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Suggested Itinerary to Explore Newfoundland and Labrador by Motor Home
The following is a suggested 24
day Itinerary for a Motor home tour of the province of Newfoundland and
Labrador. The Trans Canada
Highway (TCH), Route 1, is the only road continuously crossing the
province. In planning your
own itinerary, you can omit each section that takes a route away from Rte
1 for one or more days, or skip ahead to the next region.
If your visit is only 7 days, you will need to cut out most of the
activities suggested here and just concentrate on a specific area of the
province. I have not included the areas west of Deer Lake in this
itinerary, nor have I included the south coast of the island, or the area
north of Red Bay in Labrador even though there are many interesting things
to do there and lots of beautiful scenery to enjoy.
Start with Day 1, choosing your
campsite for the first evening. Then
choose which sections of the province you want to visit. You may choose the full itinerary for each section, or a part
of each section, or skip ahead. Just
follow the instructions or go back to Rte 1 and continue either east or
west.
To help plan your vacation, the
province is broken up into the following regions form east to west.
I have included scenic tours re motor home vacations for each
region..
1. Avalon Region (Cape
Spear Drive, Irish Loop, Killick Coast, Admiral’s Coast, Baccalieu
Trail, Cape Shore, Osprey Trail)
2.
Eastern Region
(Discovery Trail, Heritage Run)
3. Central Region (The
Dorset Trail, Beothuck Trail, Exploits Valley)
4. Western Region (The
Viking Trail, Grenfell Drive, Humber Valley, Caribou Trail, Three Rivers Scenic Drive, French Ancestors Route)
5. Labrador
(Labrador Coastal Drive)
Day 1
Arrival - St. John’s
Arrive St. John’s International
Airport. A representative of
Islander RV Sales and Rentals will meet you there and provide you with
complimentary transportation to Paddy’s Pond, on the Trans Canada
Highway, Rte 1. Receive an orientation on the use of you motor home as well
as brochures, maps and directions for travel.
Travel to shopping center to pick
up supplies for your trip. (Exit
TCH Rte 1 at 41B to Pitts memorial Drive.
Turn off at Ruby Line/Goulds exit, and left onto Old Placentia
Road.)
Travel to RV Park – suggestions
re itinerary chosen
Pippy Park, Nagles Hill, St.
John’s – 15 kilometers
Celtic Rendezvous, Bauline East,
Rte 10 – 48 km. (Irish Loop, Avalon Region)
Bellevue Beach, Rte 201 off Rte 1,
– 111 km. west of St. John’s (Avalon Region)
Terra Nova National Park – Rte
1, 265 km. west of St. John’s (Central Region)
LaManche Provincial Park – Rte
10, 55 km. (Irish Loop,
Avalon Peninsula)
Butterpot Provincial Park – Rte
1, 20 km. west of St. Johns’
Optional
- In the morning go to Day 2, Day 4, Day 9, Day 10, Day 12, Day 13, Day 14
or
continue
Rte 1 east to Clarenville and continue with Day 7 (Rte 230A Port Rexton)
Day 2
(Avalon Region – Irish Loop)
Go to Northside Road, Bay Bulls
(off Rte 10) for a morning boat tour with Gatheralls Boat tours to visit
the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve to view the whales and bird colonies as
well as icebergs (when in season)
After lunch, depart for Ferryland.
Enjoy a picnic at Lighthouse Picnics, Rte 10 – exquisite food and
stunning views- and then visit the Colony of Avalon.
In the 17th century site this site was the colony of
Lord Baltimore. Tour the
ongoing archaeological dig, interpretation center and gift shop.
Continue south along Rte 10, past
Renews, Cappahyden, and on to Trepassey.
The southern Avalon is home to the southernmost herd of woodland
caribou in the world.
Be sure to stop and look for
whales at St. Vincents. Here
the water near the beach is deep and whales come close to shore.
From Rte 91, take Rte 92, then Rte
100 towards Cape St. Brides.
Spend the night at Gannets Nest RV
Resort, St. Brides, Rte, 100.
(Optional
– After visiting Ferryland, Return to Rte 1 and Spend the night at
Bellevue Beach.
Continue with Day 4, 10, 11, 14 or 15)
Day 3 (Irish Loop /
Cape Shore)
In the morning, visit the Cape St.
Mary’s Ecological reserve. After
lunch, continue north along Rte 100 to Placentia.
Tour the Castle Hill National Historic site which was once the
French capital in the 17th and 18th centuries and
watch the historical drama Faces of Fort Royal, which brings the French
Colonial area to life.
Continue along Rte 100 to
Whitbourne. Visit Markland
Cottage Winery and learn how local wild berries such as blueberries
partridge berries and bakeapples are transformed into exotic wines.
Take Rte 101 and 202 to return to
the Trans Canada Highway, Rte 1. Continue
west, stopping at Bellevue Beach.
Spend the night at Bellevue Beach
Provincial Park, Rte 201.
Day 4
(Eastern Region – The Heritage Run)
Enjoy a relaxing morning at the
sea side, Bellevue Beach, before continuing west along Rte 1.
At Goobies take Route 210 to
Kilmory Resort in Swift Current.
Spend the night at Kilmory Resort
Trailer Park.
Optional
– Continue Rte 1 to Clarenville, continue with Day 7
- Continue
Rte 1 to Terra Nova Park; continue with Day 11, 14, or 15.
- Continue on from Swift Current, overnight at Golden Sands
Resort, and go to
Day 6.
Day 5
Continue south along Route 210.
On the way tour the Placentia West Heritage House and Craft Shop at
Boat Harbour and enjoy a traditional “Mug Up” at one of the
traditional tea houses. Also
visit the tiny fishing outports of Parkers Cove, Baine Harbour and Petit
Fort. From Red Harbour view
humpback whales and ocean sea birds.
Continue Route 210 towards
Marystown and exit at Golden Sands Resort.
Overnight at Golden Sands Trailer
Park
Day 6
In Winterland, view the Eco
Museum, a 4 km boardwalk trail with interactive exhibits and observation
towers.
In Marystown, the economic center
of the Burin Peninsula, visit the Marystown Museum and in Little Bay the
Jerome Walsh fishing premises. This
would also be a good area to stock up on supplies.
Continue on to Grand Bank, Rte
210, where you can learn of the long fishing history of the area by
touring the Southern Seaman’s Museum and view Atlantic Canada’s
largest mural. In the
evening, experience one of the Heritage Society of Grand Banks theatrical
productions.
Overnight at Horsebrook Trailer
Park in Fortune, Rte 220.
(Optional
1 or 2 day tour) Park
your motor home at the ferry station in Fortune and travel to the French
Islands of St. Pierre and Micquelon, France’s only territory in North
America. Enjoy a traditional
meal, and stroll through the historic streets.
Day 7
The Heritage Run / The Discovery Trail
Continue east via Rte 220 to St.
Lawrence and tour the Miner’s Museum which tells the history of the
fluorspar mine in the area.
In Burin tour the Heritage House
and Tidal Wave Exhibit which tells the story of the 1929 disaster.
Walk the waterfront boardwalk to the Oldest Colony Trust building
and view the hand painted murals.
Return Rte 210 to Goobies and Exit
on Rte 1 to Clarenville. (There
is a large shopping center at Clarenville where you can stock up on
supplies)
(Optional
1Day Side Tour - Stop at Garden Cove along Rte 220 and travel via
ferry for Woody Island and experience what life was like prior to the
resettlement of many remote communities to larger centers in Newfoundland.
Enjoy a traditional Scoff and Scuff.
Just past Clarenville, take Rte
230A and travel towards Port Rexton.
Overnight Lockston Path Provincial
Park, Port Rexton, Trinity Bight, Rte 230
Optional
- Continue past Clarenville to Terra Nova National Park at Newman Sound
Campground. Go to Day
8 or Day 11.
Day 8
(Eastern Region – The Discovery Trail)
Continue along Rte 210 and take
Rte 239 to Trinity, a prosperous community built on the fishery, with some
50 architecturally significant buildings. People come from all corners or
the world in summer to enjoy the theatre that abounds in this town.
Become part of the walking tour of the town led by actors who
portray a few of the more colourful characters from our past.
In the afternoon stop in New
Bonaventure to view the production set for the television series “Random
Passage”, an account of the early years of Newfoundland settlement.
In the evening, attend one of the
productions of Rising Tide Theatre at various locations in and around
Trinity.
Overnight at Trinity Cabins
Trailer Park, Rte 239
Day 9
Travel on to Bonavista to visit
the landing site of John Cabot. Stroll
through the Ryan Premises to experience the history of the ocean fishery
in Newfoundland and Labrador. Outside
the town, is the Cape Bonavista Lighthouse Provincial Historic Site where
guides in period costume will show you around.
Overnight at Paradise Farm Trailer
Farm, Bonavista.
Day 10
(Central Region – Kittiwake Coast – Road to the Beaches)
Take Rte 233 and then Rte 236 to
return to Rte 1. From Rte 1
take Rte 310 to explore the Eastport Peninsula with its sandy beaches and
quaint communities. At Burnside there is a small museum of artifacts
collected from various Beothuck sites around Bonavista Bay.
Salvage is the oldest European settlement along this part of the
coast and is a classic outport community.
Overnight at Newman Sound
Campground, Terra Nova National Park.
Day 11
(Central Region – Kittiwake Coast – Road
to the Isles)
In the morning enjoy many of the
features Terra Nova Park has to offer, including a championship golf
course. In the afternoon,
continue along Rte. 1 and exit at Rte 340 for Lewisport, major service and
transportation center. Be
sure to visit Boyd’s Cove Interpretation Center, which has been built
using Beothuck structural concept near the site of a large Beothuck
village. The center tells the
story of these aboriginal people and includes an archaeological site.
Overnight at Dildo Run Provincial
Park, Rte 340, Virgin Arm
Day 12
Continue on to Twillingate where
you can visit the Twillingate Museum, the Long Point Lighthouse and avail
of boat tours.
Overnight at Peyton’s Woods RV
Park and Campgrounds, Back Harbour, Twillingate
(Optional)
Plan to stay at least another day or two to explore Fogo and Change
Islands.
Day 13 (Central
Region – Exploits Valley)
Return to Rte 1 and take exit 350.
Visit the Botwood Heritage center to explore the history of Botwood
which in the 1930’3 was a refuelling stop for the first Trans Atlantic
passenger service. Continue
along Rte 350 to Rte 352 taking a scenic route along the Bay of Exploits
to Fortune Harbour where you can tour a mussel farm.
Overnight at Ocean View Park,
Leading Tickles, Rte 350.
Day 14
Return to Rte 1 and continue west
to Badger where you can have some excitement at at Red Indian White Water
Rafting. Continue along Rte 1
to Springdale.
Sit back and watch the salmon jump
the falls from your campsite.
Overnight at George Huxter
Memorial Park, Springdale
Day 15
(Western Region – Viking Trail)
Take Rte 1 and then Rte 430 and
turn off at Rte 431 to Woody Point and Trout River where you can view the
south side of Bonne Bay. Here you have a great view of The Tablelands, a
600 metre high plateau of mantle rock, one of the world’s best examples
of rock from the earth’s interior. Visit the Discovery center at Woody
Point and take a boat tour at Trout River Pond
Overnight Gros Morne National
Park, Rte 430, Rocky Harbour
Day 16
Visit Gros Morne National Park
Interpretation Center and learn of the geology which makes Gros Morne
National Park a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
At Western Brook Pond take a sailing cruise along a fjord.
Visit the lighthouse at Lobster Cove Head and have a picnic lunch
after visiting the museum. The Arches Provincial Park, a natural rack formation, has two
large arches which were formed when the rock was under water eons ago.
Or, take the day to hike to the top of fjord.
Spend the evening at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival.
Overnight at Gros Morne National
Park
Optional
– Return to Day 23, or
spend an extra day.
Day 17
Take Rte 430 and enjoy the scenic
route through Gros Morne Park. In
Port au Choix visit the Port au Choix National Historic Site with its
ongoing Archaeological dig and view the artefacts or the Maritime Archaic
people who occupied the area 3200 to 3700 years ago.
Overnight at Ocean Side RV Park in
Port au Choix.
Optional
– Go to Day 23
Day 18
Continue north on Rte 430 to
L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, a UNESCO world Heritage Site.
Tour the reconstructed sod huts as animators recreate daily life at
the site. Explore the replica
Viking settlement of Norstead and sail aboard a replica of an
eleventh-century Viking boat.
Next stop is St. Anthony.
Be sure to visit the Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital to see the
Jordi Bonet Murals which tell the story of the people of the Grenfell
Mission. The Grenfell
Properties, including Grenfell House, and Grenfell Interpretation Center,
which also houses the Grenfell
Interpretation Center, are also worth a visit.
In the evening, be sure to take a break from cooking and enjoy a
Viking Feast at Leifsburdir, Fishing Point, St. Anthony. (Reservations
required)
Overnight at Triple Falls RV Park,
St. Anthony
(Optional
Day) Quirpon Lighthouse Inn,
Quirpon Island near Lance aux Meadows
A
unique island experience in a lighthouse keeper’s home, overlooking
iceberg alley. Price includes accommodation, meals, and boat
transportation to and from the island
Optional
– Go to Day 22
Day 19
(Labrador Coastal Drive)
Return Rte 430 to St. Barbe.
At the ferry terminal, board the “MV Apollo” to sail the Strait
of Belle Isle, nicknamed Iceberg Alley for the numerous icebergs that move
along here. Seabird, whale and seal sightings are also highlights of this
90 minute sail. At Blanc
Sablon, take the road to L’Anse-au-Clair, stopping at the Gateway to
Labrador Visitor Center, a restored turn of the century church.
Continue north on Rte 510 to L’Anse Amour where you’ll find the
oldest known funeral monument in North America. You will also find the
tallest lighthouse in Atlantic Canada.
Spend the night at RV Park in
Lance au Clair.
Day 20
Continue along Rte 510 to Red Bay
Historic Site, world whaling capital, AD 15501600.
Be sure to stop and visit the small communities of L’Anse au
Loup, L’Anse Amour and Forteau along the way.
At the Visitor Center, experienced guides will interpret the Basque
whaling activity in the area during the 16th century.
The whale refinery at Red Bay is considered to be one of the first
industrial sites in the new world.
Overnight at West St. Modeste
(Optional
one or two days) Continue on
to Mary’s Harbour and take a short boat ride to Battle Harbour Restored
Historic Community, once the unofficial capital of Labrador.
Day 21
(Western Region – The Viking Trail)
Return to Blanc Sablon and take
the ferry “MV Apollo” back to St. Barbe.
Continue south along Rte. 430 to Cow Head.
In the evening, be sure to visit the Gros Morne Theatre Festival, a
lively mix of drama, dinner theatre and Newfoundland times.
Overnight at Sea Breeze RV Park,
Cow Head.
Day 22
Return to Gros Morne.
On the way back, you might like to stop in St. Paul’s and take a
boat tour to see the seals.
In the afternoon enjoy a hike on
one of the many scenic walking trails.
Overnight at KOA Kampground,
Norris Point
Day 23
(Central
Region – Exploits Valley)
Continue east on Rte. 1 to Grand
Falls. Visit the Mary March
Museum which explores the natural and cultural diversity of central
Newfoundland from plate tectonics to today’s paper making industry. Be sure to also stop by Beothuck Village where you will
experience another culture as you walk through he trails of the replica
Beothuck Indian Village. The
Beothuck became extinct when the last known survivor, Shawnadithit, died
in 1829.
Visit the Salmonoid Interpretation
Center, off Scott Road, in Grand Falls to learn about the habitat and life
cycle of the Atlantic Salmon, and don’t miss the underwater viewing.
Overnight at Brookdale Country Inn
RV Park, Bishop’s Falls, Exit 21 or
Sangor Memorial RV Park, Rte 1
Go
to Day 24 or 25 or 26.
Day 24
(Avalon
Region – Admirals Coast)
Continue east along Rte. 1 towards
St. John’s.
Overnight at Pippy Park.
Go
to Day 28, 29 or 30
Day 25
Continue along Rte 1.
Overnight at Bellevue Beach.
Day 26
Continue east along Rte 1.
At Whitbourne, take Rte 80 towards Blaketown and view the site
where John Guy, founder of the colony of Cupids, traded with the Beothuck.
Continue along Rte 60 to Heart’s
Content, where you can visit the Old Cable Station, once a relay for
transatlantic telegraph messages.
Stop in Winterton for lunch and
take a leisurely stroll along the boardwalk and enjoy the panoramic views.
At Old Perlican Route 80 merges
into Rte. 70. At Grate’s
Cove on the tip of the peninsula, view the hundreds of rock walls that
farmers used to keep roaming animals off their fields.
Up here you’ll also find Baccalieu Island Ecological Reserve
where three million pairs of Leach’s Storm Petrols nest.
An interpretive display on the reserve can be found at Bay de
Verde. Continue towards
Western Bay.
Overnight at Northern Bay Sands
Park.
Day 27
Continue along Rte 70 towards
Carbonear. There is a
shopping center here where you can buy supplies.
Carbonear is pirate country, and if you decide to stop here for
awhile, you might want to attend a stage production which tells the story
of Princess Sheila, an Irish Princess captured by the pirate Peter Easton.
Harbour Grace, our next stop,
played a role in the history of aviation.
Amelia Earhart set out from here on her solo flight across the
Atlantic. You can also visit
a museum built on the site of Peter Easton’s old fort.
At Cupids, you can view the
excavation of the first official colony in Canada which was founded by
John Guy. The museum there
has a exhibit on Newfoundland stamps.
Brigus is a beautiful community
that retains much of its 19th century character.
In August, it hosts the well known Blueberry Festival.
Visit Hawthorne Cottage, the birthplace of Captain Bob Bartlett,
the ice pilot who guided Peary to within striking distance of the North
Pole. At Holyrood, Return to
Rte 1 and continue back to St. John’s.
(Optional – At Holyrood,
continue along Rte. 60 towards Topsail and St. John’s.
This Rte follows the shoreline communities along Conception Bay to
St. John’s.
Overnight Pippy Park, located in
the heart of St. John’s.
Go
to Day 28, 29 or 30.
Day 28 (Avalon
Region – St. John’s and Cape Spear Drive)
In the early morning, go to Signal
Hill to watch the sunrise and get a panoramic view of the city.
Then from the west end of Water Street, take Rte 11 to Cape
Spear National Historic Site, located on the most easterly point in North
America. Visit the oldest surviving lighthouse in the province.
Watch for whales, seabirds and icebergs in season.
From Cape Spear, continue back along Rte 11 towards Petty Harbour,
a small picturesque fishing village. Continue until arriving at Goulds,
and turn right towards St. John’s on Rte 10.
Just after turning, you will come upon Bidgood’s Grocery,
renowned for its Newfoundland food products and fresh homemade breads.
Upon your return to St. John’s,
take a stroll along Duckworth and Water Street where there are an
abundance of unique stores as well as restaurants and pubs, and then visit
the harbour front where you can take a harbour cruise aboard Scademia/Adventure
Tours. In the
evening, you can choose between a dinner and show at the Majestic Theatre
on Duckworth Street or visit the downtown area where you can find
entertainment from Irish music to Jazz.
Overnight Pippy Park
Day 29
Exit Pippy Park, and travel along
Rte. 20 to Logy Bay where visitors can view seals at the Ocean Sciences
Center. At Torbay, drive to
the beach and take the Father Troy Trail Travel along the shore.
Continue on to Torbay, Middle
Cove, Flatrock, and Bauline where the scenery is spectacular.
(There are good berry picking areas around Cape St. Francis.)
From Bauline, take Rte 21 to
Portugal Cove. Here you can
take a 20 minute Ferry Ride to Bell Island where you can tour the former
iron mines.
Return to Pippy Park via Rte. 40.
Optional – Stay a few extra
days in St. John’s to explore the following sites:
1. Quidi Vidi Village – Built in
the 17th century, it prevented St. John’s from being attacked
by enemy ships
2. The Battery – A 17th
century fishing village overlooking St. John’s Harbour. In 1673, gun emplacements were used to defend St. John’s
from attack by Dutch pirate
ships.
3. The Rooms – Just opened this
year, this center houses the provincial museum, art gallery and archives.
4. Fort Amherst – This fort,
built by the British in 1910, is located at the foot of the South Side
Hills overlooking the harbour.
5. The Colonial Building – This
former provincial legislative building was built in the 1850’s, 20 years
after Newfoundland obtained self government.
6. Commissariat House- Completed
in 1821, this Georgian structure has been restored, furnished and
decorated to the 1830 period. ( Kingsbridge Road)
7. GeoCenter – Located on the
way to Signal Hill, this center features Newfoundland as earth’s
Geological Showcase. The
Titanic exhibit is also located here.
8. The Fluvarium – Located in
Pippy Park, this venue portrays a spectacular view of the underwater
world.
9. Various churches in the
downtown area:
- The Roman Catholic Basilica Cathedral/Museum/Archives –
St. Thomas Anglican Church – oldest church in St. John’s
- Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist – one of the finest
examples of
ecclesiastical Gothic architecture in North America; in season,
afternoon tea is served
in the Cathedral Crept Room
-
George Street United Church
-
St. Andrews Presbyterian Church
10. Ocean Sciences Center – Harp
and Harbour Seals may be viewed your round.
An outdoor touch tank allows summer visitors to become acquainted
with a variety of Newfoundland sea creatures.
11. Government House – official
residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland
12. George Street – Visit the
many bars, pubs and restaurants, or attend the George Street Festival the
end of July to beginning of August
13. City Parks
- Bowring Park – Located in the west end of the city off
Waterford Bridge Road, this park features local and imported trees,
flowers, shrubs, conservatory, two rivers, two ponds, woodland walkways,
statuary, playground, swimming pool, amphitheatre, festivals, gift shop
and restaurant.
-
C.A. Pippy Park – This park, located in the heart of the city, Nagels
Hill, has a number of attractions, including camping, walking trails,
Botanical Garden, golf, Fluvarium, provincial legislature, Memorial
University, and Arts and Culture Center.
14. Visit the many boutiques,
restaurants and pubs along Water and Duckworth Streets.
15. Go to Ches’ Fish and Chips
or one of the other seafood diners for lunch.
Day 30
Return to Islander RV Sales & Rentals
Return to Islander RV Sales &
Rentals between 8 and 11 pm. We
will then give you a ride to catch your plane at the airport, or bring you
to a downtown hotel.
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