The Island Big Land Tour
Day One:
Arrival in Deer Lake. Our group will make our way to the charming fishing village of Norris Point for a two-night stay in the breathtaking Gros Morne National Park.
Day Two:
We explore the magnificent wonders of scenic Gros Morne National Park, beginning with a boat tour on beautiful Bonne Bay. On the boat tour, we will explore the geological marvel of the Table Lands and discover local flora, fauna, and other geological wonders. The afternoon will be spent taking an actual hike on the Table Lands, a piece of the earth’s mantle dating back 500 million years. Upon returning to Norris point, we will visit the Discovery Centre before departing on an optional sunset boat tour featuring local entertainment.
Day Three:
We depart Norris Point, heading up the Northern Peninsula for Hay Cove. Along the way, we’ll have lunch in Port Au Choix and visit the Port Au Choix National Historic Site. As we visit the Great Northern Peninsula, we’ll learn about the sealing industry and its historical and present impact on the economic fabric of Newfoundland and Labrador. In the late afternoon, we will arrive in the small settlement of Hay Cove for our two-night stay.
Day Four:
We will start the day with a leisurely morning, then continue on our way into St. Anthony. Our first visit will be the Grenfell Experience, where we will learn about the extraordinary life of Wilfred Grenfell and his wife Anne MacClanahan and their incredible achievements in both Labrador and the Northern Peninsula. In the afternoon we explore L’Anse aux Meadows, a UNESCO world heritage site and an authentic Norse settlement that dates back 1000 years. After our visit, we will return to Hay Cove to relax before our evening’s dinner and entertainment.
Day Five:
Today we will depart Hay Cove for Red Bay, leaving the Northern Peninsula to cross over to Labrador, AKA “The Big Land”. After crossing over on the ferry, we will then proceed to Point Amour Lighthouse, Canada’s second tallest lighthouse built in the 1850’s. Here we can go for a scenic coastal hike where we will learn about the maritime history of this area. We’ll then proceed to Red Bay, Labrador, where we will overnight for one evening.
Day Six:
This morning will begin with a visit to the Red Bay UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the whalers from the Basque regions of Spain and France established a whaling station during the 16th century. In the afternoon we will proceed to the ferry, crossing back to the island for our two-night stay in Cow Head.
Day Seven:
Day seven begins with a two-hour cruise that will take us through an ancient fjord on Western Brook Pond, arguably Newfoundland’s most famous landscape. Following a leisurely afternoon and dinner, we will experience some award-winning local theatre in Cow Head.
Day Eight:
It’s time to leave the Northern Peninsula for Central Newfoundland, making some scenic stops throughout the park before getting to King’s Point. There we will visit the award-winning King’s Point Pottery shop to view some of the local artisan handicrafts, as well as the King’s Point Whale Pavilion where you will see the skeletal remains of a 55-foot humpback. In the late afternoon, we arrive in Little Harbour in the late afternoon for our two-night stay.
Day Nine:
Today we will discover Twillingate, its local attractions, and its beautiful surroundings with the rest of the afternoon at your leisure. After dinner, you have the option to take in entertainment at a local dinner theatre.
Day Ten:
We begin our day by driving through Terra Nova National Park, exploring the Bonavista Peninsula on our way to the artistically inspirational town of Salvage. From there we continue to the historical town of Trinity, which features commercial buildings and houses unchanged in over 250 years.
Day Eleven:
We’ll leave Trinity and drive along the coastal routes of Trinity Bay and Conception Bay, with a stop in Heart’s Content. Here we’ll visit the cable station and learn about the extraordinary revolution in transatlantic communications. After driving across the Avalon Peninsula we’ll arrive in St. John’s, the historic capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, making it our home for the next three nights.
Day Twelve:
Spend your morning exploring “The City of Legends”, one of North America’s oldest settlements. You’ll have the afternoon free to explore the charming streets, colourful atmosphere, and stunning cuisine that this city has to offer.
Day Thirteen:
We’ll venture down the Irish Loop to Bay Bulls where we’ll embark on a marine adventure to the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. Here we will witness the habitat of millions of seabirds, including the beautiful Atlantic Puffin, the provincial bird of Newfoundland. Bay Bulls also features some of the best whale watching in North America. After another free afternoon in St. John’s, we’ll have our farewell dinner at a lovely restaurant followed by live local entertainment.
Day Fourteen:
We transfer to the airport for our flight home with fond memories of our incredible experiences in Canada’s best-kept secret: Newfoundland and Labrador.
Tour Inclusions:
- Accommodations and daily breakfast
- All tour excursions and attractions listed in itinerary
- Bonne Bay boat tour
- Gros Morne cruise
- Gatherall’s Whale Watching cruise
- Cow Head theatre and other local entertainment
- Farewell dinner
- Fully escorted by professional and experienced tour guide