Photo TR: 8 Days in Newfoundland

[smmokan]

My wife and I recently spent eight days in Newfoundland (but not Labrador), Canada. It's an absolutely incredible place to explore, and for anyone looking for a different kind of vacation, I highly recommend it.

We landed in St. John's and spent the afternoon exploring Signal Hill and Cape Spear (the easternmost point in North America):







We then headed west (a 7-hr drive) to Rocky Harbour, a small town in Gros Morne National Park. We usually don't do touristy things, but we hopped on the boat tour in Western Brook Pond because well, it's awesome.







Our B&B was on the ocean just down from this little shack with million dollar views:




The next day we hiked Green Gardens, one of the most spectacular hikes I've done anywhere on earth. It starts on the earth's exposed mantle in the Tablelands, and ends at the ocean with green grassy fields and huge cliffs. We got lucky and saw a humpback whale just beneath us too.










Later that afternoon we hiked the Lookout Trail, a super steep climb that gives you an amazing view of Bonne Bay:




After a few days of exploring, we drove to Twillingate, a tiny town on the far north coast... where they were still completely socked in with sea ice.




After spending just one night there, we drove the long way to Bonavista. It was here we saw our first iceberg up close- a couple hundred feet off the beach. My guess is this guy was about 40-50 feet tall. Little did we know that there would be many, many more.




Bonavista is a fishing town in one of the coolest settings I've seen, with amazing hiking and scenery within 5 minutes of town. A must-visit for anyone thinking about going to NL. This spot was inbetween Bonavista and Elliston.




We had some pretty dismal weather, but luckily my wife is a gamer and we went outside to explore during the rain. Windy, rainy, and barely above freezing? Sounds like a vacation to me!







This place has a way of making you feel very small.










Our flight on the last day didn't leave St. John's until 8pm, so we stopped in Trinity to hike the Skerwink Trail. Another must-do if you're up there... a very well-built trail (only ~4 miles) that gives you fantastic views around every corner.

[Mazderati]

Looks like a cool place. Great TR as usual.

[Cruiser]

Outstanding!

[iceman]

I've wanted to get up there forever, thanks for the TR. Great pics.

[schindlerpiste]

My kind of place. Thanks for sharing!

[Norseman]

Thanks for sharing. Looks like a pretty raw place to carve out a living.

[smmokan]

Yeah, I can't imagine wanting to live there between November and April. Talk about a brutal environment.

[BmillsSkier]

Awesome TR, thanks for sharing!

[XXX-er]

once da cawd was gone it was tuff eh bye?

so then the Alberta oil patch and now thats gone as well eh?

[BFD]

beautiful area nice they have a trail system. makes a big difference when visiting. thanks for posting

[ICEHOCEY77]

did you kiss a cod or drink any screech?

[smmokan]

Unfortunately neither... but I ate a lot of cod and drank a bunch of Quidi Vidi.

[wicked_sick]

Incredible place. Great pics too.

[plugboots]

I was wondering if you saw any houses with cables at the four corners to hold them down.

Great photos, as usual.

[From_the_NEK]

Great photo trip report. You definitely made the most of that dreary foggy weather. Gros Morne has interested me for quite a while.
This shot is fantastic!

[Art Shirk]

Always dig your photo TRs. Gorgeous.

[evdog]

Did you come back with an accent?

Sweet pics!

[smmokan]

You know, it's funny... in St. John's and Rocky Harbour we didn't hear many heavy accents at all, just the standard Canadian "oh" and "eh". Then we drove up to the north coast to Twillingate and Bonavista, and the accents were so thick we could barely understand what they were saying.

[highangle]

I was in Maine and needed directions. Yeah.
I saw a bunch of truck drivers standing around drinking coffee.
They were Newfies. All of them.

I got nothing from them, even though they were only too happy to help and seemed to know exactly how to get where I wanted to go, if facial expressions and enthusiastic nods were any indication.
Rural Scottish is easier for a gringo to follow, but now I want to visit Noofnlund.

I hate you OP.

[Danno]

Always dig your photo TRs. Gorgeous.

x2

[BraddA]

Stellar as ever. Thanks.

[Obstruction]

Great shots!

[splitter]

This shot is fantastic!

That one caught my eye too. Dig the layers and depth.

[XXX-er]

You know, it's funny... in St. John's and Rocky Harbour we didn't hear many heavy accents at all, just the standard Canadian "oh" and "eh". Then we drove up to the north coast to Twillingate and Bonavista, and the accents were so thick we could barely understand what they were saying.

we got a newf up at the ski hill who has been here for "thurty five yars bye" and half the time you can't understand him

[nutmegchoi]

Absolutely breathtaking!
Thank you!!