Newfoundland Adventure: Westbound

Welcome to St John’s! Meet your leader at the hotel for a group welcome meeting at 10 am before heading off on a leader-led tour of the city. Drive up Signal Hill to enjoy sweeping views of St. John’s Harbour and brighten your day with a stop at St John’s famous colourful houses on ‘Jellybean Row’. You’ll have free time to find some lunch, then head out to take in the views at Cape Spear Lighthouse and perhaps make it to Canada's easternmost point. Later, join your group for a welcome dinner at Celtic Hearth. Sample Jigg’s dinner pie, a classic Newfoundland dish, then head to a local pub for a traditional “screech-in” ceremony that involves a shot of screech (rum) and kissing a cod. It’s more fun than you might think! (D)

After breakfast, head to the town of Trinity. There, you’ll join a local guide for a walking tour, learning about Trinity’s history and its Beothuk, French, Irish and English influences. After, you might like to hike up Gun Hill for a bird’s eye view of the town, or perhaps join your travel buddies for a dinner at a local restaurant. (B)

Today it’s time to spot puffins at Elliston’s renowned viewing site which offers one of the closest land views of puffins in North America. See if you can also spot the Puffin King, a rock formation which looks like a puffin sitting on a throne. After you’ve seen the puffins, drive 20 minutes north to visit the historic Cape Bonavista Lighthouse which is one of the most photographed places in Newfoundland. Climb the stairs to the top of the tower and see the seal oil-fuelled light that was used in the 1800s. (B)

This morning, head to the town of Gander. Here, you’ll meet with a local to learn about the role the unassuming town played in one of North America’s most significant events. Due to the closure of North American airspace on 9/11, around 6600 people were diverted to Gander – increasing the town’s population by 70% in a matter of hours. You’ll hear about what went into hosting those numbers, as well as the lasting impact it's had on the town. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant, then continue to Twillingate. There, you’ll take an afternoon boat tour where you can scan the sea for whales and seabirds. In the spring, you might get to see icebergs floating down the stretch of water known as Iceberg Alley. After, head back to your hotel and take it easy or explore Twillingate which is known as “The Iceberg Capital of the World". (B/L)

Start the day with a visit to the Beothuk Interpretation Centre, which tells the history of the Indigenous Beothuk people who used to live on Newfoundland. You might like to leave an offering at the nearby Spirit Garden, to help keep the memory of this lost culture alive. Then, continue on the road, stopping to stretch your legs at Norris Point and Green Point along the way. Arrive in Rocky Harbour in the afternoon, and then you might like to join your group for dinner. (B)

Start the day with a stroll along the Western Brook Pond Trail and take in the view before boarding the Western Brook Pond Boat Tour. Don’t forget your camera as you’ll want to capture the dramatic waterfalls, towering cliffs and abundant wildlife that can be found in this glacier-carved land-locked fjord. Then, take a scenic drive south to walk around the historic Lobster Cove Lighthouse and enjoy the view of the rolling waves and rocky beaches far below. (B)

Make your final visit to Gros Morne National Park this morning, where you’ll get to do something pretty extraordinary – walk on the Earth’s mantle at the Tablelands. The orange landscape sits in stark contrast to the surrounding greens and blues, and there are plenty of unique plants in the area to make note of too. After, continue to Deer Lake, where you might like to join your group for dinner to celebrate your adventures. (B)

After breakfast, your Newfoundland adventure comes to an end and you are free to depart at any time. (B)