25 ‘wild’ things to do in Newfoundland, Canada

Last updated on June 15th, 2026 at 03:38 am

Newfoundland is the kind of place that surprises you. You might arrive expecting pretty coastal views and seafood, but you will leave talking about icebergs drifting past fishing villages, humpback whales breaching beside your boat, colorful towns, puffins and gannets, dramatic hiking trails, Viking settlements, and some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet – complete with Irish accents!

Newfoundland – Canada’s easternmost province – is a bit different from everywhere else in Canada, with its own pace, personality, and landscapes that make you pull over every twenty minutes just to take another photo! It has so much to offer that its going to take a while to get around and really enjoy the island.

Are you keen?

Yes?

Great! This guide will not only give you 25 amazing things to put on your Newfoundland bucket list! But also answer all your questions and give you important tips to make your trip a success.

First a few important links to use when you plan your trip. They are affiliate links, but I use them all for my travels, and if you do too it will help me keep producing this content – and at no extra cost to you. Cheers!

Plan for your trip

Flights – use skyscanner or booking.com to find and book your flight – I often find the same flight for a lot cheaper than booking direct with the airline!

Insurance – Use EKTA or SafetyWing. TBH I usually use EKTA – they accept any nationality, any age and its ok if you are already traveling – which is perfect for me!

Accommodation – use booking.com or for a hostel – Hostelworld. I use both.

Internet – buy a yesim eSim or Airalo before you go. I use both depending on where I am going.

Buses, trains, ferries – 12Go is always my first option for buses, ferries and trains.

Car rental – use DiscoverCars – they are my ‘go-to’ car rental site

Hiking – I use AllTrails for online and offline hiking trails – it means you know exactly where you are on the trail and makes getting lost a lot harder!!

Tours and Activities – book with Viator, GetYourGuide, or Eatwith. Top picks for the nature lover in New Foundland are:

• St John’s Cape Spear and Petty Harbor tour
• St. John’s Walking Tour
• Puffins. whales or icebergs on an amazing boat tour
• Whale watching tours
• if you want to take it easy and let someone else do the organising this is a great 10 day tour from Halifax that covers the highlights!

Thanks so much if you use one of these links – it costs you nothing but helps me keep writing!

1. Be the first to watch the sun rise in North America

You can hike or drive here – the Cape Spear Lighthouse National and Historic Site. It is the most eastern point of North America.

Very popular is an early morning trip to be the first in North America to see the sun rise! It makes it one of the best things to do in Newfoundland – bragging rights included!

P.S. The sunset is pretty good too! And if you don’t mind missing the sunset or sunrise but want to stand on the easternmost point of North America take this rave review tour!!!

2. Walk part (or all) of the East Coast Trail

A trail of 270 kilometers of coastal hiking paths joined together by 66 kilometers of community walks – from Topsail Beach to Cappahayden on the east coast of New Foundland. You can take 2-3 weeks to do the whole trail or just pick and chose from the hiking paths.

Highlights (for me) are:

• the La Manche Village Path with its suspension bridge and nearby swimming hole, and, beautiful puffin-laden Doctors Cove (great spot for camping)
• the Cobblers Path with its wonderful clifftop views
• the Sugarloaf Path for its views and final descent into pretty little Quidi Vidi village
• the Cape Spear Path for a scenic walk to the most eastern point of North America

Also worth considering are the tough, but with natural phenomenon making it worth it, Spout Path – with a huge water spout about half way, and, the Spurwink Island Path with the natural bridge you see below!

Whatever you do, do part of the track. Its definitely one of the best things to do in Newfoundland – the coast is fabulous!

3. Walk the North Head Trail to Signal Hill

The North Head Trail was actually one of my most favorite walks on the island – and it starts right in St John’s. The views are spectacular and the finale is at the National Historic site of Signal Hill.

Even better, you can walk back to town via the road stopping at Georges Pond (see 4 below) for a cool-down swim on the way!

4. Swim in the lakes – even in St John’s

The land is full of wonderful swimming lakes – literally thousands or them – actually probably millions. Whatever – you have to get in them and enjoy them. The easiest if you are just here for a few days is in St John’s – in Georges Pond opposite the Visitors Center on the road to Signal Hill.

Another favorite was an unnamed pond on Herring Neck Road near Twillingate (see 11 below)

Blissful on a hot day!

5. Climb Gros Morne

In the far west of the island is the stunning Gros Morne National Park. If your limbs allow it, an absolute must do is to climb Gros Morne! Its only 800m high but about a 6-8hr hike with a tough 500m ascent up a boulder gully. The landscape and the views are definitely worth the effort as long as you pick the right day – definitely wait for a clear one!

If the limbs don’t allow, walk part of the way to a viewpoint looking over the low-level lakes and grassland to the mountain. This, the Tablelands, and parts of the east coast trail, were at the top of the list for the best things to do in Newfoundland for me!

6. Walk through the Table lands

Also found in Gros Morne National Park! This must-do but very easy 4km flat walk takes you into the Tablelands. In stark contrast to the surrounding hundreds of miles of green forest and lakes, this is a barren rock mountain area. But it is stunning!! It is also extraordinary because the orange-red rocks were once part of the Earth’s mantle, deep beneath the planet’s crust! This is one of the few places in the world where a portion of the Earth’s mantle has been thrust up through the crust – a geological rarity and definitely worth the short walk.

If you love it make your own way through the rocks after the end of the path – just make sure the weather is clear as it mists over it might be hard to find your way back. Also look on the sides of the pathway and in the rocks for the beautiful pitcher plants that dot the landscape. Absolutely don’t miss it – its round the top of the list of the best things to do in Newfoundland!

7. Check out the ancient living thrombolites

Thrombolites are one of the earliest life forms on earth. They are found only in a very few places in the world and are quite amazing to see. (Read Road Trip: Australia’s amazing south west from Perth to Bussleton where you will find the Australian ones.) They look like rocks but are actually microorganisms.

Newfoundland has some – in the far west at Flower’s Cove near L’Anse Aux Meadows and Port au Choix, so definitely stop off to take a look. Walk about 2km return on an easy trail and over the Marjorie Bridge – its all signposted from Flower’s Cove. These thrombolites are bigger and quite a different shape from the ones I saw in Australia.

8. Visit L’Anse Aux Meadows

This National Historic Site is the the only known Viking settlement in North America. It predates Christopher Colombus by about 500 years. Norse Viking expeditions sailed from Greenland, building a small encampment of timber-and-sod buildings here over 1000 years ago.

You can walk around the site on this Birchy Nuddick Trail (about an hour with photo stops etc) and take it all in. Those people were hardy and tough – that’s all I’ve got to say!

9. Track down the caribou at Port au Choix

I don’t know what it was about Port au Choix, but I loved it – despite the fact we had rain and grey! The walks around the National Historic site and lighthouse are perfect – and easy. Try the Port au Choix Trail. And the summer wildflowers are gorgeously out of this world!

But of course a huge highlight for me was the resident herd of caribou. At times you will see them from the road. I had to hike a while before seeing them above a beach far from any road – yes it was definitely worth it!

(This is also right near the top of the list and definitely one of the best things to do in Newfoundland for me!)

10. Take a boat or hike along the Western Brook Pond – an ancient fjord!

Hiking requires a guide – unless you do a few days with compass and map – and that takes prior approval! I wasn’t organized for this so cannot comment – but a guide is pricey!! I joined the two I was road-tripping with on the boat tour and a lovely short walk. Its a highlight for many and I met a couple of ladies that had the boat trip on their bucket list for years and were in raptures.

For me however, the boat trip was pleasant but not brilliant – although the waterfalls and cliffs are lovely. (Really I think I just don’t like sitting on a tour – something like that!) But I think I’m very much in the minority. (If you’ve seen the fjords in NZ or Norway and the like – you might agree with me.) I think the hike to the plateau above would be spectacular though!

Take a tour and prove me wrong

11. Watch the puffins at Elliston

Who doesn’t want to see puffins up close and personal? This is the spot – the Elliston puffin viewing site! There are puffins in many places in the summer but here, if you are still and quiet, they will land mere meters from you. ADORABLE!! What else is there to say?!

12. Take a ferry to Fogo Island and hike to the top of Brimstone Head

Jump on the ferry to Fogo Island and explore the largest offshore island of Newfoundland – a modern haven for artists and flat earth believers!!

You have to head to Brimstone Head Park and take the short and sweet 2km trail to climb to the top of the massive rock called Brimstone Head. This head is designated as one of the four corners of the Flat Earth by no less than Canada’s Flat Earth Society!

There are other trails – Joe Batts Point trail and Lions Den trail are two excellent other walks. This trail head is located in Fogo at the Brimstone Head Park. Venture up the stairs to the rocky outcrop for a phenomenal view. The Fogo Island Inn is also fascinating and you should aim to stay in this community owned, floor-to-ceiling-windowed stunning piece of architecture on top of a rock, if the budget allows! Book now – there are only 29 of these handcrafted rooms.

Probably the best place to stay in Newfoundland!

13. Spot the whales at Cape Bonavista Lighthouse & Dungeon Provincial Park

Close to the puffins at Elliston is Bonavista township – another windswept but picturesque village. Stop off at the cute little Bicycle Picnics Cafe & Bistro for tea with a view! Keep driving to the end of the road to the Bonavista Lighthouse. Walk along the clifftops for as far as you can see taking in the views and all the time spotting pods of humpback whales and groups of puffins (summer only). I was mesmerized by the whales at one point literally swimming close in on the bay about 100m from me perched on the grass above. Spectacular. Of course they are wild and so there is no guarantee – but its pretty likely you will see them !

Nearby is the Dungeon Provincial Park UNESCO Geosite with its collapsed sea cave and natural archway carved by the sea.

Whale watching is an absolute highlight for most people here and definitely one of the best overall things to do in Newfoundland no matter where you do it!

Book one of these Whale watching tours! (Do book ahead as they get booked out – and take seasick pills if you get motion sick – just in case!)

14. Hike the Twillingate trails

I absolutely loved these trails. You can join them up and make it a few days walk, or just pick and choose day walks. Either way, it there are miles of gorgeous coastline to explore on relatively easy walks. The bonus is the little township of Twillingate – which is postcard-pretty. Although its on the tourist trail – it’s one not to miss!

15. Drive the Heritage Loop on the Burin Peninsula

This is not on most peoples lists – the much better known Irish loop from St John’s is. But I much preferred this. Its full of noticeable beauty in an island where beautiful is the norm! You could easily spend a few days here poking around!

For a bit of heritage – stop at the Seamans Museum in Grand Bank (even I enjoyed it), and the Miners Museum in St. Lawrence (didn’t go but let me know)!

The Burin has some beautiful scenery and a little historic area with an old bank and a museum, as well as the short and lovely Cooks Lookout trail (4.3 km – 2.7m) and the Man-O-war hill trail (7.4km – 4.6m).

Head further south to Sandy Cove in Lord’s Cove and the Point Au Gaul Strand – both are nice sandy beaches. And you then get to Allan’s Island – great for a headland walk with convenient chairs to sit in and whale watch!

Further round is Fortune – the stepping off point for St Pierre and Miquelon ferries – see 25 below!

16. Try head counting the gannets in the huge colony at St Mary’s Ecological Reserve – one of the best things to do in Newfoundland if you’re a birder!

If you’re a birder, St Mary’s Reserve is a must. Even if not, its pretty cool as it is the most accessible seabird colony in North America! Thousands of gulls, razorbills, common murres, black-legged kittiwakes, northern gannets, and double-crested and great cormorants nest here. And 20,000 scoters, long-tailed ducks, harlequin, dovekies, thick-billed murres, and kittiwakes winter over here. That’s surely worth a look!

There are also walking trails along the beautiful dramatic coastline – with plenty of birds to keep you company of course.

17. Watch the whales at Saint Vincent’s Beach – an absolute must do in Newfoundland

I’ve mentioned the whales at Bonavista – but you can see them in so many spots from June to August. A famous place to spend a day or two watching the whales, is at Saint Vincent’s Beach. Here the humpback whales are found just off of the beach feeding on capelin and other sea life in the area. Its a 5km beach – a nice walk, and is the largest site in the world where you can view humpbacks and other whales from land.

There is a steep drop off from the shoreline so the whales can get quite close to the beach when feeding – an incredible experience. I’ve seen whales up close sailing around the world which is great – but even if you have been up close like that, this really is something special.

If you are in Newfoundland at the right time for whales this tour will get you out in the water with them: Puffins. whales or icebergs on an amazing boat tour

18. Fossil out at Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve

This is one of the most significant fossil sites in the world and is a UNESCO site! It has amazing fossils and they are the oldest, large complex multicellular life-forms found anywhere on Earth (known as Ediacara biota) .What’s so special about Mistaken Point is the huge number and variety of these kind of fossils found in one place.
Note: you must have a permit or go on a guided tour which you can read about on the reserve’s website – but there are not many places you will see something like this!

19. Visit the small fishing villages – including Quidi Vidi

Personally I prefer Twillingate, Port au Choix and a lot of other quieter little villages, but Quidi Vidi has a pretty cool name and its right in St Johns so – why not start there?

Colorful and charming, and you can enjoy a beer at the local Quidi Vidi brewery too! Its famous for its ‘Iceberg beer’ – brewed with pure water from real icebergs! True story!

Now we start to get a bit quirky…….

20. Watch an iceberg float right on by is absolutely one of the best things to do in Newfoundland – in the spring!

Its true! Its amazing. Sadly I was there on a low iceberg number year – and a little late in the season so there was only really one floating by. But come in spring on another year and watch the icebergs float by in what’s known as iceberg alley! You can even use this cool little tracker which is really useful if you’re chasing icebergs!

I was gutted I missed what I think must be and one of the best things to do in Newfoundland – on a good iceberg year! (P.S. – Google Iceberg Twillingate for some amazing pics!!)

If you are there at the right time – or want to see whales or puffins, book this tour: Puffins. whales or icebergs on an amazing boat tour

21. Visit Gander and its airport to see the Broadway hit “Come from Away”

Book well ahead, but do go to see the show in the place where it all happened!! During 9/11 planes had to be landed – outside the USA. This small town of 10,000 had to its name the Gander International Airport. 38 planes were rerouted to Gander with 6,500 passengers and crew. The local population took these 6000 people into their homes and cared for them until they were able to get home.

The theater is in the airport building itself, and even if you cant get tickets, its worth a look in at the airport. It has an interesting history as in 1940 it was the largest airport in the world playing a crucial role ferrying aircraft from North America to Britain during the WWII!

Definitely one of the most unusual things to do in Newfoundland!

22. Visit Dildo and other towns with wacky names across Newfoundland

… like Goobies, Joe Batt’s Arm, Blow Me Down, Red Head Cove, Come By Chance (has a great free campsite), Witless Bay, Cow Head, Swift Current, Fortune, Calmer, and Roundabout. I could go on but you get the drift. New Foundland has a lot of weird and wonderful – you might say ‘state the obvious’ place names for its towns! Towns – not coves or beaches or rocks but proper towns. Try this….

Where are you from?

Dildo

?????

OR

Where are you from?

Goobies

?????

P.S. Goobies and Dildo are both pretty little places though!

23. Go out in St Johns on Friday or Saturday night and get screeched in!

Newfoundland has a ceremony for non-locals (come from aways) known as the “screech-in.”

It usually involves a shot of screech (the local rum), a short recitation, and kissing a codfish. The most common place to do this is on George Street in St Johns at places like Christians Bar or Trapper John’s – but check ahead as you might need to reserve a spot!

You can also try a beer tasting tour – sampling many of the local beers!

24. Fall in love with Jellybean Row – you can’t not smile

It’s not a row, but it is sweet! There are a number of streets in St John’s with the most wonderfully colorfully painted old homes. Jellybean Row covers the entire downtown hillside, beginning at Duckworth Street and running to the top of the hill and beyond.

Just walking through the area is enough to make anyone smile! a great way to go is to take a walking tour to get to know more about the city and country!

Other St John’s tours are worth considering too!

25. Go hiking in France – or just go for lunch!

An absolute favorite for me – and the finale! Spend a day or two in France – its only about 20km and a 1.5 hour ferry ride away!

Where?

In St Pierre and Miquelon – a couple of small and lovely islands that are a part of France to this day. They use the Euro, have the French +33 dialing code, have their own time zone (1/2 hr different from New Foundland, and of course speak French. And its a totally different accent from the Quebecoise.

Many go just for the day but if you like to hike and explore, I’d definitely stay at least a night. I did some stunning hiking here and its worth heading off on at least one of the many trails in the hills behind the colorful little town. Also worth a few hours, or more, is the little off shore island of Île au Marins. It was once a fishing village but is now mostly holiday cottages, with a church and school house (museums) and mariners cemetery to explore – as well as lovely beaches.

Don’t forget your passport – or to read Visit France for a day from Canada – your Ultimate Travel Guide to St Pierre and Miquelon!

Frequently asked questions about travel to Newfoundland in Canada

Q: When is the best time to visit New Foundland?
A: Most prefer summer (June to September) because the weather is better and everything is open and in full summer swing with whale watching, puffin spotting, and hiking. But May to early July is best for the icebergs as well as fewer crowds and September to October is good for autumn colours and fewer tourists.

Q: How many days do you need in Newfoundland?
A: 5–7 days is good for St. John’s plus the Avalon Peninsula / Irish loop. 10–14 days is great for a road trip covering St. John’s, Bonavista, Twillingate, and Gros Morne. But I would recommend at least 2–3 weeks to really explore Newfoundland – especially if you want to do some hiking.

Q: What are the best things to do in Newfoundland?
A: See above, but:

• Visiting Gros Morne National Park
• Whale watching tours
• Iceberg viewing in Twillingate
• Exploring St. John’s colourful downtown
• Hiking Signal Hill
• Seeing puffins
• Visiting Bonavista and Cape Bonavista Lighthouse
• Driving the scenic coastal routes
• Walking sections of the East Coast Trail
• Visiting Cape Spear, North America’s easternmost point

Q: Is Newfoundland worth visiting?
A: Absolutely yes! Apart from the hiking, great scenery and wildlife, the locals are friendly and have some interesting local customs. It is probably one of the most underrated parts of Canada.

Q: Can you see icebergs in Newfoundland?
A: Yes – in spring! See above.

Q: When is whale watching season in Newfoundland?
A: Whale season is approximately from June to August. You can see Humpbacks, Minkes, and Fin whales during this time.

Q: Do you need a car in Newfoundland?
A: Generally, yes. However if you are staying in St Johns and happy to explore the area using tours, then you can get away without a car. There are a lot of highlights just in the St John’s area. But if you want to go further afield and explore, you really need a car.

Q: Is Newfoundland expensive to visit?
A: Generally, yes – flights, rental cars, accommodation are all more expensive than you might expect – big city prices! But it is worth it! Book early to reduce prices, consider traveling inthe shoulder seasons, and cook your own meals, to make it more affordable.

Q: How long does it take to drive across New Foundland?
A: Its a lot further than you might think! Driving from Port aux Basques to St. John’s takes roughly 10–12 hours without major stops. The Trans-Canada Highway crosses approximately 900 kilometres across the island.

Q: What is Newfoundland known for?
A: All sorts: – icebergs, puffins, whale watching, cute and colourful fishing villages, beautiful scenery, Gros Morne National Park, Cape Spear, and friendly locals with unique “Irish” accents,

Q: What is the weather like in Newfoundland?
A: Weather changes quickly. Locals often say: “If you don’t like the weather, wait ten minutes.”
Summer temperatures range from 15°c – 25°c (59°f – 77°f). Take layers and clothes for all weather!

Q: Is Gros Morne National Park worth visiting?
A: Absolutely yes. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a huge variety of landscapes to explore!

Q: Can you see puffins in Newfoundland?
A: Yes from May to September. Newfoundland has one of North America’s largest Atlantic puffin populations. Good places are Elliston (often called Newfoundland’s puffin capital), Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, and the Bonavista Peninsula.

Q: Is Newfoundland good for hiking?
A: For sure – yes. See above for some recommendations!

Q: Are there moose and bears in New Foundland?
A: yes – both. You are not very likely to see bears (but might) but very likely to see moose and they are dangerous to drivers. Moose has a large moose population and moose are one of Newfoundland’s biggest driving hazards. Avoid driving at night, be very careful at dawn and dusk. See below in the Travel Tips.

Travel tips for New Foundland, Canada

• Many travelers underestimate driving times. Newfoundland is larger than you think.
• Book rental cars well ahead of your trip – they are not cheap and can be hard to get – especially last minute.
• Book your accommodation well ahead too – especially in popular areas like Twillingate, Gros Morne and St Johns – 4-6 months ahead or even more for the summer. See where to stay below.
• Try not to drive after dark. Even during the day be very alert – this sign is no joke. I saw the result of a big pick up truck and a moose colliding on the highway. The moose was dead, the driver in an ambulance! At night they are almost impossible to see on the roadside!

• Be prepared for all kinds of weather in a day even in summer – and pack accordingly.
• Leave time in your itinerary for unexpected stops, scenic detours, bad weather, and conversations with locals.
• The locals are very friendly and its great to take the time to chat to them.
• Download offline maps before your trip as the mobile signal can be limited in some rural areas.
• Try local food – not just fish and chips e.g. jiggs dinner, fish cakes, toutons, cod tongues, seafood chowder, partridgeberry desserts!

Where to stay in Newfoundland, Canada

Book a hotel with use booking.com or for a hostel – Hostelworld. There is a wide range of motels and hotels scattered over the islands. I would work out an itinerary and then look for something that suits you locally.

The two places you need to book well ahead are St Pierre and Miquelon and if you want to go to the amazing Fogo Island Inn (see photo below). Okay – you have been warned!

Budget – There are quite a few camping grounds if you are tenting it, and a few budget options for the backpackers – especially Out East Adventure Center in Gros Morne (an excellent hostel).

Where to stay in St John’s

Book a hotel with booking.com or Tripadvisor, or, a hostel with Hostelworld.
Try and stay close to the city center so that you can walk to most things – unless you have a car!
As always there are a lot of choices but these hand-picked recommendations are a good place to start. They all have at least a 9/10 rating on reviews (unless noted) at the time of writing!

High End – try the Ryan Mansion or the Dvele Inn

Mid range – Blue on Water, or Gower Manor Historic Bed & Breakfast

Budget – options are limited – but try the City Hostel, or the Capital Hotel

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