Discover whales and icebergs as you explore the landscapes of northern Newfoundland
Discover the incredible natural beauty of the rugged northern coast of Newfoundland during this 14-day self-drive adventure. The Newfoundland’s North Coast Self-Drive Tour explores the picturesque coastal villages, spectacular scenery, and the waters of the Atlantic as you search for its majestic ocean residents.
This tour offers many options for your daily activities and allows plenty of time to hike and explore the beaches and parks. You can choose to spend all day on an epic hike in the Tablelands or relax on the beach, watching the tides come in and ice chunks floating by. You’ll also have a few boat excursions to admire the beautiful icebergs and look for whales. This unforgettable self-guided tour is the perfect way for nature lovers to experience magnificent Newfoundland.
Highlights of the Newfoundland’s North Coast Self-Drive Tour
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Newfoundland’s North Coast Self-Drive Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in St. John’s
Upon your arrival at St. John’s airport, you’ll collect your rental vehicle and check into your hotel. You’ll have the next three nights to explore the island’s capital, affectionately referred to as “the rock.”
Overnight Location: Hotel in St. John’s
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Explore Downtown St. John’s
Today, you stroll the town and admire the brightly-coloured homes, and learn about the fascinating history of St. John’s. There is a free walking tour you can take that will uncover more about this lively little city. Another point of interest might be Signal Hill, which played an important role in both communication and military history. You can also pay a visit to Quidi Vidi, a historic fishing village.
Overnight Location: Hotel in St. John’s
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 3 Whale and Wildlife Watching
Drive to the Avalon Peninsula, where you’ll find the Bay of Bulls. Spend some time looking out over the cliffs to see if you can spot a whale in the distance. You’ll then board a boat to take a wildlife-viewing cruise to look for whales and puffins. Today, you’ll also visit Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, where you can observe the seabird colonies at the sanctuary.
Overnight Location: Hotel in St. John’s
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 4 Scenic Coastal Drive
Today, you’ll leave the lively atmosphere of St. John’s and start your drive to the remote north. You’ll follow the rugged coast and pass through many charming fishing villages during the drive. As you near Bonavista, you’ll drive to White Rock for a scenic view over the town. You may see some icebergs floating in the distance as you arrive in Bonavista for the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bonavista
Distance: 315km
Meals: None
Day 5 Hike or Paddle in Terra Nova Park
Spend today in glorious Terra Nova Park. Enjoy the lovely forests and lake by taking a quiet hike in the wilderness or renting a canoe and going for a tranquil paddle. There is also a beautiful coastal trail you can take for a short walk feeling the sea breeze on your skin. After spending the day out in nature, you’ll drive to Glovertown for the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Glovertown
Distance: 185km
Meals: None
Day 6 Watch the Iceberg Float at Twillingate
Drive to the village of Twillingate, where you’ll find an endearing little village and the famous Newfoundland hospitality. The village offers stunning views into the bay, where the icebergs float by in the ocean currents. There is a free walking tour of the village available, showing off the amazing natural beauty of Twillingate.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Twillingate
Distance: 175km
Meals: None
Day 7 Cruise Iceberg Alley
Today, you’ll take a cruise into the ocean that will bring you up-close to the giant icebergs as you navigate the ice flows. You’ll also be on the lookout for humpback whales and other marine life during this exciting boat tour. End the day with a visit to the picturesque Long Point Lighthouse, one of the most photographed locations on this island’s coast.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Twillingate
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 8 Begin Your Adventure in Gros Morne National Park
This morning, you’ll drive to the UNESCO-designated Gros Morne National Park. You’ll stay in Cow Head for a few nights so that you can spend time exploring this diverse and spectacular park, reminiscent of Lord of the Rings or Narnia.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Cow Head
Distance: 475km
Meals: None
Day 9 Hiking in Gros Morne National Park
Gros Morne owes its dramatic landscapes to the collision of the continents and glacial movements over thousands of years. Today, you’ll be spoiled for choice of where to hike. You can explore the cliffs and fjords or stroll along the rugged beaches. No matter which you choose, you will be in awe of the park’s otherworldly beauty.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Cow Head
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 10 Explore the Tablelands
Today will reveal to you another new environment in Gros Morne. Take scenic hikes through the northern tundra and look for wildlife as you explore the moors between the mountain ridges of the Tablelands. Don’t be surprised if you catch an arctic hare or deer racing across your path!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Cow Head
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 11 Reach the Northern Tip of Newfoundland
Begin your day with a trip to the Eskimo Paleo Museum in Port au Choix. Here, you’ll learn about the history and culture of the people indigenous to this sea coast. Then, continue your drive up to the northernmost point of the island at St. Anthony, the self-proclaimed “Iceberg Capital.”
Overnight Location: Hotel in St. Anthony
Distance: 310km
Meals: None
Day 12 Visit L’Anse aux Meadows and Observation Cruise
L’Anse aux Meadows is where you’ll find the archeological site that records Norse presence on the island. You can choose to visit the remains of the Viking village to learn more about the pre-Columbus settlers. Then, you’ll take a cruise that offers another chance to see whales and the spectacular icebergs, admiring the coastal landscapes and other wildlife on the ride.
Overnight Location: Hotel in St. Anthony
Distance: 35km
Meals: None
Day 13 Visit the Western Brook Fjord
Today, you’ll return to Gros Morne National Park to experience the awe-inspiring cliffs that soar dramatically above the fjords. You’ll take a scenic boat tour of the magnificent Western Brook Pond Fjord. In the evening, you’ll continue driving south and spend the night in Rocky Harbour.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Rocky Harbour
Distance: 350km
Meals: None
Day 14 Tour Ends in Deer Lake
On the final day of your tour, you’ll want to time your drive to Deer Lake to correspond with your flights. Drop your rental vehicle off at the airport and begin your journey home or to your next destination.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: 75km
Meals: None
Newfoundland’s North Coast Self-Drive Tour Price and Dates
This self-guided tour is run as private tour for your group only, and the price per person depends on how many people are in your group.
Prices below are per person:
- Groups of 2+: from $2,150 USD per person*
*-Pricing for this tour depends on the dates of your trip and all the prices are per person. Please click the booking button below to get the exact pricing for your trip dates.
Book NowAccommodation on the Newfoundland’s North Coast Self-Drive Tour
This tour is based in hotel accommodations. Hotels on this trip are 3-star standard accommodations that offer clean, comfortable rooms and famous east coast hospitality.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
Rooms are double occupancy. Single rooms, including those for solo travellers, are by request.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Hotel in St. John’s
Stay in a welcoming 3-star hotel and spend a few days enjoying the culturally vibrant capital of Newfoundland.
Hotel in Bonavista
Enjoy a stay in Bonavista, a small town on the coast known to be a wonderful jumping point for viewing marine wildlife and icebergs.
Hotel in Glovertown
Experience the unique lifestyle in this small town. Relax in its peaceful and beautiful location, and enjoy the perceptible kindness of the population.
Hotel in Twillingate
During summer, this tiny place sees many tourists coming to kayak, take photos, geocache, beachcomb, hike, and pick berries. Also, the town’s name is amusing to say.
Hotel in Cow Head
This artsy and inviting town of about 500 people doubles as one of the gateways to Gros Morne National Park. See if there’s a theatre show when you’re there.
Hotel in St. Anthony
Experience the unique culture of northern Newfoundland here. Check out the local traditions, music, dialect, and food in this town shrouded in mysticism.
Hotel in Rocky Harbour
A booming industrial town for fishing and wood, Rocky Harbour is in the heart of Gros Morne National Park. You’ll find scenic strolls and festivals galore!
What’s Included in the Newfoundland’s North Coast Self-Drive Tour?
Meals
Meals are not included in this tour.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 13 nights are included. Accommodations before the tour in St. John’s and after the tour in Deer Lake are not included but can be added as a supplement.
Transportation during the Tour
This is a self-drive tour, and you’ll be provided with a rental vehicle for the duration of the itinerary.
Also Included
- Standard vehicle rental
- Whale and puffin watching cruise at Bay of Bulls
- Iceberg cruise at Twillingate
- Landscape and wildlife cruise at St. Anthony
- Western Brook Pond Fjord Cruise at Gros Morne
- Canadian taxes
- 24/7 access to helpline
Not included
- Flights to St. John’s and from Deer Lake
- Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
- Travel insurance and car rental insurance
- Personal expenses
- Fuel
- Entrance fees to national parks
- Entrance and admission fees to attractions
- Gratuities for tour guides or other staff if desired
Optional Extras
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Single occupancy upgrades
- Optional activities or excursions
Frequently Asked Questions about Newfoundland’s North Coast Self-Drive Tour
In the two decades since Toundra Voyages Inc. was founded in 1998, the company has become North America’s go-to travel agency in customized independent and group tourism.
Tounda takes a flexible, responsive approach to developing adventure travel tours. By listening to the wants and wishes of travellers, they’ve been able to create memorable, affordable tours complemented by impeccable service.
Toundra’s mission is to create and organize tailor-made travel. They select, adapt, and personalize travel experiences in North America for each and every guest, ensuring your adventure is one you’ll never forget.
Meeting your expectations is just the beginning of what Toundra aims to accomplish. Exceeding them by providing exceptional experiences in beautiful North America is their standard, and their track record of knockout customer service and customized tour planning speaks for itself.
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