We’re excited for your trip to Newfoundland and want you to have a fantastic experience. Newfoundland and Labrador is unlike any place on earth, and with so much to see and do, it’s easy to have a great time no matter what part of the Province you visit. To make things extra smooth, here are our Top 10 Newfoundland Vacation Travel Tips:
1: Book Rental Car Early
If you’re planning on getting a rental car, booking early is really important, especially if you’re visiting in the peak tourist season or have specific requirements. With the amount of tourists visiting Newfoundland in the summer, rental vehicle companies have a hard time keeping up.
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2: Pace Yourself
Newfoundland and Labrador is really big. The Province has over 5000 miles of coastline, three distinct biological, geological, and climatic zones, and thousands of exciting things to see and do. You can’t do it all, so make sure you take your time and enjoy. See this article for help Trip Planning.
3: Plan
We’re not talking about planning every aspect of your Newfoundland Vacation, but deciding on some base details will go a long way to ensuring you get to see and do what’s most important to you. Are you most interested in visiting the capital city of St. John’s and all that the surrounding area has to offer? Are you looking for whales, puffins, and East Coast Trail hiking? Are you excited about visiting National Historic Sites and World UNESCO Sites like Mistaken Point, Tableland Mountains, Colony of Avalon, and Gros Morne National Park? Having a game plan will let you spend more time exploring and less time sorting out logistics.
4: Book a Cabin on the Ferry
Travelling to Newfoundland by road? Depending on the ferry you choose, crossing from mainland Canada to Newfoundland will take an average of 8 hours. The Ferry has comfy seats, a full restaurant, and bar. It also has a limited supply of berths you can reserve for an extra fee. The berth gives you a private room with a bed and hot shower, and there’s no better time to take a rest than during a Marine Atlantic crossing.5: Spread Out Drives
If you’re travelling by car and plan on driving across Newfoundland from Port Aux Basques to St. John’s, spread the drive out over a few days and explore some of the hot spots along the way. Western Newfoundland has Mountains, Gros Morne National Park, great sunsets, and is the gateway to the Great Northern Peninsula. Central Newfoundland offers access to iceberg ally, Fogo Island, and Terra Nova Provincial Park. Eastern Newfoundland has the capital city of St. John’s, the world’s largest concentration of Humpback Whales, and famous East Coast Trail hikes.
6: Consider a visit to St. Pierre and Miquelon
6: Consider a visit to St. Pierre and MiquelonYes, we’re suggesting a trip to France as part of your Newfoundland Vacation. Saint Pierre and Miquelon is a French island archipelago just south of Newfoundland’s Burin Penninsula. The ferry is inexpensive, takes about an hour, and before you know it you’re in France getting your passport stamped, paying in Euros, and eating French pastry.
7: Discover Edible Plants
Did you know Newfoundland is full of edible plants? Food foraging has grown as a popular hobby with lots of great information available on edible plants in Newfoundland. If you’re planning to spend some time on the East Coast Trail or roaming around the beaches, grab an edible food guide or download one of the many free plant identification apps and discover just how much tasty food was hidden right under your nose.
8: Pack for all four seasons
8: Pack for all four seasonsIf you’re coming in July you can leave the ski equipment at home, but be sure to pack some warm cloths along with your shorts and sandals. Because the Jet Stream and Oceanic Gyre define our weather patterns, sometimes you can experience all four seasons in a single day.
9: Bring a Water Bottle
If you’re always drinking bottled water, during your trip to Newfoundland challenge yourself to try the local stuff. Newfoundland Canada has some of the highest quality fresh water on the planet, with everything from icebergs to freshwater roadside springs in large supply. Take the challenge and let us know what water you found to be the best.
10: Book Early
10: Book EarlyComing in peak season? The high season in Newfoundland is from June to September. During this time it can be hard to find accommodations with tickets for boat tours and ferry crossings selling out fast. Booking early not only means you have a better chance of getting that room with a hot tub your wanted or a seat on your preferred tour, but you often get a better deal too.
4 Responses
If you have an RV take an Adventure Caravans tour of the Canadian Maritimes! You’ll love it. Newfound & PEI were my favorites–especially Twillingate & it’s entertainment!
Yeah, Twillingate has LOADS of great music and entertainment. Did you see the Slpit Peas while you were there?
So June and September is the busy season to visit Newfoundland as vacation traveler.
Yeah, June and September are shoulder seasons, you’ll still have a great time. But not all attractions will be opened. July and August are the busy months.