11 Night Self drive Itinerary – A Taste of NL Incl Southern Labrador

Included

• Document Pack Includes: Travel Wallet, Full Itinerary, Vouchers, Driving Directions, Maps & Supporting Literature
• 11 Nights Accommodation
• Midsize Car Rental for Duration (Unlimited kms, CDW Insurance, Airport Fees, One Additional Driver & taxes)
• St. John’s City tour
• Bay Bulls Nature Cruise
• Ferryland Lighthouse Picnic
• Western Brook Pond Boat Cruise
• Blanc Sablon Ferry (Incl vehicle charge) – Return journey

Day 1 – St. John’s

Arrive St. John’s and pick up your rental car at the airport. Explore the oldest city in North America. This historical, vibrant city has many attractions with the added bonus of a wide selection of restaurants from fine dining to traditional Newfoundland cuisine. Tonight perhaps enjoy Dinner Theatre – an evening of hilarious wit, musical talent, character interaction and sumptuous food! Overnight St. John’s.

Day 2 – St. John’s

This morning enjoy a city tour of St. John’s – this is a great orientation of St. John’s, as well as the most Easterly point in North America. You will visit the National Historic site of Cape Spear and will enjoy a beautiful view on top of Signal Hill.  Other stops include Quidi Vidi Village, Government House, the Roman Catholic Cathedral and an orientation of the shops and restaurants of downtown St. John’s.   In the afternoon depart St. John’s along the Irish Loop to the scenic Avalon Peninsula, home to over 5500 woodland caribou. Continue on to Ferryland Head Lighthouse where you will enjoy a gourmet picnic. Continue on to Bay Bulls where you will enjoy a cruise around the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, a protective sanctuary for kittiwakes, murres, puffins and other seabirds. The waters off Bay Bulls are home to the world’s largest population of humpback whales.  Return back to St. John’s. Overnight St. John’s.

Day 3 – St. John’s/Trinity

Depart St. John’s and drive the along the scenic Conception Bay coastal drive north to the charming community of Brigus – once residence of the world famous northern explorer Captain Bob Bartlett. Visit Hawthorne Cottage, Ye Olde Stone Barn Museum and the Tunnel whilst in Brigus. Continue on heading north to Trinity – the cultural capital of Newfoundland and renown for its unique historical architecture including the Ryan Store, Hiscock House and the Blacksmith Museum. Trinity also hosts the New Founde Lande Trinity Pageant – a humorous look at Newfoundland & Labrador history. Overnight Trinity.

Day 4 – Trinity

Full day to explore the area further. The Bonavista Bay is an area of extreme natural beauty and where the movie ‘The Shipping News’ and the widely acclaimed TV series ‘Random Passage’ were filmed. Visit the nearby Cape Random film set, constructed in 2000, the site offers visitors the opportunity to step back in time and imagine the life of our forbearers in a typical fishing community in the early 1800′s. In the afternoon take a leisurely drive around the remainder of the Bonavista Peninsula and visit Cape Bonavista Lighthouse, the historic Ryan Premises and the Matthew Interpretation Centre  to name a few! Return back to Trinity. Overnight Trinity.

Day 5 – Trinity/Notre Dame Bay

Depart Trinity and take a leisurely drive through Terra Nova National Park, a beautiful example of typical Newfoundland landscape, sheltered bays, rugged ocean coastline and rolling forested hills. Keep an eye out for ospreys, eagles, lynx and moose. Continue onto Notre Dame Bay. Overnight Notre Dame Bay.

Day 6 – Notre Dame Bay/Gros Morne National Park

Today leave behind the Central Region of Newfoundland and head west through a vast expanse of lush forest and contrasting scenery, continue on to Gros Morne National Park. Gros Morne was designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 for it’s impressive geological features, the 1805 sq kilometre park offers beauty and adventure that are unsurpassed by any in the world. Visit the impressive Discovery Centre in Woody Point as well as the community of Trout River, while here why not take a Zodiac Cruise to get a magnificent view of the Tablelands. Gros Morne is a hiker’s paradise catering to all abilities, with over 19 hiking trails to choose from covering over 100 kms throughout the park.  (Hikers trail guide available at Discovery & Visitor Centre’s).  Overnight Gros Morne National Park.

Day 7 – Gros Morne National Park

Today explore the north side of the park. Highlights include the scenic community of Norris Point and Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse in Rocky Harbour. In the afternoon enjoy the spectacular Western Brook Pond Fjord Boat Tour – the only way, other than by helicopter to see the spectacular Western Brook Gorge. Enjoy a 45 minute boardwalk stroll to the dock before enjoying a leisurely cruise into the gorge – be at one with nature as you see the dramatic ravine-like sides of this inland fjord tower over 600 metres above you.  Other suggestions in the area include visiting the shipwreck remains of the “SS Ethie”, Shallow Bay Beach, and “the Arches”. Overnight Gros Morne National Park. Overnight Gros Morne National Park.

Day 8 – Gros Morne National Park/Main Brook

Depart Gros Morne National Park and take a leisurely drive north continuing along the Viking Trail – you will notice the landscape changing as you pass through the communities of Daniels Harbour and Hawkes Bay. Be sure to visit Port au Choix – the National Historic Site and view artifacts of the Maritime Archaic people who occupied the area over 3700 years ago. Continue on to Main Brook. On arrival relax and capture the extreme beauty and tranquility of your natural surroundings. Enjoy spectacular views from the Lodge which overlooks South West Pond. Activities available for the more adventurous include hiking, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking.  Overnight Main Brook.

Day 9 – Main Brook

Use Main Brook as your base for exploring the region. Take time to Visit both L’Anse aux Meadows – the only authenticated Viking settlement site in North America and Norstead Viking Village – a fascinating re-enactment of how Vikings lived over 1000 years ago. Drive to the town of St. Anthony and visit the Grenfell Historic Properties and learn of the impact that Sir Wilfred Grenfell had on the social, medical and economic climate of the early 1900s during his worldwide mission. The historic properties tell the story of the evolution of northern Newfoundland and Labrador and the people of the region over the last 100 years. Drive back to Main Brook. Overnight Main Brook.

Day 10 – Main Brook/L’Anse au Clair

Depart Main Book and drive to St. Barbe. Take the ferry across to Blanc Sablon. On arrival explore the region. Suggestions include visiting L’Anse Amour Burial Site, HMS Raleigh Shipwreck, Point Amour Lighthouse and the Labrador Straits Museum to name a few! Overnight L’Anse au Clair.

Day 11 – L’Anse au Clair

Today explore the area further.  Drive north to Red Bay National Historic Site and discover the history of the 16th century Basque Whalers. Continue north to Mary’s Harbour where you can take the ferry over to Battle Harbour National Historic Site. For two centuries Battle Harbour was the economic & social centre of Labrador due to its proximity to the cod & seal fisheries. Battle Harbour’s fascinating history has been coloured by characters such as medical pioneer Sir Winfred Grenfell and Arctic Explorer Commandeer Robert Peary.   Drive back to L’Anse au Clair.  Overnight L’Anse au Clair.

Day 12 – L’Anse au Clair/Deer Lake

Depart L’Anse au Clair and take the ferry back over to St. Barbe. Continue on back down the Viking Trail and be sure to visit Port aux Choix National Historic Site en route to Deer Lake where you will drop off your rental car, ready for your onward journey.

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