There’s no shortage of hidden gems across Newfoundland and Labrador- and this list is far from exhaustive. It’s simply a collection of places I’ve come to love through my own experiences.
In my (slightly biased) opinion, one of the best ways to truly discover these hidden spots is by campervan. It gives you the freedom to stay in places without hotels or Airbnbs, and lets you experience the landscape the way locals often do- unfiltered, unhurried, and a little off the beaten path.
Baie Verte Peninsula
The Town of Shoe Cove, with a population of just over 100 residents, is a small fishing village. The layout and landscape of the town resemble a shoe, from which the community’s name comes. For those who enjoy rugged hiking, there is an unmaintained hiking trail that takes one over the surrounding hills
The abandoned town of Round Harbour was once a thriving fishing community. Today, no one lives in the community; however, some former residents do maintain properties there as cottages for summer use. Currently, the gravel road is poorly maintained, but it is passable with care. For anyone who would like a prime example of what old Newfoundland was like, this is a must-see.
There are so many notable locations on the Baie Verte Peninsula, such as Tilt Cove, Brent’s Cove, Nippers Harbour, and the resettled community of Snook’s Arm. An interesting point on the Baie Verte Peninsula is the Dorset Soapstone Quarry in Fleur De Lys. The Dorset Soapstone Quarry is one of the most unique and historic spots on the Baie Verte Peninsula. It was used by the ancient Dorset people, who carved out soapstone here over 1,000 years ago to make tools, lamps, and cooking vessels. Today, you can visit the site and actually see the carved-out rock where pieces were removed — it’s pretty cool to picture how it was used all those years ago. There’s a short walking trail that brings you up to the quarry, with nice views along the way.
Baccalieu Coastal Drive
The Baccalieu Coastal Drive is one of the best road trips on the Avalon Peninsula, offering a mix of ocean views, historic communities, and quiet coastal scenery. The route loops around the northern part of the Avalon, taking you through a string of small towns, rugged shoreline, and plenty of spots to pull over and explore.
Along the way, you’ll pass through places like Brigus and Cupids, where history meets nature. Cupids is home of the first English settlement in Canada from 1610. Here you will find the Cupids Legacy Centre and the Cupids Cove Plantation, which tells the story of this settlement and presents the artifacts from this time. Brigus is home to several well-preserved outport homes that tell the story of sea exploration and of famous residents such as Captain Bob Bartlett. Conversely, there are spectacular landmarks and hikes in this region, including Burnt Head Trail, Brigus Lighthouse Trail, and the Brigus tunnel.
The Baccalieu Coastal Drive is truly a hiker’s paradise. While they do not get the marketing of hikes such as the East Coast Trail or Gros Morne, many of the communities in this area are home to their own trails featuring dramatic coastlines and significantly fewer hikers. The following are a few of this region’s spectacular hikes.
In Bay De Verde: Lazy Rock Trail, Split Cove Point Walking Trail, Train Loop, Heritage House Board Walk, Bay de Verde Historic Walk.
In Grates Cove: Eagle’s Nest Trail, Wiggys Beach, Big Hill Lookout, Flatrocks, Rockwall Loop, Dancing Place Trail, Fishing Stage Boardwalk, Daniel’s Cove Rd.
In Old Perlican: Monument Hike, Skirwink Saddle Trail
In Red Head Cove: Baccalieu View Walking Trail
Talk about underrated – and in addition, this region is home to two lovely sandy beaches, a rarity in Newfoundland! When travelling this area, I highly recommend Northern Bay and Salmon Cove Sands!
Then there’s Dildo, which has become a bit of a must-stop along this route. It’s a small harbour town with a laid-back vibe, but it’s also home to the well-known Dildo Brewing Co., where you can grab a drink or a bite to eat right by the water. Jimmy Kimmel is actually the honorary mayor of the town! Between the gorgeous view of the harbour, the various lovely shops in the town, and the playful name, Dildo is a Newfoundland must-see!
There is seriously so much to see and do on the Baccalieu Coastal Drive, and while the name suggests it is a drive-through region, I would highly recommend spending a few days (or more) in this region. Between the natural wonders, history of the region, and availability of great restaurants and gift shops, this place deserves a spot on your Newfoundland Itinerary!
Coast of Bays
If there is a more underrated part of this Province than the “Coast of Bays,” I have yet to see it. The Coast of Bays is the region of Harbour Breton, spanning the communities on the Eastern South Coast. Or at least that’s what I am claiming it to be for the sake of this post. I have not met people more kind, landscapes more dramatic, and communities so remote as I have on the South Coast. Beginning in Harbour Breton, you can hike Gun Hill Point, stopping for blueberries if you arrive in the late summer, as well as hike the Mile Pond Boardwalk & Deadman’s Cove Beach Trail. I really enjoyed the sandy beaches of Seal Cove and would have loved to hike the Hermitage Cove Lookout to get a view of the stunning fjords of the South Coast.
From Hermitage, I would recommend taking a ferry to the smaller and more remote communities of McCallum and Gaultois. Both communities are small outports, only accessible by ferry. There are no cars or trucks in these towns, mainly just ATVs and side-by-sides, as well as boardwalks. Travelling to these communities will transport you back to a time when stores close for lunch and supper, where neighbours not only trust each other but have to rely on one another to survive, and where everyone will figure out who you are as soon as you step off the ferry. You will feel instantly welcomed as the locals will stop you on the “street” to greet you, ask you questions, and tell you about their lives.
Gaultois is the bigger of the two settlements, with 100 residents as of 2021, only a 20-minute ferry ride from Hermitage. The Gaultois Inn is the only hotel and restaurant in the town, and they also provide experiences such as shed parties, picnics, and art experiences, like traditional rug hooking. There is also a trail to Piccaire, which is a resettled community near Gaultois. The Inn provides guided boat or hiking tours to this location.
Templates Experience Gaultois_FINAL
McCallum is much smaller, with a population of 45 and a 1.5-hour ferry ride from Hermitage. Even if you are only staying a few hours in McCallum, the ferry ride itself is worth it. This was one of the most scenic boat rides I have ever taken in NL and is only $15 (!!!!!) for a round trip. The fjords and rugged landscapes that you see on this ride are unlike anything I have ever seen before.
Rencontre East is another South Coast Town that deserves a mention. You can reach Roncontre East from the opposite side of the Connaigre Peninsula. The ferry leaves from Pools Cove and takes about an hour and 15 minutes.
The town is known for its spectacular views and wonderful fishing and swimming areas. There is a boardwalk that traverses a pond – a great place to spot wildlife.
The main form of transportation for this community is ATV, side-by-sides, and on foot!
Clarenville and Surrounding Areas
The following are places that often get missed on Newfoundland and Labrador itineraries. To start, Clarenville is often viewed as a drive-through town, but in reality, it is much more than that. It can act as a home base as you explore the amazing surrounding communities. In Clarenville, you can go on whale watching excursions, visit resettled communities, discover private islands, and explore the calm bay by kayak with Gypsy Sea Adventures Gypsy Sea Adventures | Unique Experiences | Eastern Newfoundland
Only a 40-minute drive from Clarenville is Little Heart’s Ease Beach. This place is as accurate as the name might suggest. It is a thin beach with the ocean lapping on both sides. If you walk the beach to the headland, you can hike a short loop trail that displays 360-degree views of the ocean and a rugged coastline of cliffs, including a sea arch.
There are several old fishing towns dotting the coast overlooking Random Island and Random Sound. Together with Smith Sound, this area makes a continuous channel which is the longest inshore waterway in the province at approximately 44 miles. Close to Little Heart’s Ease Beach is South Port, an old fishing village that still boasts salbox houses and stages overlooking the ocean.
Burgoynes Cove, roughly 40 minutes from Clarenville, is a hike that tells a very interesting story. In this region in 1953, an American plane got lost in poor weather and crashed amongst the hills. Unfortunately, that was not the only tragedy to occur as the rescue plane sent to find the first wreckage was also overcome and crashed into the back country – all people from both planes were lost in the event.
Today, you can hike from Burgoynes Cove to the wreckage of the original crash, where you will find large parts of the plane scattered throughout the hills, as well as a memorial overlooking Random Island. The hike itself is spectacular, with beautiful vistas of the calm bay, and the site of the crash is powerful, intense, and very interesting. It is a long, unkept dirt road to reach the trailhead, and I would recommend a good vehicle if you wish to travel the entirety of the road.
If you travel on the Trans Canada Highway east from Clarenville, you will find the quaint town of Sunnyside. It is a town that is entirely too easy to miss when travelling the Trans Canada Highway, but one that is worth the detour. Sunnyside struck me for two reasons: the unreal landscape of green, green barrens, and its interesting history. This town boasts the first documented contact between the English and the Beothuk (an Indigenous group native to Newfoundland) in 1612.
This contact was documented as a good relation, and the region was coined the name Truce Sound. Today, there is a park memorializing the event. In Sunnyside, you can also find the Centre Hill Trail (one of my all-time favourite hikes). This hike takes you to one of the highest points in Eastern Newfoundland. On a clear day, you can see out over four different bays, including Placentia Bay and Trinity Bay.
Roughly an hour from Clarenville is the Eastport Peninsula – a drive coined the name “Road to the Beaches” and for good reason. From rugged coastline to tropical white sand beaches, this area has it all. When on the Eastport Peninsula, you must not miss the Damnable Trail network. The Damnable Trail is a network of hiking trails developed largely from the remnants of old walking trails and hauling paths forged by the first settlers to the area. The new Salvaje Brewery is another highlight of the region, offering food and drink in a refurbished old fishplant steps from the ocean’s edge.
A short ferry ride from the Eastport Peninsula will bring you to Cottel Island in Bonavista Bay. If peace and quiet are what you desire, this remote island is where you can find it. When talking to locals, they say many of their visitors are people in their RVs and campervans spending several days exploring the island from a home base, as there is no hotel. This is as remote as you can get, as there is not even a store operating currently on the island.
There are a few trails located on Cottel Island; however, there is very little information online. I guess you will just have to travel there to discover them yourself. Thus, a true hidden gem if there ever was one!
Finally, back on the Eastport peninsula, you will find various beaches that are reminiscent of tropical paradises. Although the turquoise Atlantic Ocean will not feel so tropical if you are brave enough to swim in it!
As I explore more of Newfoundland and Labrador, I hope to add more to this list. I truly hope you dare to go off the beaten path during your time in the Province – it is such an enriching experience that will allow you to meet some of the kindest people and the wildest landscapes. I hope too that you will discover the gems that are not on this list, the ones that are have been hidden yet from me! If you are interested in booking a campervan to explore the hidden gems to the fullest, click the button below!
