Newfoundland Circumnavigation

Embark on a voyage that will feature coastlines steeped in history, with ancient archaeological and National Heritage Sites set against a stunning landscape of natural wonders. While in Cape St. Mary's, stroll through the Castle Hill historic site, where French fortifications dating back to 1632 offer fine coastal views. Offshore, during the summer, observe the nesting seabirds and whales that inhabit these magical waters up close. Located on a rocky island, Battle Harbour is the province's only intact salt fishing village, and is dutifully maintained by the local historical trust. According to legend, the Montagnais Indians, aided by the French, fought their final battle against the Inuit at Battle Harbour. A burial mound is supposed to mark the site and some attribute its name from this historic event. Gaze in wonder at the steep walled rocky fjord that is Francois; see the richest archeological finds of North America in the charming town of Port au Choix. The special geologic conditions here have preserved a time capsule of great historical importance. Newfoundland's northern capital, St. Anthony, is known for L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, where the Vikings established the first European settlement in North America about 1,000 years ago. L'Anse aux Meadows features a recreation of sod houses that lets the visitor experience life as it must have been and tells the story of these hearty adventurers who braved the North Atlantic in their small boats. Surrounding a small but beautiful harbor, St. John's, the capital city of Newfoundland, is the easternmost and oldest city in all of North America and is known as the most colorful city in the province-making this a beautiful place to end our journey. Whether you want to unearth antiquities or just relax, this cruise will fulfill your fondest dreams of discovering the real Newfoundland.

Itinerary

St. John’s, Newfoundland
St. John's, the oldest city in North America, was settled by Irish and English immigrants who profited from the area's rich fishing waters. St. John's offers an enticing combination of old world charm, unique architectural, historical and natural attractions, and is located in close proximity to spectacular coastlines, historic villages and a diverse selection of wildlife. In St. John's visit Signal Hill National Historic Site. Here is celebrated the rich communications and military history of Signal Hill and it sits amidst a spectacular view of St. John's and the sea.

Cape St. Mary’s, Newfoundland
The grassy cliffs of Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve is one of the best and most accessible places in the world to see nesting seabirds, and the only one that can be approached on foot. It is one of Newfoundland's and Labrador's major seabird colonies. What makes it so spectacular, however, is that all these birds can be seen from land, as close as 32 feet away. Cape St. Mary's is also known as one of the best land-based whale watching locations in the world. You can stand on the cliffs and gaze down on whales as they lazily cruise the shoreline to search for food.

St. Pierre & Miquelon, France
St. Pierre is a tiny piece of Europe, close to St. John’s Newfoundland, where French Culture can be experienced on a small scale. Saint-Pierre & Miquelon is France's oldest remaining overseas territory. As well, it is France's closest and smallest territory. Explore the lovely and charming French community. Every spring, whales migrating to Greenland are visible off the coasts of Miquelon and St. Pierre. Wildlife is most abundant on this island and its counterpart to the south, the island of Langlade.

Francois, Newfoundland
When entering Francois harbor by boat, visitors are first greeted by one of the few remaining manned light stations in Newfoundland. Once past the light, visitors are astounded by the narrow opening leading into the steep-walled rocky fjord that is Francois. For a truly astonishing experience of the isolation and sheer beauty Francois has to offer, a visit to the Friar makes your trip one to remember. The Friar is a 680-foot rock projection that provides a bird's eye view of Francois and Chaleur Bay.

Ramea and Grey River, Newfoundland
Ramea is a fascinating place to explore. A scenic walking trail provides a splendid view of the coastline where Bald Eagles nest and two puffin colonies reside on the surrounding islands . Not far away is Grey River, a virtual paradise for the photographer or sportsman. The Grey River Fjord separates into three river systems. Each provides vistas of big game animals offers a breathtaking landscape of lush green forest, rugged mountains and sandy beaches. Visit the wharves and join the local people in the daily "yarns:' There you will enjoy the warmth and hospitality of the friendly residents.

Port aux Basques and Codroy, Newfoundland
Known as the Gateway to Newfoundland, Port Aux Basques has a rich history; this was a fishing station for the French, Portuguese and Basques as early as the 16th century. More than just a relay station for the ferry, it has both traditional architectural beauty and natural wonders. Nearby in the Codroy Valley, the Grand Codroy River plays host to the greatest variety of birds in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Thousands of migratory birds make the area their home during the spring and fall migration period.

Corner Brook, Newfoundland
The town of Corner Brook is located 25 miles inland from the Gulf of St. Lawrence in the Bay of Islands and is nestled among the Long Range Mountains, which are a continuation of the Appalachian Mountain belt. The meeting of the surrounding mountains with the salty ocean waters creates a varied and fascinating landscape sprinkled with offshore islands, fjords and forested areas. The historical heritage of Corner Brook can be experienced with a visit to the Railway Society of Newfoundland Historic Train Site or the excellent Corner Brook Museum.

Norris Point and Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland
Norris Point is a picturesque coastal community located on the northern side of Bonne Bay and is named after one of its first settlers, Neddy Norris, who came to the area between 1789 and 1790. This lovely town is located at the doorstep of Gros Morne National Park where visitors can hike through wild, uninhabited mountains or take a boat tour that cruises under the towering cliffs of a freshwater fjord carved out by glaciers. Norris Point Lookout and Jenniex Heritage House afford photographers breathtaking views of Tablelands; a geological wonder with striking barren shapes.

Port au Choix, Newfoundland
The town of Port au Choix, is a rare and wonderful National Historic Site; the community is regarded as one of the richest archeological finds in North America. Burial sites uncovered in the town in the 1960's & 70's provide evidence of it's most early settlers, from the Maritime Archaic Indians to the Recent Indians. While prehistoric coastlines elsewhere have long since slipped beneath the encroaching ocean, the special geologic conditions at Port au Choix have preserved a time capsule of great historical importance. An assortment of these artifacts is on display at The Parks Canada Visitor Center.

Red Bay, Newfoundland
Red Bay, named for the reddish cliffs found along the local shoreline, was only recently identified as an historic whaling port. By the late 1600’s, Red Bay was the largest whaling port in the world. Today the Red Bay National Historic site gives comprehensive evidence of those bygone days, but don’t limit your visit to the formal site; the community itself has a story to tell through its location and topography. Picturesque rocks protrude out of the water in the harbor, and eerie half-sunken ships lurk in the fog just offshore.

Battle Harbour, Newfoundland
Located on a small island in the Labrador Sea, Battle Harbour is a restored 19th century fishing village accessible only by boat and air during the months of mid-June through late September. Through the efforts of the Battle Harbour Historic Trust, the village is now a living commemoration of the life and society created there by Newfoundlanders and Labradoreans during the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Battle Harbour is an ideal destination for the adventurous tourist interested in history, nature, rugged and spectacular scenery, including the annual movement of majestic icebergs down the Labrador coast each June and July.

St. Anthony, Newfoundland
Newfoundland’s northern capitol, St. Anthony is known for L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, where the Vikings established the first European settlement in North America about 1,000 years ago. L’Anse aux Meadows, a designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features a recreation of sod houses that lets the visitor experience life as it must have been, and an Interpretation Centre tells the story of these hearty adventurers who braved the North Atlantic in their small boats. The center’s translation of Norse sagas makes fascinating reading.

Twillingate, Newfoundland
In the waters surrounding Twillingate, one may expect to see humpback and pilot whales, dolphins, and icebergs; some that are more than 3,000 years old, as they pass through "iceberg alley". On nearby Fogo Island, the original settlement took place in the 18th century and the area remained isolated well into the twentieth century, the descendants of the first inhabitants retained traces of their Elizabethan dialect, which can be heard on the island today. The island has many ancient folk customs brought from England that are now disappearing.

Bonavista, Newfoundland
In the 15th century the Italian explorer Giovanni Caboto set sail across the Atlantic; when he first discovered the land at Cape Bonavista, he's reputed to have said "Oh, Happy Sight!" which in his native Italian would've been "O Buona Vista!" Bonavista became one of the most important towns in Newfoundland because of its close access to the rich fishing and sealing grounds to the north peninsula. Bonavista was home to powerful and influential merchants, skippers and clergy. They have left a legacy which is ours to visit, photograph, and sometimes even touch.

St. John’s, Newfoundland

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