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Self Drives > Eastern Canada

Destination St. John's

Self Drive Tour: Inclusive Car, Standard Accommodation
Duration: 9 Days / 8 Nights
Start/Finish: St. John's / St. John's

01 Apr 2024 - 31 Oct 2024


  • “Top Coastal Destination in the World”
  • Largest concentration of Humpback whales in the world
  • Seabird Capital of North America
  • The historic port city of St. John’s
  • The Rooms Cultural Center
  • Signal Hill National Historic Site
  • Johnson Geo Center: The World’s Geological Showcase
  • Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site
  • Archaeology at the Colony of Avalon, Ferryland
  • Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
  • Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
  • Church of the Most Holy Trinity
  • Skerwink Trail
  • Bonavista, Historic Site of Cabot Landing
  • Elliston’s Puffin Viewing

Admission fees not included



ST. JOHN’S - ARRIVAL 

Day 1: Welcome to St. John’s, the easternmost city in North America. It’s the provincial capital of Newfoundland and Labrador and a lively port with great food and music galore. Downtown is delightfully picturesque with intriguing architecture. You’ll find boutiques, coffee bars, pubs, and restaurants offering local and international fare. After a meal, follow your ears to some of the many music venues. There’ll be something to suit your taste. 


ST. JOHN’S 

Day 2: Get ready for epic vistas and chat with the friendly folk. The Cabot Tower at Signal Hill National Historic Site, where Marconi received the first wireless message, offers expansive views of the city and coast. You’ll learn about the earth’s geological showcase at The Johnson Geo Center, and The Fluvarium explores the secret life of a river, the watershed, and its ecosystems. This is a city of churches, too, and both the Roman Catholic and Anglican cathedrals are named for St. John the Baptist. 


ST. JOHN’S - CAPE SPEAR LIGHTHOUSE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE - ST. JOHN’S 

Day 3: Be immersed in the heritage garden and learn about the varied plant species that grow in The Botanical Garden at Memorial University, offering insight into the flora and fauna of the entire province. Next, it’s off to The Rooms, named for traditional fishing premises, which are here gathered together as the museum, art gallery, and archives. The very rich history and lively cultures of thousands of years are explored in exhibits and documents. On everyone’s bucket list is standing on the most easterly point in North America, at Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site. The lighthouse here dates from the 1840s, and the vista is as far as the eye can see. 


ST. JOHN’S - THE AVALON PENINSULA - IRISH LOOP - ST. JOHN’S 

Day 4: Today we visit Ferryland, the site of an early 17th-century Colony of Avalon now being excavated by archaeologists. Then we hop on a tour boat to the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve and go to meet whales and seabirds. Your entire trip is on the Avalon Peninsula, which was awarded “Top Coastal Destination In The World” by National Geographic. 


ST. JOHN’S - CAPE ST. MARY’S ECOLOGICAL RESERVE - TRINITY – CLARENVILLE

Day 5: Drive southwest of St. John’s to Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, also known as “the Cape”. One of Newfoundland and Labrador’s major seabird colonies. It is one of the best and most accessible places in the world to see nesting seabirds (gannets). Continue to Trinity, a picturesque town rich in history, friendly people, and steadfast authenticity. The town offers beautifully restored fishing rooms and saltbox houses, historic buildings, and top-rated dining experiences. Nearby, you’ll get a chance to hike along the coast on one of the province's most popular trails, the Skerwink Trail, with its sea stacks, and rocky beach overlooking the Trinity lighthouse. Or take a boat tour and see some of the breathtaking coastlines from a different perspective as you watch whales, birds, and icebergs. 


CLARENVILLE - CAPE BONAVISTA 

Day 6: Start your morning by visiting the oldest standing wooden church, the Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Trinity, Newfoundland, built in 1833 with the tower added in 1880. From here, travel to Cape Bonavista, where the Italian Explorer Giovanni Caboto, or John Cabot, as he is locally known, first discovered North America in 1497. His first words were, “O buono vista!” When translated into English, this phrase means Oh, happy sight!”, which then became the town of Bonavista, the historic site of Cabot’s landing. 


BONAVISTA PENINSULA 

Day 7: Make sure to visit Elliston’s visitor center and Elliston’s puffin viewing site, which offers the closest view of puffins from land in North America. Enjoy a chance to walk the cliffs and stunning coastal views. Overnight in Bonavista. 


ST. JOHN’S 

Day 8: Spend the day in the historic port city of St. John’s and maybe take time to explore the beautifully restored one-room school and church dating back to the year 1879 or stroll Memorial University’s Botanical Garden. For lunch or dinner, you might want to try one of the award-winning restaurants by the sea. On your last full day in Newfoundland and Labrador, you should not miss out on taking a walk through downtown, which offers a wide variety of specialty shops, boutiques, and galleries. 


ST. JOHN’S – DEPARTURE

Day 9: Return your rental car to the airport before your departure flight.


Inclusions


  • Accommodation as specified.
  • Compact rental car for 9 days inclusive of unlimited mileage, LDW loss damage waiver, theft protection, waiver (zero excess), 1 million USD liability cover (EP/SLI), local sales tax, airport surcharges/fees, homeland security fee, customer facility charge, mechanical assistance
  • Sightseeing as per itinerary
  • Admission to attractions, where applicable.
Exclusions


  • International or Domestic flights
  • Meals, admissions, and/or optional tours unless specifically mentioned as being included in the itinerary.
  • Items of a personal nature, i.e. telephone calls, laundry, liquor, etc.
  • Use of hotel rooms before or after normal check-in and check-out times and resort fees, if applicable
  • Tolls, ferries, and parking fees

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