Trip Report: North Atlantic Newfoundland

This week, three team members from Bay of Fundy Adventures embarked on a 7-day multi-sport expedition to the North Atlantic Coast of Newfoundland.

From glowing icebergs to desert-like boulder fields, Newfoundland's diverse landscapes inspired us to explore as much of the island as we could. Our journey began as we arrived via ferry and made our way to Embree (Masons Cove). We packed our kayaks and paddled out to one of the secluded islands in the Bay of Exploits, where we spent the night along the breezy shore. The following morning, we returned to the mainland, ready for more. Our adventure continued with sea kayaking off the picturesque town of Twillingate, to Long Point Lighthouse and the North Atlantic. Then venturing off on an iceberg hunt to Pilley’s Island Tickle, where we reached a massive ‘berg, gleaming against a foggy background. A local jokingly called it “just an ice cube,” but to us, it was quite a spectacle!

Embracing the theme of variety we alternated between wilderness tent camping, a charming Airbnb above a winery, and a cozy inn on the coast in Triton, each offering its unique flavour of Newfoundland hospitality.

Our grand finale was a night in Gros Morne National Park. We camped among the park's mountains, preparing for an epic 12km hike up 2000ft to the summit of the Tablelands. The surreal landscape, with its Mars-like rocks and cliffs, starkly contrasted our ocean iceberg encounters from the day before. Later that afternoon, we set off for Port Aux Basques to catch the night ferry to Nova Scotia, stopping to sample some fresh cod and halibut.

No great expedition is complete without delicious food, and our trip was no exception. We dined like royalty, savouring meals such as tofu and veggie stir-fry, maple salmon with garlic butter rice and asparagus, vegan hot Italian sausage pasta, and chickpea and sweet potato massaman curry with garlic rice. Breakfasts were a treat with limitless Shipyard Cafe coffee and fresh oatmeal topped with maple syrup and blueberries. Cooking together made for a great opportunity to reflect on the day's adventures and plan for the next.

This was an adventure we had dreamt of for years, and it exceeded all our expectations. We're already looking forward to our next expedition to Newfoundland, perhaps with some Bay of Fundy Adventures guests in tow!