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Newfoundland

Why Newfoundland?

Newfoundland is located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and is a very large island, covering one third of the area of Germany. However, only half a million people live here – 180,000 of them in the greater area of the capital St. John’s. With 20,000 inhabitants, Corner Brook is the largest city in the west of the island, and Gander, known for its international airport, has a population of 10,000.

You don’t go to Newfoundland for sightseeing, and certainly not to party. People come to this island mainly for its unique character, shaped by the sea. Huge forests and countless bays invite visitors to discover the island’s solitude again and again. Newfoundland has around 10,000 kilometers of coastline; the small villages have been influenced by fishing for centuries. If you’re lucky, you might see caribou or puffins, and in summer visitors wait for the giants of the north – icebergs and whales. And another figure: the population of moose is estimated at over 120,000, the largest population of moose in all of North America.

Westbound

Newfoundland can be reached either by ferry (from Sydney in Nova Scotia to Port aux Basques or Argentia) or by plane. We decided to take the plane; our journey begins at St. John’s International Airport, which is less than a six-hour flight from Europe. There is no way to get lost – there’s only one main road, and that is the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH).

Cities, Nature, Art – Have a look…

It’s about 800 kilometers to our first highlight, the Gros Morne National Park on the west coast, and we want to cover that distance with only one overnight stay. So Arnold’s Cove, Gambo, Lewisporte and Bishop’s Falls are just small towns to take a break. In Springdale, a little off the highway, there is at least a Tim Hortons, Canada’s national coffee house chain.

The last major town before we reach the coast is Deer Lake – ideal for refueling and refilling food. Once again, we head east for just an hour; our accommodation in the northern part of the national park is in Rocky Harbour where we spend the next three nights in the brand new “Augustus Jane Inn”. In the southern part of the park, we will rent a cottage in Trout River for another two nights.

Eastbound

On our way back we take some detours to the coast. First destination, again via Deer Lake and Springdale, is King’s Point. Here we enjoy the award-winning Alexander Murray Hiking Trail, a premium hiking highlight. More than 2,200 steps must be climbed on the four-hour trail. After the next loop on the TCH we reach Grand Falls-Windsor, the largest city in the interior. Shortly thereafter we turn north; destinations are the two islands of Twillingate and Fogo Island. Above all, the Art Studios located on the cliffs on the coast and Todd Saunders’ Fogo Island Inn are absolute musts on this trip.

The route takes us back via Gander, known for its major international airport, which, after an eventful history, now registers no more than 20 domestic flights per day. Via Terra Nova National Park, we continue to Clarenville, starting point for a round trip over historic Bonavista Peninsula. This is also where the Skerwink Trail is located, a premium hiking trail that runs for about 5 kilometers high above the sea and offers magnificent views.

The last part of our journey takes us around the Avalon Peninsula. Via Trepassey in the very south we pass the Colony of Avalon in Ferryland and La Manche Provincial Park with an incredible suspension bridge. Back in St. John’s, we explore a very interesting and colorful city. Finally, don’t miss the lighthouse of Cape Spear which marks the easternmost point of the North American continent.

Route Description

Tag/DayVon/FromNach/ToRoute
01St. John's Airport (YYT)St. John's020 km
02St. John'sLewisporte420 km
03LewisporteRocky Harbour360 km
04Rocky HarbourRocky Harbour050 km
05Rocky HarbourRocky Harbour050 km
06Rocky HarbourTrout River100 km
07Trout RiverTrout River050 km
08Trout RiverKing's Point240 km
09King's PointGrand Falls-Windsor110 km
10Grand Falls-WindsorTwillingate160 km
11TwillingateTwillingate050 km
12TwillingateFogo Island110 km
13Fogo IslandGander130 km
14GanderClarenville160 km
15ClarenvilleBonaventure280 km
16ClarenvilleHolyrood220 km
17HolyroodTrepassey110 km
18TrepasseySt. John's150 km
19St. John'sSt. John's020 km
20St. John'sSt. John's050 km
21St. John'sSt. John's Airport (YYT)020 km
Total2.860 km

The Journey in Pictures