Wander Where Nxt

1-2 Days – St. John’s

Things To Do:

Nearby Hike

Plan at least half a day to head out of town and go hike La Manche Suspension Bridge Trail. This trail will take you along the coast and over a suspension bridge. You can stop at the bridge or continue along the trail for more beautiful views.

Must-See Spots

One of the top must-see things in St. John’s is Jelly Bean Row. This is an area of colorful, boxy houses that line the streets of St. John’s. These homes were painted bright colors to help fishermen find their way home from sea during foggy weather. Afterwards, head to the Newman Wine Vaults Provincial Historic Site for a historical look into St. John’s and try some incredible port wine. Do you want to catch the first sunrise in the North American continent? Head to Cape Spear Lighthouse. It is southeast of the city and offers this early morning treat!

Food & Drinks

Grab lunch at Jack Astors Bar & Grill. Later, head to The Battery Lookout for a beautiful sunset view over this neighborhood along the bay. Then end the night at Quidi Vidi Brewery for dinner and a drink of your choice!

Where To Stay:

There are many chain hotel options in St. John’s. If you are looking for a mid-range boutique hotel, JAG Boutique Hotel is a great choice. If you want a hotel in a unique area of town, search for options near Quidi Vidi. You can also consider looking near The Battery.

Budget/Mid-Range

JAG Boutique Hotel

DoubleTree by Hilton

Mallard Inn

2-3 Days – Trinity

The second stop on an ultimate Newfoundland 7 day road trip. Located along the Bonavista Peninsula, Trinity is one of the most beautiful spots on the entire island. I recommend spending most of your trip on the peninsula! During the long drive from St. John’s, make a quick detour to a town with one of the weirdest names – Dildo, Newfoundland! Newfoundland is full of uniquely named towns, but this one wins for the most unique. Here, you will find a quaint town along the bay with a sign reminiscent of the Hollywood sign. There is a souvenir shop and a brewery worth a stop if you have extra time. (Fun fact: Jimmy Kimmel became the honorary mayor after featuring the town on an episode of his show!)

Driving into the town of Trinity, you will be blown away by the views. This little town will encourage you to slow down and enjoy your time, leaving you wanting to stay longer.

Things To Do:

Just relaxing or hiding away in this breathtaking town would be enjoyable. Here are some fun activities to do if you are looking for adventure!

Whale Watching

Book a 3-hour whale watching tour with Sea of Whales Adventures to start your morning. Be prepared for a cold and windy boat ride. You will see lots of wildlife, including whales if you are lucky!

Town of Trinity

Once back on land, spend the afternoon wandering around the quaint town of Trinity. There are several historical sites, as well as great views of the bay up on the hill. Make a stop at Aunt Sarah’s Chocolate Shop to take some sweet treats home. Plan before the trip and reserve a table for dinner at Twine Loft Dining. Here you will get an incredible 3-course meal. The price is high, but the experience is worth the price.

Hiking

Wake up for a hike on Skerwink Trail. This trail is a short drive from Trinity and has an incredible view of the town and lighthouse. The hike is listed as moderate-to-difficult and is 5.3km (3.2mi). Personally, I considered this trail easy-to-moderate, but it depends on fitness level. Be sure to pack water, wear sunscreen, appropriate footwear, and bring your camera for the incredible views!

Bonavista Area

Following the hike, take a road trip up the peninsula. First stop is Elliston at the puffin viewing site. To be completely honest, I could have skipped here. The puffins were too far to view, and the seagulls were causing most puffins to hide. I also did not have a good zoom lens for the distance needed to see puffins clearly. So, either plan to bring a large lens, or prepare for disappointment. From here, head towards Bonavista.

If you have time, stop at Klondike Trail. This was on my list. However, I was limited on time, and it added to my driving time. As a result, I skipped it. If I could redo my stops, I would have gone there instead of Elliston. Next is my favorite stop, Dungeon Provincial Park UNESCO Geosite. This was the spot with the least amount of visitors, but wow these views were incredible. It is somewhat off the beaten path but deserves a stop.

Finally, drive to Cape Bonavista Lighthouse Provincial Historic Site. This area on the peninsula offers some hiking along the coast. It also features a large lighthouse. There is a lookout to a puffin colony island as well. On my way back, I grabbed food at Little Dairy King. Head back to Trinity, or if you want to spend a day exploring Bonavista, plan to spend a night there.

Where To Stay:

For a small town, there are multiple options of places to stay. I would recommend booking early to have the best options available! I personally stayed at Eriksen Premises and loved every minute of my stay. Breakfast is available with your stay. There is also a small shop where you can support local artisans by purchasing a souvenir. Otherwise, options include Artisan Inn and their vacation homes. I.e. Cove Cottage, Lighthouse View, Gover House, Harbour House, Admiral’s Lookout, Nathaniel House, and Hill House. As well as Rosewood Suites at Trinity.

3-4 Days – Gros Morne National Park

Finally, prepare for a long drive west! This National Park is around a 6-hour drive from Trinity. It is the last stop on the ultimate Newfoundland 7 day road trip. Here, there are many small towns to stay in. I chose Norris Point as my base. Gros Morne is a great place for hiking and unique nature. If you have extra time or need to break up the drive, stop at Twillingate. During this stop you can catch some icebergs or hop over to Fogo Island.

Things To Do:

Hiking

There are many great hiking options in Gros Morne. Easier hikes for all experience levels include Norris Point Trailhead, Tablelands Trail, Green Gardens Trail, and Eastern Point Trail. Moderate hikes include Baker’s Brook Falls and Lookout Hills Trail. The most difficult but rewarding hike is Gros Morne Mountain. There are tour groups available to hike this summit. Unfortunately, I was too early in the summer to safely complete this hike. I would suggest planning for July or August if you want to do this hike. I only had time for Tablelands Trail and it was incredible. This area is a unique landscape where you can see parts of the Earth’s mantle.

Boat Tours

The activity I was looking forward to most was a boat tour with BonTours. I booked the Western Brook Pond Tour for my last day before a long drive back to St. John’s. Unfortunately, the fog was so thick that day they had to cancel right before the tour was planned to start. I would suggest planning this early in your trip to Gros Morne so you can reschedule if needed. Now I have a great reason to return to Newfoundland. For both the boat tour, and to summit Gros Morne Mountain!

Where To Stay:

Norris Point

This town has several lovely Inn’s and B&B’s. I chose to stay at Neddies Harbour Inn, which is located along the sea and features a restaurant in-house. The food was fresh and they keep as many ingredients as local as possible. Other options include Neddies Nook, The Tides Inn, or Gros Morne BaseCamp Burnt Hill Cabins in Norris Point.

Rocky Harbour

This town is nearby Norris Point. Here they have Augustus Jane Inn, Wildflowers Country Inn, The Candlelight Inn, or Bambury Hillside Chalets.

Woody Point

This small town is across the bay. Accommodations here include Bonne Bay Inn, Seaside Suites Gros Morne, and The Rooms at Woody Point. If you are looking for a more luxurious stay, I would suggest Gros Morne Inn.

Summary

Newfoundland is the perfect Canadian province for a road trip. There are many unique hiking spots and quaint little towns. If you love “off-the-beaten-path” and natural beauty, Newfoundland is perfect for you. Trinity offers a slow, relaxing stop with great hiking and wildlife encounters. Gros Morne National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and offers special views of this island! No matter where you travel, you will fall in love with Newfoundland. Where are you going first on your ultimate Newfoundland road trip?

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