3-Day Trip to Newfoundland, Canada
Impromptu Getaway
It was a nice evening of June 20th 2024 when we remembered that the upcoming Monday (Jun 24th) was a public holiday in Quebec, the day of St. Jean Baptiste. I looked at Zuleide who was working on the photos from her last photoshoot and asked: "where should we travel to?". And the next question was: "where does Air Canada fly that has enough seats for us, stand-by travelers?". I took the app and checked a few good options, but what stood out was this: St John's in Newfoundland. A mere 2.5h flight away from Montreal.
When I realized, the flights were booked. We flew on June 21st in the evening and came back on June 24th also in the evening. That meant 3 full days in the easternmost province in Canada.
What Should We Do?
Next step of any trip planning is asking ourselves what we can do once we get to our destination. After some quick research, we decided that we definitely wanted to see whales and Atlantic puffins. We decided to rent a car in St. John's and take the Irish Loop, a road that goes to the south of the Avalon Peninsula and back in a loop along the coast. We also learned that Newfoundland is full of cute lighthouses, which we also wanted to see and photograph. We had a good idea of what to do. Let's get started then!
The Complete Itinerary
1st Night - June 21st
We touched down at St. John’s airport (YYT) late in the evening and headed straight to the Avis counter to pick up our rental. I had booked a standard SUV, but when we got there, the lady was "super sorry" to offer us a brand-new Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. That made me feel "so sad", but I decided to accept the offer. After that, we checked into the hotel and decided to rest there for the night. Our plan was to hit the road early the next morning and head towards our first stop on the Irish loop - a whale-watching tour.
We stayed at the Fairfield Inn & Suites St. John’s. It was a nice place to stay, and they even included breakfast in the price. But the breakfast wasn’t anything special.
1st day - June 22nd
WHALE-WATCHING TOUR
We start our road trip across the Avalon peninsula. Our first stop is by O'Brien's Boat Tours at 22 Lower Rd, Bay Bulls, NL A0A 1C0. Our tour was around 11am, so we had time to walk around the location while waiting. Once onboard the boat, we head towards open waters to hopefully see some whales followed by a visit to a bird sanctuary.
It wasn't very easy to see whales during the tour, although several of them were swimming by. They just didn't get out of the water enough for us to see and photograph. On the other hand, once we got to the bird sanctuary (Witless Bay Ecological Reserve) it was wonderful to see so many birds.
You guys should totally check out O’Brien’s tour! We had an absolute blast on the boat, listening to traditional regional music and hanging out with awesome people. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After the tour, we stumbled upon this cute little diner called The Jigger. It was super affordable and had the most delicious burgers!
THE CRIBBIES
So, we hit the road in our trusty Jeep and the next stop was this hidden gem called ‘The Cribbies’. Picture this: a bunch of colorful coastal homes tucked away in a lush meadow in Tors Cove. I’m so glad we had a Jeep for this trip. The narrow road to The Cribbies was a breeze with a 4x4. And guess what? We were the only ones there! So, we spent a whole hour wandering around and taking pictures. It’s definitely worth a visit if you ever find yourself in the area.
THE WHALES - NOW WE'RE TALKING
We’re driving south again, and we’re headed to Trepassey to stay at the Edge of the Avalon Inn. We’re planning to arrive around 5 pm and explore the area nearby. As soon as we get to the inn, the owner herself asks us if we’ve seen whales. We say, ‘Kind of.’ Then she gives us the keys to our room and ‘orders’ us to go straight to St. Vincent’s beach because everyone says the whales are having a feast right on the shore. So, we do. The beach is about 30 minutes away, and we get there with the sun still up but starting to set, which means the sky is filled with beautiful colors. And guess what? We see whales, lots of them!
After the spectacular moment at the beach, we head back to the Inn to rest, but not before crossing paths with a lone moose walking along the road back to Trepassey.
2nd day - June 23rd
POWLES HEAD LIGHTHOUSE
We woke up, had our nice breakfast at the Inn and since there was a lighthouse "just around the corner", that's where we took our Jeep to. Simple and nice. We manage to get some nice photos from this short detour.
CAPE RACE LIGHTHOUSE
Instead of taking the Irish loop, we decided to retrace our steps the day before. We missed out on some charming spots and wanted to explore them now. Our first stop was the Cape Race Lighthouse. A friendly lady from the Edge of Avalon interpretation Center shared some great tips with us. We had to drive on a narrow road through a protected area, but it was a scenic drive with amazing views of the ocean. If you’re looking for a unique lighthouse tour, definitely visit this one!
FERRYLAND LIGHTHOUSE
So, halfway through our drive back to St. John’s, we stumbled upon this amazing lighthouse called the Ferryland Lighthouse. It’s one of the most beautiful lighthouses I’ve ever seen! It’s nestled in this charming little town called Ferryland, and to reach the lighthouse, you have to park your car and take a lovely walk along this picturesque peninsula. Once you get there, the view is breathtaking! You just want to stay there, soaking in the ocean breeze and admiring the beauty of nature. It’s a popular spot for picnics, so if you’re bringing friends or family, make sure to pack some snacks and enjoy some quality time together.
ST. JOHN'S - THE JELLYBEANS
About 1h after we left the Ferryland lighthouse we reached St. John's. We went straight to our hotel, the Sheraton St. John's, which is very well located. After our check-in, we went for a walk, since the sun was still up. We headed towards what they call "Jellybean Row", which is a region of St. John's with colorful houses. This gives St. John's a picturesque environment which is any photographer's dream. We walked from the hotel to downtown where we stopped to eat and enjoy some local beer. Since it was summer, the streets were full of people having fun with their families and friends.
3rd day - June 24th
So, our last day in St. John’s was on June 24th, and guess what? The weather wasn’t exactly cooperating. It was cloudy with a light drizzle. But hey, we’re travelers, so we decided to make the most of it and explore the city once again. This time, we had our sights set on two really cool places: the Terry Fox memorial and the Signal Hill Historic Site.
The Terry Fox memorial is all about honoring the incredible journey of Terry Fox, the Canadian hero who embarked on the Marathon of Hope across the country. It’s a truly inspiring story that reminds us all that we can do more for the world, no matter what obstacles we might face.
After that, we headed to the Signal Hill Historic Site. It’s a short but steep walk, but it’s totally worth it. This place is famous for its amazing views, the historic Cabot Tower, and where Guglielmo Marconi got the first wireless transmission across the Atlantic in 1901. The views from up there are incredible, so if you’re in St. John’s, make sure to go there!
Is It Worth It?
If you’re wondering if it’s worth visiting St. John’s and Newfoundland, the answer is a resounding YES! We absolutely want to go back and explore more since we only had 3 days this time. There’s so much more to see and experience in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the entire country of Canada that we call home. Stay tuned for more exciting adventures!
Did you find this post useful and informative? I appreciate if you share with your family and friends!