Northern Peninsula

Introducing Northern Peninsula

The Northern Peninsula points upward from the body of Newfoundland like an extended index finger, and you almost get the feeling it’s wagging at you saying, ‘Don’t you dare leave this province without coming up here.’

Heed the advice. This area could well be crowned Newfoundland’s star attraction. The province’s two World Heritage sites are here: Gros Morne National Park, with its fjord-like lakes and geological oddities, rests at the peninsula’s base, while the sublime, 1000-year-old Viking settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows stares out from the peninsula’s tip. Connecting these two famous sites is the Viking Trail (877-778-4546; www.vikingtrail.org), aka Rte 430, an attraction in its own right that holds close to the sea as it heads resolutely north past Port au Choix’ ancient burial grounds and the ferry jump-off point to big brooding Labrador. It’s no wonder many people base their entire Newfoundland trip around this extraordinary region and usually end up coming back for more, year after year.

The region is gaining hugely in tourism, yet the crowds are nowhere near what you’d get at a Yellowstone or Banff. Still, it’s wise to book ahead in July and August.

It’s a five- to six-hour drive from Deer Lake to St Anthony. Bus transportation is possible, if a bit irregular, along the entire route.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009