Local Attractions

Witless Bay Ecological Reserve (45 mins.away)

The Witless Bay Ecological Reserve contains four islands—Gull, Green, Great, and Pee Pee—that teem with bird life during the seabird breeding season.

The reserve contains North America's largest Atlantic puffin colony. More than 260,000 pairs of the province's official bird nest here during the late spring and summer.

Several licenced tour-boat companies operate out of the communities near the islands. Running spring through fall, these boat tours also provide opportunities to spot icebergs, whales, and other wildlife.

The Colony of Avalon: A window into the past, a pathway to the future (90 mins. away)

Have you ever walked on a 17th-century street, seen a 17th-century herb garden, or looked at the remains of everyday life in one of the earliest European Colonies in North America?

The Colony of Avalon Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization created to investigate, preserve, interpret and develop the remains of the original 17th-century Colony of Avalon.

Operational funds are generated through admission fees, a gift shop and the support of dedicated members.

Cape Race / Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve (120 mins. away)

Mistaken Point - named for the navigational hazard it poses at the often-foggy southwestern tip of Newfoundland's Avalon peninsula - is one of the world's most significant fossil sites.

Embedded in the planes of Mistaken Point's tilted sandstone, shale, and slate coastline, exposed by the pounding of the Atlantic waves, are fossils of the oldest animals - in fact, the oldest complex life forms - found anywhere on Earth. Known to scientists as the Ediacara biota, they are creatures that lived 575 to 542 millions year ago, when all life was in the sea.

Holyrood Pong Interpretation Centre / St. Vincent's Beach (60 mins. away)

This is well known site of capelin activity in early July. It can attract thousands of feeding gannets and shearwaters and along with them number of jaegers (predominantly Pomarine Jaegers). It is also a great location for viewing Minke, Humpback and Fin whales quite close to shore. Another attraction of this site is a very approachable Arctic Tem colony and large concentrations of loafing gulls, especially kittiwakes.

Rocky River Fishway (30 mins. away)

Many Newfoundland rivers are characterized by natural obstructions that are impassable to upstream migrating Atlantic salmon . Vast amounts of excellent juvenile Atlantic salmon spawning and rearing habitat occur upstream of the obstructions in many of these watersheds. A programme to expand the range of Atlantic salmon was initiated in the mid-1900s. Fishways were constructed on some rivers and colonization of Atlantic salmon occurred using several techniques: natural straying, adult transfer or stocking with unfed fry. The relative success of enhancement on four rivers (Exploits River, Rocky River, Terra Nova and Torrent River) representing the three colonization methods is evaluated. In all cases, Atlantic salmon successfully colonized the new habitat. All stocks improved, with the largest growth increments being achieved within the first three generations.

Salmonier Nature Park (5 mins. away)

Salmonier Nature Park was first established for education, not as a tourist destination, and environmental education continues to be its primary goal. However, over time the Park's role as a major tourist destination has increased. In recent years, the Park has expanded its role in wildlife rehabilitation and research and in environmental monitoring.

Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve (90 mins. away)

Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve is one of the best and most accessible places in the world to see nesting seabirds.

Located about 200 km southwest of St. John's, Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve also known as "the Cape" is one of Newfoundland and Labrador's major seabird colonies. During the breeding season, it is home to 24,000 Northern gannet, 20,000 black-legged kittiwake, 20,000 common murre, and 2,000 thick-billed murre. In addition, more than 100 pairs of razorbill, more than 60 pairs of black guillemot, plus double-crested and great cormorant, and Northern fulmar nest there.

Castle Hill National Historic Site (90 mins. away)

Castle Hill Features the remains of French and English fortifications from the 17th and 18th centuries. Visitors can learn about the everyday life of the French fishermen and soldiers at Placentia, Newfoundland. The site also features a magnificent view of the town of Placentia and the surrounding harbour.

East Coast Trail (45 mins. away)

The East Coast Trail is a 540 km coastal hiking experience that takes you to the outermost reaches of North America. The Trail provides hikers with a special blend of wilderness adventure, outstanding natural beauty, wildlife, history, and cultural contact.