of traditional dancing and entertainment, you can sit on the front porch of the museum and look toward the sea across a meadow – called The Gaze.

At nearby Ferryland Head, accessible by an easy walking and hiking trail across the Downs, is the lighthouse where you can have a scrumptious picnic while watching for whales, birds and icebergs. The town’s museum is housed in the old courthouse – complete with a couple of holding cells – where you can discover many of the legends and characters of Ferryland history.

Ferryland is located on the Avalon Peninsula of the island of Newfoundland, just one hour’s drive from St. John’s along Route 10.

Gros Morne National Park

Gros Morne National Park, the second-largest National Park in Eastern Canada, stretches across 1,805 square kilometres of western Newfoundland. This UNESCO World Heritage site is part of the towering Long Range Mountains and encompasses tiny seaside communities, forests, bogs, barren lowlands, and striking shorelines.

The Gros Morne area is world renowned for its complex geology and stunning scenery. It was here that geologists proved the theory of plate tectonics. The Tablelands, a mountain of flat-topped rock of a kind usually found only deep in the earth’s mantle, is an awe inspiring sight. The chemical composition of the rocks on this eerie moon-like landscape may be too harsh for plants to colonize, but you can hike all over this discovery.

Explore its dense forests for rare plant and animal species found no where else in the world. Run your hands over ancient seafloor and preserved ocean avalanches, exposed to the land by the collision of the Earth’s tectonic plates 500 million years ago. Walk the boardwalks to Western Brook Pond, over marshland draped in butterwarts, great sundew, orchids, dragon’s mouth, and pitcher plants. At the end of your walk, take a boat tour on the pond. Sail close enough to towering waterfalls to feel the spray on your face.

The spectacular beauty of our park is the perfect destination for the outdoor adventurer. Explore both marked and unmarked hiking trails that wind themselves throughout the landscape. Step into perfect circles of rocks that lie on the ground, positioned by natural factors. Stop for a snack on the Arctic Tundra and count how many of the 239 bird species that inhabit this area you have seen.

Visit the sandy beach of Shallow Bay that stretches out for kilometres with no one in sight. Enjoy the warm summer days by camping along the shores of the ocean, ponds, lakes, or rivers in the area. During the winter, the snow and ice produces a winter wonderland where you can Nordic ski, snowshoe, and ice climb. In any of the communities in and around Gros Morne, relax and be entertained at their restaurants, festival and events year round.

Gros Morne National Park is located on The Viking Trail, only a 30 minute drive from the Deer Lake airport in western Newfoundland.

Humber Valley

The morning air draping the Humber Valley touches your lips like a cool drop of water. It caresses every inch of you with a distinct sensation that our travellers find hard to describe. Comforting? Invigorating? Sweet?

This valley is almost without description. It stretches 70 kilometres along the banks of the Humber River from Deer Lake to the Bay of Islands. From a canoe on the crystal waters of the river, view the lush trees and bushes against the Long Range Mountains - a vision of nature’s beauty. Here you can camp, hike, boat, golf, and relax in hotels and campgrounds. And drop your line in the crisp water for a day of fishing in one of the best Atlantic Salmon fishing rivers on the planet.

In the winter, take a trip over snow metres high. This is a paradise for alpine and Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and sliding. A perfect place to take a nature walk and identify caribou, bird, or rabbit tracks etched into the freshly fallen snow.

If you’re into skiing, look no further than Marble Mountain Ski Resort. Looking out over the valley, it has been named the best skiing east of Canada’s Rocky Mountains. Here, you can carve up the slopes and hike the forests paths to Steady Brook Falls. At the end of the day, have a hot meal at the chalet and relax with friends.

A writer once described our valley’s air as “distinctly and undeniably soft”. Its unique scent and temperature are subjects of thought for many passing through. You might think it’s silly to ponder the air, but in Humber Valley, surrounded by the pinnacle of nature, you can relax and think of nothing else.

Humber Valley is located minutes from the Deer Lake Airport, Corner Brook, and just 45 minutes from Gros Morne National Park.

L'Anse aux Meadows National Park

Norse Sagas have spoken about this place for centuries. But it was debated for some time whether it was merely myth or folklore. That is, until the discovery of a small cloak pin in 1968 by archaeologists Helge and Anne Stine Ingstad. Proving that over 1,000 years ago, Leif Erickson and crews of Norse explorers settled here in Newfoundland and Labrador; or, as they called it, Vinland.

In 1978, L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site became part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s World Heritage Sites. Being the first and only authenticated Norse site in North America, L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site can transport you back to where Vikings stood.

At this incredible place, perched on the tip of the Viking Trail, take a tour through the site with a Viking dressed interpreter as they educate you about their way of life back in 1000 AD. You will be entertained with Icelandic Sagas that lead to the discovery of this place, and immersed in the Norse way of life.

Walk two kilometres down the road from the L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site and discover Norstead, a replica of a Viking port of trade. Here you can have your first axe-throwing lesson and challenge yourself in a Norse traditional game. Set your eyes on the Snorri, a replica of a Viking ship that retraced Erickson’s course from Greenland to the Meadows. Take a pottery lesson or spin yarn the way the Vikings once did on the grounds of L’Anse aux Meadows.

After a day of Viking life, seat yourself on a rock and look out over the sights. Think back to 1,200 years before. Imagine the Viking who sat at this very same point, contemplating the view just as you are.

L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site is located at the end of The Viking Trail Route 430 on the most northerly tip of the island of Newfoundland. Only 48-kilometres from St. Anthony and the St. Anthony airport.

Marble Mountain Resort

Nestled at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, towering over Humber Valley in Western Newfoundland, you will find the Marble Mountain Resort – renowned as the best skiing east of the Rockies.

Soar down 175 skiable acres and 31 trails for beginner skiers, snowboarders, and any self-proclaimed "mogul master". Choose from Easy to "Moose" Difficult trails or, if you’re seeking a real adventure, take a cat-skiing expedition to the wilder side of the mountain. You’ll have free reign over the perfect terrain and first mark in the fresh fallen snow. If snowboarding is your fervor, rip up our terrain park and half pipe.

Snowboard all day and night and carve up the runs from December to April. At the summit of the hill you’ll stand 1700 feet above the banks of the Humber River - higher than the world’s tallest building. The resort receives an average of 16 feet of natural snowfall, and when Mother Nature takes a break, you can rely on state-of-the-art snowmaking equipment.

Hate waiting? Marble Mountain's Governor's Express is the only high-speed detachable quad lift in Atlantic Canada. It’s just one of four lifts that will carry you up the slopes over the spectacular west coast scenery. Line ups are usually short, so you'll spend less time on the lifts and more time on the mountain.

During your downtime, ski into the post and beam lodge named Marble Villa. Described as "the most beautiful lodge in the world" by Powder Magazine, this 54,000 square foot lodge holds a bar, restaurant, luxury rooms, and more under its huge wooden ceilings.

At Marble Mountain, you can enjoy outdoor and indoor concerts, shows, and other activities under the sun and the stars. In February, we host the popular Corner Brook Winter Carnival, a huge party showcasing the best music Eastern Canada has to offer. Come party with people from all over the world, and make friends to last a lifetime.

Marble Mountain Resort is located 30-minutes from the Deer Lake Airport and a five-minute drive from Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador's second largest city.

Red Bay National Historic Site

In the 1500s, the waters of Red Bay were thick with thousands of French and Spanish whalers hunting right whales and bowhead whales for export to Europe. On Saddle Island, an island in the middle of the bay, the remnants of shanties, ship works, and cooperages sit where Basque hands first built them. Today you can wander around the former whaling town of Red Bay and explore the history that drapes it.

Take a hike along the beach and skip rocks where Basque whalers celebrated their catch. Step into the interpretation centre and see an eight-metre chalupa, which whalers, young and old, used to set out into the ocean to harpoon their giant catch. To get a full appreciation for the size of these whales, compare the chalupa to the assembled collections of whale bones displayed in the centre. These displays depict a time of prosperity and dangerous adventure, illustrating their way of life long before our time.

If you take a boat or kayak trip to Saddle Island, you will find the remains of a time miraculously preserved. Where once stood the home of the first oil refinery in North America, now piles of red clay roof tiles can be found on the island, 500 years since its closure. Here you can picture perfectly what this place was like; people working day and night to process whale oil for transport; barrels moved from place to place while folk loaded and unloaded small boats at the shore.

This mystical place is world-renowned. The history seeping from the edges of the National Historic Site has been officially recognized by the United Nations’ Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a World Heritage Site. Red Bay National Historic Site takes the essence of Labrador coastal living and transposes it onto a tapestry of rich culture and history. As you travel to Newfoundland and Labrador, make your way along the winding roads to Red Bay, walk where the whaler’s walked, and step back to a whaler’s time. You can visualize the day the San Juan sank in 1565, only 50 metres away. Or can stand at the whaler’s burial ground where their 140 colleagues and friends were laid to rest with loving hands.

Red Bay National Historic Site is located at the end of The Viking Trail. It can be reached via ferry from St. Barbe, Newfoundland to Blanc Sablon, Quebec and just an 88-kilometre drive.

St. John's

St. John’s, our province’s capital, is the perfect combination of big city luxury and small town charm. Melded with culture, history, and personality. As the oldest and most easterly city in North America, this is where heritage lives.

Wander down the narrow and crisscrossing streets carved by horse and carriage over 100 years ago. Pass the jellybean row houses wedged together in every space lining the sides of steep hills and hidden alleyways. Once you’ve meandered down to the waterfront, look towards the Narrows and imagine a time when the harbour was brimming with fishing schooners.

Visit the Quidi Vidi where tiny wooden homes still cling valiantly to the cliff sides ravaged by ocean waves. Then, hike up Signal Hill to the heights of Cabot Tower where military men guarded our shores in 1812, and Marconi made his first transmission across the Atlantic in 1901. Look out over the cliffs and watch the city’s Harbour and skyline spread out before you. Perched on the top of the horizon is The Rooms, home to our provincial museum, art gallery and archives, which stands valiantly next to the hauntingly beautiful St. John the Baptist Basilica.

As you explore the history of this place, shop at any of the hundreds of fine boutiques, shops, cafés, restaurants, and art galleries lining our streets. In the evening, sit back, relax, and enjoy some local theatre where our actors will whisk you away to another place and time.

For some nightlife excitement, head to George Street. Here, clubs, pubs, bars, and restaurants are stacked and crammed along this famous cobblestone street. Every evening George Street blazes with energy, especially during the George Street Festival - five days and nights of dynamic musical entertainment.

Here, courteous and lively people treat you as friends - willing to send you in the right direction, help you on your way, or even take you there. Always happy to tell a tale, no matter how tall, just to make you smile. Certainly a city like no other.

St. John’s, the capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador, is the most easterly point in North America, located at the beginning of the Trans Canada Highway Route 1.

Terra Nova National Park

Imagine a place where inlets of the North Atlantic Ocean meet the boreal forest of eastern Newfoundland. Where rocky cliffs provide shelter from a tempestuous sea, only to merge inland into rolling green hills, bogs, and ponds.

This is Terra Nova National Park, Canada’s most easterly national park. Four hundred square kilometres of natural beauty. Here you can kayak, canoe, or boat from sheltered bays to breathtaking coastlines, amongst whales, seabirds, and icebergs. Dense forests, marshes, and green meadows wait to be explored along 14 extensive and beautiful hiking trails. As you walk along the twisting paths, in a distance you may catch a glimpse of a moose, lynx, beaver, or bird that run freely among the forest and marshy bogs.

Tee off over the rapids of two salmon rivers and along the powerful shores of the Atlantic Ocean as you play a round of first class golf. During the summer months, we’ll entertain you with live dramatic performances, amazing nature walks, and evening soirees at our outdoor theatre.

In the winter, thick blankets of snow transforms Terra Nova National Park into a paradise of white. Strap on your gear and make your way into the wilderness -- you’ll never know the meaning of peace until you’ve cross-country skied or snowshoeed here. The stillness and quiet of the winter forest is something that you’ll never forget. For the full effect, camp out for the night under the stars, or spend the day on an ice fishing or snowmobiling expedition.

Regardless of when you visit, Terra Nova National Park is open for full service camping and activity of all kinds. When you arrive, visit our visitor centre and arrange for a guided interpretive tour. After your hiking expedition, head to the eatery for a mouth-watering Newfoundland and Labrador meal, or get a snack for a day of exploring.

In 2007, Terra Nova National Park celebrated its 50th Anniversary.

Terra Nova National Park is located in eastern Newfoundland along the Trans Canada Highway Route 1, approximately 200 km west of St. John's and 90 km east of Gander.

Trinity

History, friendliness, and unmoving authenticity are woven into every aspect of the Trinity area of Newfoundland and Labrador. From the beautifully restored fishing rooms and salt box houses, to the lovely people greeting you in the lanes and welcoming you into their homes.

Houses, museums, art galleries, and other historic buildings preserved from the 18th century fill Trinity and its surrounding communities. From English Harbour to New Bonaventure, traditional root cellars poke up from the grass and along hill sides. Follow hiking trails that bring you to rolling granite hills and spectacular beaches.

At the Trinity Pageant, let us pull you into the 1700s. On this scenic walking tour, local actors and singers give you a glimpse of the daily lives, traditions, and hardships of our forefathers. Be whisked back to the past as you wander through the historic merchant buildings, churches, homes, and cemeteries of Trinity. This area is known for its talented performers and exceptional theatre and events.

Tour the filming locations of The Shipping News and Random Passage. You can rest on the top of a cliff and look out over the ocean as did Kevin Spacey, Julianne Moore, and Dame Judy Dench while rehearsing their lines.

Find your way using old time street signage marked in calligraphy. Chat with people who hold a genuine air of old world charm and hospitality found no where else. As you wander along the narrow streets in Trinity, you’ll find yourself wrapped in our history.

The Trinity Area includes the towns of Trinity, Trinity East, Port Rexton, Trouty, Goose Cove, Dunfield, New Bonaventure, Old Bonaventure, Lockston, Champney's, Champney’s West and English Harbour. They are located in Eastern Region of Newfoundland on the Discovery Trail scenic touring route along Route 230A and 239, approximately 259 kilometres from St. John’s.

Twillingate

Imagine yourself seated on a patch of long grass, looking out over the pristine waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Little fishing boats bounce softly over the waves as the light from the setting sun reflects off the side of a 10,000 year old iceberg. This is just a tiny piece of the beauty that you can experience in Twillingate.

Twillingate embodies everything that so many Newfoundland and Labrador outports are famous for: stunningly rugged coastline, historical, picturesque streets, and lush countryside roads. In the waters off the coast, look for whales, dolphins, harp seals, sea birds and, if the season is right, icebergs. Twillingate is located alongside Iceberg Alley, a vast corridor of ocean that runs from Greenland. One of the best places to view any of these sights is at Long Point Lighthouse, which looks out over the distant reaches of Notre Dame Bay.

Spend time at the Twillingate museum, located in the former Anglican Rectory, and see how the wealthy lived at the turn of the century. Absorb the town’s long history. Learn the story of Georgina Stirling, the town’s most famous resident, a world-renowned opera singer who toured Italy and the United States. Nicknamed “The Nightingale of the North”, she was known professionally as Marie Toulinguet.

Walk through Twilligate’s winding laneways around colourful houses, standing proudly on the shore. Jump from rock to rock over rivers full of tiny fish. Take a kayak expedition onto the Atlantic and witness whales breaching and playing just metres away.

If you are looking for excitement, be sure to head to our annual Fish, Fun and Folk festival. Held during the last weekend of July, join in on the excitement of scavenger hunts, parades, bonfires, fireworks, concerts, and so much more.

Twillingate is accessible by road via a causeway from Notre Dame Bay.

White Hills Ski Resort

White Hills Ski Resort gets its name from the perfect white blanket that spreads out over its fifty-five acres of ski and snowboarding terrain. Strap on your equiptment and hop on the lift. Race down 12 downhill trails from beginner to expert, or slide across 40 kilometres of immaculately groomed trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

On the hills, choose the trail for you. Will it be the Newfie Bullet? The Rattler? Maybe a gentle glide down Easy Street better suits your mood. Either way, the lift lines are almost always short, giving you more time on the hills and less time in the cue.

If you’re looking for a challenge and adventure, spend some time on the glide trails in the un-patrolled back country of the mountain. This is the place to carve through perfect, virgin powder and launch high from cliff drops, chutes, and steeps. Adrenaline has everything to do with it.

If tricks are your thing, spend some time on groomed hits and four 20-foot rails in the Terrain Park. Go mad and get some big air in the newly-dug half pipe. It’s the perfect environment to work on your skills and polish your style.

For a cross-country expedition, snap in your boots and push off toward White Hill’s Nordic ski trails. Crisscross and circle through marked and interconnected trails, around Dark Hole Pond, and past walls of tall evergreens and interesting wildlife.

Strap on your snowshoes and explore the Newfoundland and Labrador winter wilderness the way it was meant to be. Snowshoe adventure trails bring you through the untouched majesty of the forest where you can see birds, rabbits, foxes, and even moose.

When you want a break, head to the lodge. Thaw out with a hot and tasty meal in the comfortable restaurant or quench your thirst with a cool drink from the bar. The beautiful wood lodge is always warm and inviting, and is a great place to strip off your gear and relax.

White Hills Ski Resort is the place to ski if you’re visiting eastern Newfoundland and Labrador in winter. No matter what activity is your favorite, we have it and we’ll ensure you have a great time all the while.

White Hills Ski Resort is located one kilometre west of the town of Clarenville and a two-hour drive from the capital city of St. John’s.