Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland & Labrador: Gros Morne & the Northern Peninsula

Program No. 19794RJ
Gain a deeper understanding of Newfoundland and Labrador as you visit coastal villages, explore national parks, discover a Viking settlement and learn the story of this ancient region.

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At a Glance

The Northern Peninsula and Southern Labrador are places where nature's forces are stripped raw to meet in a dramatic contest of rock and water — get an intimate view of this magnificent landscape, its wildlife and its remote coastal communities.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles per day on uneven terrain; some stairs. Getting on/off busses, ferries and 28-foot rigid hulled inflatable zodiac boat. Dressing in one-piece cold weather inflatable suit for whale watching.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Cross the Strait of Belle Isle by ferry and journey along the Labrador Coast, exploring historic villages, Red Bay National Historic Site, Battle Harbour Historic District and Point Amour Lighthouse Provincial Historic Site.
  • Meet a local expert at L'Anse-aux-Meadows National Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to learn about the only authenticated Viking Settlement in North America.
  • Explore Gros Morne National Park, renowned for its spectacular landscapes and uncrowded spaces.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
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Tony Oxford
A native of Newfoundland, Tony Oxford grew up in Little Bay Islands during the last years of the Labrador salt cod fishery. A school administrator for 30 years, Tony is a natural teacher who is happy to answer any questions you have about language and expressions. Tony has been in the music industry for more than 25 years and has recorded several light rock and country albums.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Tony Oxford
Tony Oxford View biography
A native of Newfoundland, Tony Oxford grew up in Little Bay Islands during the last years of the Labrador salt cod fishery. A school administrator for 30 years, Tony is a natural teacher who is happy to answer any questions you have about language and expressions. Tony has been in the music industry for more than 25 years and has recorded several light rock and country albums.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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11 days
10 nights
29 meals
10 B 9 L 10 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Newfoundland History
Deer Lake, NL
D
Holiday Inn Express Deer Lake

Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).

Afternoon: Program Registration: 5:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived.

Dinner: At the hotel

Evening: Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Following orientation, the Group Leader will introduce Newfoundland's history and culture including early Newfoundland music, the Norse and Beothuk peoples and the resettlement program. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
2
Gros Morne Park, Tablelands, Theatre
Cow Head, NL
B,L,D
Shallow Bay Motel and Cabins

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 121 miles, approximately 3 hours riding time. Walking about 1 mile for approximately 1 hour on mostly flat terrain and boardwalks, as well as over pebbly and rocky trails.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We'll start out by traveling by motorcoach to the world-renowned Gros Morne National Park. There, park staff will give insight into the forces which shaped the landscape of this UNESCO World Heritage Site at the Discovery Centre. Gros Morne is characterized by a diverse landscape which includes barren cliffs, fjords, bogs, beaches, mountains, and forests.

Lunch: At a nearby restaurant

Afternoon: Following a motorcoach transfer, we’ll explore the Tablelands with a Parks Expert. While walking Earth’s mantle, our expert will explain the plate tectonics and glacial formations which shaped the Tablelands as well as introduce us to the unique plants and vegetation in the region.

Dinner: At the hotel

Evening: Enjoy a performance at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival by a theatre troupe featuring Newfoundland stories, song and music, celebrating the Island's heritage and most importantly her people.

DAY
3
Western Brook Trail, Fjord Cruise, Newfoundland Fisheries
Cow Head, NL
B,L,D
Shallow Bay Motel and Cabins

Activity note: Walking approximately 4 miles (2 miles each way) on the Western Brook Pond Trail for 2.5 hours over gravel paths, boardwalks, mostly flat terrain with a few slight inclines. Getting on and off a boat. Boat ride for 1.5 hours. Driving approximately 27 miles (43.2 km) for less than an hour.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will take the motorcoach to the Western Brook Pond Trail for this morning’s walk. We will bask in the view of the land-locked fjord, waterfalls, and billion-year-old cliffs while wandering the recently revitalized trail.

Lunch: Boxed lunches at the Western Brook Pond. Indoor washroom facilities are available. Canteen services are available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will explore the Western Brook Pond by boat (weather permitting). A local resource expert will provide onboard commentary. The “pond” is one of numerous glacially carved fjords in the Long Range Mountains, the northernmost extension of the Appalachian Mountains. Waterfalls cascade from a height of 2,000 feet, and we may even spot some of the local wildlife. The lake is home to Atlantic salmon, brook trout, and Arctic char, as well as an unusual colony of cliff-nesting gulls.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: Discussions about the collapse of the Northern cod fishery which culminated in the 1992 moratorium and learn about the political, natural, and technological forces which contributed to this decision.

DAY
4
Port au Choix, French Rooms Cultural Centre
Plum Point, NL
B,L,D
Plum Point Motel

Activity note: Walking 1 mile for approximately 2 hours on maintained trails, gentle terrain. Wear sturdy shoes or boots. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 130 miles, approximately 2.5 hours.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We’ll travel by motorcoach along the Viking Trail to the town of Port au Choix, known as the fishing capital of Western Newfoundland. Visit the Port au Choix National Historic Site and learn about the Maritime Archaic people, Groswater paleo people, Dorset paleo people, and Beothuk who thrived in the area long before Europeans arrived. Amid rugged limestone barrens and fascinating coastline, we’ll discover ancient burial sites, artifacts, and settlements.

Lunch: At a nearby restaurant.

Afternoon: We’ll continue on to the French Rooms Cultural Centre, where a local resource expert will discuss the Point Riche Lighthouse, the dispute over the fishing rights between the French and the British, and the Resettlement program.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: We’ll finish the day with a discussion with our Group Leader about modern-day First Nations in Newfoundland and Labrador. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
5
Labrador Ferry, Point Amour Lighthouse, Battle Harbour Ferry
Battle Harbour, NL
B,L,D
Battle Harbour Historic Site

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 125 miles, approximately 3 hours riding time. Walking about 1 mile, approximately 1.5 hours on pavement and ferry docks. Boarding and disembarking ferries; ferry crossing is about 20 miles, approximately about 2 hours.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After travelling to St. Barbe by motorcoach, we’ll board the ferry for Labrador. Keep watch for whales or icebergs which can sometimes be seen during the ferry crossing. Then, we’ll travel by motorcoach along the Labrador Coastal Drive to the Point Amour Lighthouse Provincial Historic Site.

Lunch: At the Point Amour Lighthouse Provincial Historic Site.

Afternoon: We’ll explore the Point Amour Lighthouse Provincial Historic Site, the second tallest lighthouse in Atlantic Canada, with lighthouse staff. We’ll taste Labrador tea and wild berry tarts while learning about the role lighthouses played in shaping the culture of this coast. We will explore what’s considered to be the oldest known burial site in North America at L’anse Amour. We’ll then travel by motorcoach to Mary’s Harbour, where we’ll board a small passenger vessel to transfer to Battle Harbour.

Dinner: At the historic inn.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
6
Battle Harbour National Historic Site
Battle Harbour, NL
B,L,D
Battle Harbour Historic Site

Activity note: Walking half a mile for approximately 1.5 hours on paths, wooden wharves, and boardwalks, over some hills and uneven, rocky terrain. Climbing stairs in some historic buildings.

Breakfast: At the historic inn.

Morning: At the inn, we’ll learn about Battle Harbour from a fourth generation descendent who will share personal stories and discuss daily life in the isolated Labrador community. Battle Harbour has been the center of life and the salt-cod fishing industry in Labrador for centuries and is representative of the reason for settlement in the Province. Through presentations, walks with local residents, and overnight stays in one of the restored historic homes in the village, we will discover some of the history embedded in the area. Additionally, we’ll explore the Marconi Station where Commander Robert E. Peary communicated details of his exploration of the North Pole to the world.

Lunch: At the inn.

Afternoon: We will continue our exploration of Battle Harbour. We’ll wander the wharves, take the shoreside boardwalk, and climb a hill to St. James the Apostle Church, which is the sole surviving example of architect William Grey’s work, and the oldest surviving Anglican Church in Labrador. We’ll discover the heritage homes in Battle Harbour commemorating the life of early settlers from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Next, we’ll enjoy a boat ride (weather permitting) to examine trap berths and learn from a local expert about barking technology for fishing. We will then visit the easternmost point on continental North America at Cape Charles.

Dinner: At the inn.

Evening: The Kitchen Party is an iconic tradition in Newfoundland and is offered for your enjoyment, featuring music, songs and stories. Dance the night away or simply take pleasure in the spectacle. This is also an opportunity for participants to present their own poetry and songs. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
7
Red Bay National Historic Site, Basque Whaling History
L'Anse-au-Clair, NL
B,L,D
Northern Light Inn

Activity note: Walking about 1 mile, approximately 1.5 hours; pavement, ferry docks. Getting on/off a ferry. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 138 miles, approximately 3.5 hours riding time.

Breakfast: At the inn.

Morning: After checking out, we will board a ferry from Battle Harbour to Mary’s Harbour, where we’ll board the motorcoach to Red Bay.

Lunch: At a restaurant in Red Bay.

Afternoon: We will learn about the Basque whaling industry, dating back to the 1500s, from a Parks historian while at Red Bay National Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll explore the artifacts on exhibition at the museum and gain insight into the whale oil industry before continuing our journey to L’Anse au Clair.

Dinner: At the Northern Light Inn.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
8
Ferry to Newfoundland, Grenfell, St. Anthony
St. Anthony, NL
B,L,D
Haven Inn

Activity note: Walking about 1 mile, approximately 2 hours on pavement. Getting on/off a ferry; riding about 30 miles, approximately 2 hours. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 88 miles, approximately about 1.5 hours riding time.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We’ll travel back to the island by ferry and continue along the Viking Trail by motorcoach to the town of St. Anthony, a seasonal fishing station for French and Biscayan fisherman since the 1500s. St. Anthony is also the largest town at the tip of the Northern Peninsula.

Lunch: At a nearby restaurant.

Afternoon: This afternoon we’ll head out by motorcoach to visit the Grenfell Historic Properties complex in St. Anthony. We will learn about the life of medical missionary Sir Wilfred Grenfell from a local historian at the Grenfell House Museum and Interpretive Centre. Then, we’ll get crafty at the Grenfell Handicrafts located at the Interpretive Centre.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
9
Whale watching, Norstead VikingVillage, L'Anse-aux-Meadows,
St. Anthony, NL
B,L,D
Haven Inn

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 50 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking about 1 mile, approximately 2 hours over rocky terrain and uneven ground. Getting on/off a 12-passenger rigid hull inflatable zodiac boat; whale watching for 1 hour. Every participant must wear one-piece cold-weather suit. Activity is weather dependent.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Divided into two smaller groups, we'll take turns dressing in cold weather suits and climb aboard a 28-foot offshore rigid hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) with our captain and marine ecologist to learn about the sea life off the tip of Newfoundland’s Northern Peninsula and the cultural heritage of the area. The others will visit the Dark Tickle Company, champions of the wild berry industry. We’ll immerse ourselves in the view of bakeapple berry, partridge berry, crowberry, and squash berry in their natural environment.

Lunch: At a nearby restaurant.

Afternoon: Next, we will explore the recreated Viking Village, Norstead. A Viking interpreter will discuss human history and explain the crops Vikings would have planted, then we’ll enjoy a spirited reenactment of daily life. We’ll marvel at a full-scale replica of a Viking ship, see the chieftain’s hall and the blacksmith shop, and sample the fare of ancient Vikings. We’ll discover the only authenticated Viking settlement in North America at L’Anse-aux-Meadows National Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll also learn about Leif Erickson’s Vinland, the first European encampment in the New World and gain an understanding of the westward migration of Vikings from a local expert. We’ll uncover what life was like in a traditional sod house with our interpreter.

Dinner: At a nearby restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
10
To Deer Lake, Flower's Cove, Arches Provincial Park
Deer Lake, NL
B,L,D
Holiday Inn Express Deer Lake

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 258 miles, approximately 5 hours riding time. Walking about 1.5 miles, approximately 2 hours over rocky terrain and uneven ground.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will check out of the hotel, board the motorcoach, and begin our return to Deer Lake. We’ll make a stop at Flower’s Cove to learn about thrombolites, formed by a photosynthetic process from the calcium carbonate found in the limestone rocks which is thought to have been the first creatures on the planet to release free oxygen. This is one of two locations on the planet where thrombolites are known to exist.

Lunch: At a restaurant in Hawke’s Bay.

Afternoon: We will continue on to the Torrent River Salmon Interpretation Centre, including a presentation on the Torrent River Boardwalk and Salmon River Fish Ladder. The boardwalk ends in a spectacular waterfall and is the site of a unique and successful salmon enhancement project. We’ll discover geological anomalies which were forged underwater eons ago while walking through Arches Provincial Park. We will then complete our journey to Deer Lake and check in at the hotel.

Dinner: At the hotel in Deer Lake. Enjoy classical Newfoundland music performed by a local musician. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
11
Program Concludes
Deer Lake, NL
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: At the hotel. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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