Bonavista things to do

Newfoundland Travel Guide

Things to Do in
Bonavista

Cape Bonavista Lighthouse, Dungeon Park, Elliston puffins, and the Discovery Trail. Here is the full guide.

Bonavista is a historic town on the tip of the Bonavista Peninsula one of the first landing points for Europeans in Newfoundland, with excellent wildlife viewing, historic sites, and coastal scenery. Here is everything worth doing.

Top Things to Do in Bonavista

Historic Site
Cape Bonavista Lighthouse

One of the most iconic lighthouses in Newfoundland. Grounds are free to access with panoramic coastal views. Puffins nest in the cliff rocks below. Humpback whales spotted offshore in summer. Small museum inside for a fee. The lighthouse was built in 1843.

Free Natural Wonder
Dungeon Provincial Park

A collapsed sea cave where waves pour in through twin arched openings one of the most unusual free natural formations in Newfoundland. 10 minutes from Bonavista town. No entry fee. Extraordinary photography subject at any light.

National Historic Site
Ryan Premises

Ryan Premises National Historic Site captures the history of the 19th-century salt cod trade that built Bonavista. Well-preserved merchant premises on the waterfront. The Matthew Legacy celebrates John Cabot’s 1497 landfall at Bonavista.

Free Puffin Viewing
Elliston Puffin Site

The world’s most accessible Atlantic puffin colony. The Neck, Elliston, NL A0C 1N0. Puffins nest within 2-5 metres of the public viewing area. Free, no booking. 20 minutes from Bonavista town via Route 235. Late May to early September.

World-Class Trail
Skerwink Trail, Port Rexton

Ranked top 35 trails in North America and Europe. 5.3 km coastal loop, 1.5-2 hrs, free. Trailhead on Rocky Hill Road, Port Rexton. 30 minutes from Bonavista. Start with coffee at Two Whales Coffee, adjacent to trailhead.

Boat Tours
Whale, Iceberg and Puffin Tours

Bonavista Puffin and Whale Tours and Discovery Sea Adventures both operate from the Bonavista area. Trinity Eco-Tours offers whale watching, sea kayaking, and Zodiac iceberg tours from Trinity, 30 minutes south.

🎣
Cod Fishing Tours

You can enjoy a 2-hour fishing tour with local operators, who will take you to the Atlantic Ocean to catch your cod. They will show you how to clean and prepare your fish. A genuinely unique Newfoundland cultural experience alongside the wildlife watching.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cape Bonavista Lighthouse (free grounds), Dungeon Provincial Park (free), Ryan Premises National Historic Site, Elliston Puffin Viewing Site (free, 20 min away), Skerwink Trail in Port Rexton (30 min, top 35 trails in North America), and whale and iceberg boat tours.
Approximately 300 km about 3 hours via Trans-Canada and Route 230.
Puffins at Elliston (free), humpback and minke whales on Trinity Bay boat tours, and icebergs in May-June from Cape Bonavista Lighthouse headland.

Planning a Bonavista Peninsula Visit?

Book your rental car early. No public transport reaches Bonavista or Elliston.

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