An exciting vacation doesn’t always mean that you have to travel far from home to have a good time. There are plenty of places to visit and activities to do without leaving Newfoundland. So, make a plan and explore what makes Newfoundland special.
Pack up the car and get ready for adventure when you check out some of the places listed below.
Take a Spa Getaway
Treat yourself with a spa getaway at a local spa. Spend a few hours relaxing or go on a relaxing weekend getaway. Newfoundland is home to a variety of luxurious spas where you can book a splendid staycation spa getaway.
Go Off the Grid
Pack your hiking and camping gear, and leave the hustle and bustle of daily life at home. Explore the spectacular untouched wilderness of Newfoundland and Labrador. Check out our list of 13 places you can go off the grid.
Go Glamping
Camping doesn’t have to mean roughing it in the wilderness anymore. Be comfortable while sleeping under the stars and reconnecting with nature. There are lots of options including yurts, walled tents, small cabins, and luxury tents available. Check out our list of 15 places to go glamping.
Take a Hike
From mountain climbs to beach walks, Newfoundland and Labrador is home to many beautiful trails for all skill levels. It’s unique history and landscape comes to life, with stunning views from high peaks on the coastal tips, or gorgeous forestry and even inner-city hikes from down below. Whether in St. John’s or atop a peak in Sunnyside, great hiking is to be found in Newfoundland and Labrador. Check out this list of the best hikes to check out.
Be a tourist in St.John’s
St. John’s has a long history from its start as a fishing village to the capital city today. Rediscover St. John’s.
Explore Avalon Peninsula
Get ready to enjoy the great outdoors at your own pace. The Avalon Peninsula is home to beautiful sandy beaches, challenging hikes, lush green forests, and much more. Now that the sun is shining and the days are warm, it is time to head outside and take in nature.
Avalon Wilderness Reserve
Explore one of North America’s most southerly, unspoiled barrens. The Avalon Wilderness Reserve offers excellent hiking, camping, photography, and canoeing. Access to the reserve is by unmaintained road, and no off-road vehicles are permitted.
Details
Horse Chops Road, Avalon Wilderness Reserve
Permits are required for various activities, but no fees are charged.
NL Food Tours
Explore Downtown St. John’s and sample what local chefs have been cooking up on a three-hour tour. Walk down Duckworth Street and Water Street, hear about the history of the city, and explore the ever-changing downtown scene.
Details
St. John’s
$75 to $149
Salmon Cove Sands
Spend a fun day playing and relaxing on the beautiful grey sand beach in a sheltered cove at Conception Bay North. Salmon Cove Sands is a gorgeous heart-shaped beach that is surrounded by high cliffs. There is also a 2km hiking trail and a warm water river nearby that have activities for all ages.
Details
Beach Road, Salmon Cove
$2 to $40
Nature Minded
Take some time to relax and revitalize yourself when you go for a very special ‘Forest Bathing Walk’ with Tina White of NatureMinded. Forest Bathing Walks where participants walk very slowly through nature, being mindful of the beautiful nature around them. You can also choose to take a Fairylore Walkabout or a Fairy Door Tour that includes storytelling and local fairylore, fairy homes, tasty treats, and nature adventures for young and old alike.
Details
Pippy Park, Portugal Cove-St. Phillips and Tors Cove, St. John’s
Prices vary depending on Tour
O’Brien’s Whale & Bird Tours
Book a tour with O’Brien’s Whale & Bird Tours and have a fantastic time getting up close and personal with whales and other marine life. Their guides have been doing the tours for over 30 years and know where to take you to explore Newfoundland’s beautiful coast, majestic icebergs, amazing puffins, and spectacular marine life. They even have a gift shop where you can get souvenirs to take home with you.
Details
22 Lower Road, Bay Bulls
$30 to $165
Lighthouse Picnics
Take in the spectacular view along the 25-minute hike from the Colony of Avalon to the Ferryland Lighthouse. Once at the lighthouse, you can pick up your picnic and find a location overlooking the ocean. Due to the small kitchen, a limited number of picnics are available per day.
Details
Ferryland
From $28 per person
Barbour Living Heritage Village
Have a wonderful staycation and experience a typical day at a working fishing village. Take a guided interpretive tour and meet the locals. Be sure to stop into the Olde Shoppe Restaurant for a great classic meal, and Poop Deck Craft and Gift Shop for authentic Newfoundland crafts.
Details
School Crescent, Newtown
$5 to $25
Newfoundland Pony Sanctuary
Do you love ponies? Schedule a tour of the Pony Sanctuary or take a self-guided tour, where you can see the critically endangered Newfoundland ponies in person. Pony rides for children are available for children. You will hear stories about how Newfoundland Ponies become the province’s first heritage animal. They even have ‘Sponsor a Pony’ and ‘Adopt a Pony’ options that you can look into if you want to help save the ponies.
Details
Main Change Islands Road, Change Island
$5
Twillingate Adventure Tours
Take a Twillingate Adventure Tour to explore the heart of Newfoundland’s Iceberg Alley where you will see icebergs, whales, other sea life, seabirds and fantastic views of rugged landscapes. When the tour is over, head to Annie’s Harbour Restaurant to to have a feed of fresh, local seafood and a refreshing Iceberg Beer or a ‘Screech’ & Coke.
Details
128 Main Street, Twillingate
$60
Hare Bay Adventures
Embark on an adventure exploring Newfoundland’s coast in a handmade wooded boat, or stay on land and hike the trails of Hare Bay. All of Hare Bay Adventures packages are customizable to fit your adventure needs. They also offer fishing lessons for experience and mobility levels.
Details
14 Rogers Road, Hare Bay
Starting at $30
Deer Lake Beach
Deer Lake Beach is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the sand between your toes. This beautiful sandy beach is ideal for sunbathing, wading in the shallow water, building sand castles, and having a picnic. You can also see seabirds on the beach.
Details
Nicholsville Road, Deer Lake
Wright’s Family Farm
If you love picking your own fresh fruit, head to Wright’s Family Farm for a relaxing day on the farm. They have raspberry, strawberry, blueberry and pumpkin u-picks at the farm. Come for some outdoor, fresh air fun and the freshest, local produce around. Their on-farm market has over 30 different varieties of fresh, local berries, fruit and vegetables in-season that you can buy if you don’t want to pick your own.
Details
99 Main Street East, Pasadena
Newfoundland Insectarium
Spend a day at the Newfoundland Insectarium connecting with nature and learning about insects. Take a walk through the gorgeous butterfly gardens and see how the bees do their important work in the beehive. You can get a closer look at the harmless insects by asking the staff to show you the insects up close.
Details
2 Bonne Bay Road, Reidville
$10 to $14
Funland Resort
Pack up the family and get ready to get away from it all and have some real fun. Once your camp is set up, the fun really starts at the Funland Resort. You can make a huge splash in the pool after zipping down the 200-foot waterslide. Kids of all ages will absolutely love the petting zoo.
Details
34 Veterans Drive, Cormack
$30 to $35
Cache Rapids Stable
Have an amazing equestrian experience when you book a tour with the Cache Rapids Stable. They have a variety of equestrian experiences that you can choose from, which include pony rides for the children, trail rides ranging from half an hour to three hours, or even a multi-day wilderness ride if you are really adventurous. After your ride, stop in at the Tack Shop and pick up some Western gifts and Souvenirs.
Details
255 Reidville Road, Reidville
$25-$110
Taste of Gros Morne
Give your taste buds an unforgettable treat when you go on a Taste of Gros Morne food tour. This popular food tour features 3 of Gros Morne’s top restaurants where you will savour the freshest local seafood, smell the fragrant garden-grown herbs, and savour the sweetest handpicked berries during this sumptuous 3-course gourmet meal.
Details
Norris Point
From $130
The Seashore Boardwalk
Go for a relaxing stroll along The Seashore Boardwalk, which is one of North’s America’s longest boardwalks. Enjoy the fresh saltwater air while walking to the top of Burnt Wood Point Hill. There are informative storyboards, a gazebo, and a viewfinder that you will find along the way. It is a lovely walk for the whole family.
Details
Rigolet
Point Amour Lighthouse Provincial Historic Site
Visit the Point Amour Lighthouse if you want to check out the gorgeous panoramic view from the tallest lighthouse in Atlantic Canada since it is 33 meters high. The lighthouse is a tribute to the past where it played a significant role in the lives of the people of Southern Labrador. It has also been designated a Provincial Historic Site.
Details
L’Anse Amour Road, L’Anse-Amour
$4 to $15
Visit NL’s National Parks
- Explore the ancient landscape and take in the breathtakingly beautiful views of Gros Morne National Park. Explore the ancient landscape and take in the breathtakingly beautiful views of Gros Morne National Park.
- Located between northern Quebec and Labrador Sea, and an “Inuit gift to the people of Canada” wilderness awaits you at Torngat Mountains National Park, where you will sail and hike through picturesque remote areas that will simply take your breath away.
- Canada’s most easterly National Park and Newfoundland’s oldest, promises you nothing but an adventure for the duration of your stay in Terra Nova National Park. Let your kayak take you to secluded boreal forests where you can enjoy hot chocolate as you watch beavers build a fortress.
Explore NL’s Gems with Your Teenager
Newfoundland and Labrador offers so much fun for teenagers. Whether you love the indoors or the outdoors, whether you’re on the mainland in Newfoundland or travel to Labrador and have great experiences there too!
Explore Newfoundland & Labrador