12 Day Adventure Guide To Newfoundland and Labrador

This 12 Day Adventure Guide To Newfoundland and Labrador will take you from St. Johns to Bonavista Peninsula and Burin Peninsula. Within, you will find things to do, places to visit and places to eat. You may not be able to complete all the things in this guide in 12 days. Save this guide and complete the things you miss out on your next trip to the area.

DAY 1 St. John’s Arrival

This is your first day in St. John’s. Pick up your rental vehicle. Drive to your hotel to check-in. If you arrive late, get some rest and recharge your electronics. If you have an early or afternoon arrival, you can go out for supper or order pizza from any franchise in the city. 

Places to Stay in St. John’s

• JAG Boutique Hotel
• Alt Hotel St. John’s 
• Murray Premises Hotel 
• Courtyard by Marriott St. John’s Newfoundland 
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites St. John’s Airport
• The Delta Hotels by Marriott St. John’s
• Monastery Hotel 
• Blue on Water

Places to Eat

• Bernard Stanley Gastropub:223 Duckworth Street, St. John’s, NL
• The Celtic Hearth: Address 300 Water Street, St. John’s, NL
• Oliver’s:160 Water Street, St. John’s, NL
• Saltwater:320 Water Street, St. John’s, NL
• Bad Bones Ramen:178 Water Street, St. John’s, NL
• Bellissimo Bistro & Espresso Bar :123 Quidi Vidi Road, St. John’s, NL
• The Merchant Tavern:291 Water Street, St. John’s, NL
• Get Stuffed:190 Duckworth Street, St. John’s, NL
• The Gypsy Tea Room:315 Water Street, St. John’s, NL

DAY 2 Sightseeing on The Avalon

Cape Spear Lighthouse

Cape Spear Lighthouse is one of the oldest lighthouses in Newfoundland and Labrador. This lighthouse is situated at the most easterly point in North America and offers a panoramic view of eth Atlantic ocean.

Cape Spear has been open to visitors for many years and has become a National Historic Site where visitors can learn about the history and significance of this location over the past years. Today you can visit this lighthouse anytime during daylight hours from mid-May through mid-October each year. You’ll be able to walk around and see what working must have been like for those who manned these lights back then.

DAY 3 Whale and Puffins Watching

The ideal time to see whales and Puffins is from June through September. You can go ahead and book your tour with any of these companies.

O’Brien’s Whale and Bird Tours Address: 22 Lower Road, Bay Bulls, NL 

Gatherall’s Puffin & Whale Watch Address: 90 Northside Road, Bay Bulls, NL

Ocean Quest Adventures Address: 40 O’Leary Avenue, St. John’s, NL

Iceberg Quest Ocean Tours Address: 135 Harbour Drive Pier 6, St. John’s, NL

DAY 4 Day Trip to Irish-Loop

The Irish Loop stretches from St. John’s to Salmonier Line. 

There are many places to visit along this route.

1. Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
2. La Manche Provincial Park
3. Hike to La Manche Provincial Park Suspension Bridge 

Visit Ferryland to see

• Colony of Avalon
• Ferryland Lighthouse

Hike Spurwink Island Path in Port Kirwan

Visit Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve

Visit Cape Race Lighthouse

Stop at St. Vincents Beach to Whale Watch 

Visit Salmonier Nature Park

DAY 4 Places to eat on the Irish-Loop 

The Jigger, Address: 573 Main Road, Bay Bulls, NL

Irish Loop Coffee House, Address: 407 Main Highway Witless Bay, NL

The Captain’s Table, Address: 21 Main Road, Route 10 – Irish Loop, Mobile, NL

Fork Restaurant, Address: 52 Cod Sein Cove Road, Mobile, NL

Mama B’s Bakery, Address: 499 Main Road, Mobile, NL 

Riverside Restaurant and Lounge, Address: 6 Lower Road, Cape Broyle, NL

Squid Jigger Lounge, Address: NL-10, Calvert, NL

Tetley Tea Room By The Sea, Address: The Pool, Ferryland, NL

Lighthouse Picnics, Address: 1 Lighthouse Road, Ferryland, NL

In Da Loop, 412 Main Road #410, Aquaforte, NL

Edge of the Avalon Inn Restaurant, Address: 113 Coarse Hill Road, Trepassay, NL

Celtic Knot Pub and Restaurant, Address: Main Road, St Marys, NL 

DAY 5 Day Trip to Bell Island

Bell Island is a great place to visit if you’re looking for something off the beaten path. It’s only about 30 minutes ferry ride from St. John’s and has many attractions worth checking out.

1. Bell Island Community Museum and Mine
2. Grebe’s Nest
3. Bell Island Lighthouse
4. Lance Cove Beach & Seaman’s Memorial
5. Bell Island Natural Walking Trails
6. Sacred Heart Grotto

Places to eat on Bell Island 

• The Hangry Miner, Compressor Hill, Bell Island, NL 
• Light Keeper’s Cafe, 5 Lighthouse Rd, Bell Island, NL
• Dicks’ Fish and Chips, 11 Beach Road, Bell Island, NL
• Bell Island Co-op Bakery, Compressor Hill, Bell Island, NL 

DAY 6-8 Explore Bonavista Peninsula

The Bonavista Peninsula is a beautiful place worth exploring if you want to get away from the city. It’s close, and you can do plenty of activities there. It’s also home to Trinity, considered one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s prettiest towns. In addition, Bonavista Peninsula has many attractions worth checking out.

1. Bonavista Museum
2. Cape Shore Trail
3. Trinity Eco-Tours and Lodge
4. Green Family Forge
5. Sea of Whales Adventures
6. Hiscock House Provincial Historic Site
7. Rising Tide Theatre

More Things to do on Bonavista Peninsula

• Matthew Legacy
• Discovery Sea Adventure Tours
• Dungeon Provincial Park
• Seas the Day Boat Tours
• King’s Cove Lighthouse
• The Garrick Theatre
• Ryan Premises National Historic Site

1. Cape Bonavista Lighthouse
2. Puffin Colony
3. John Cabot Municipal Park
4. Lockston Path Provincial Park
5. Bonavista Adventure Tours
6. O’Dea’s Pond Boardwalk

Places to eat on Bonavista Peninsula

1. P K’s Restaurant, Address: 89 Church Street, Bonavista, NL
2. Ragged Rocks Gastropub, Address: 80 Church Street, Bonavista, NL
3. Sweet Rock Ice Cream, Address: 102 Church Street, Bonavista, NL
4. Moreish Cupcakes & Treats, Address: 77 Church Street, Bonavista, NL 
5. Oh My Cheeses, Address: 6 Ship Cove Road, Port Rexton, NL
6. Galley Restaurant, Address:230 Newfoundland and Labrador, Plate Cove West
7. Stella’s Café, Address: Catalina, NL 

• Seaside Gary’s Takeout, Address: Main St, Little Catalina, NL
• The Puffin Café, Address: 9 Sandy Cove Road #7, Elliston, NL
• Skipper’s Restaurant, Address: 42 Campbell Street, Bonavista, NL
• Dungeons Distillery Ltd, Address: 32 Station Road, Bonavista, NL 
• Walkham’s Gate Pub And Cafe, Address: Church Street, Bonavista, NL 
• Marsh’s Snack Bar, Address: 62 Church Street, Bonavista, NL
• The Boreal Diner, Address: 61 Church Street, Bonavista, NL 
• The Quintal Cafe & Bistro, Address: 63 Church Street, Bonavista, NL

DAY 9-12 Explore Burin Peninsula

The Burin Peninsula is a long, narrow peninsula that extends into the Atlantic Ocean. The peninsula has many attractions, including its beaches, nature reserves and more. It’s one of the most scenic areas on the island, with rocky cliffs overlooking the ocean and many small coves and bays to explore. The peninsula is also home to several communities that have been thriving for centuries. Some of the best things to do are  

• Fortune Head Geology Centre
• Provincial Seamen’s Museum
• St. Lawrence Miners’ Memorial Museum
• Middle Head Lighthouse
• Cook’s Lookout Trail
• Tidal Wave Memorial
• Grand Bank Regional Theatre
• Marystown Heritage Museum
• Fortune Head Ecological Reserve
• Winterland Ecomuseum
• New age rentals and adventure tours
• Grand Bank Historic Lighthouse and Waterfront

Places to eat on Burin Peninsula

1. Smugglers Cove Roadhouse, Address: 310-316 Church Street, Burin, NL 
2. Heritage Cafe, Address: 34 Seaview Drive, Burin, NL 
3. Pauline’s Diner, Address:140 Main Street, Burin, NL 
4. Lucky House Restaurant, Address: 6 Salt Pond Drive, Burin Bay Arm
5. PJ Billington’s, Address:180-190 Ville Marie Drive, Marystown, NL 
6. The Admiral’s Galley & Keg, Address: 38 Queen Street, Marystown, NL 
7. Sharon’s Nook, Address: 12 Water Street, Grand Bank, NL
8. Wong’s Palace Restaurant, Address: McGettigan Boulevard, Marystown, NL 
9. Staghead Restaurant and Lounge, Address: 224 Creston Boulevard, Marystown, NL