St. John's is an excellent base for day trips. Within about two and a half hours by road you can reach puffin islands, an archaeological colony, a UNESCO fossil site and one of the largest gannet colonies in the Atlantic, as well as dozens of small fishing villages. This guide organises the trips by distance, with practical notes on timing, season and how to combine them. Drive times are approximate and depend on weather and traffic, and most trips need a rental car or a guided tour, since public transport on the Avalon Peninsula is very limited.
Closest: Cape Spear and Quidi Vidi (under half an hour)
These two are barely day trips at all, but they are the first places to see outside the city. Cape Spear is about twenty minutes from downtown and is the most easterly point of land in North America, with a historic lighthouse and cliff-top paths. Quidi Vidi Village is a small fishing community on a sheltered inlet, with a brewery and artisan studios. Both take one to two hours, and they pair well on the same morning. The grounds are open year-round, while the lighthouse and visitor services at Cape Spear keep a summer season.
South to Bay Bulls and Witless Bay (about 30 minutes)
The boat tours that leave from Bay Bulls take you to the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, the best-known seabird colony in the province. The trip takes about an hour and a half on the water, plus about twenty-five minutes by road each way. Puffins are on the islands from late spring to early August, and whales are most often seen from about May to October, though neither is guaranteed. Book ahead in July and August, wear warm layers, and remember that the boats do not run in winter. This is the trip to choose if you only have time for one wildlife experience.
Ferryland and the Colony of Avalon (about an hour)
Further south on the Irish Loop, Ferryland is home to the Colony of Avalon, an archaeological site where a 17th-century English settlement is being uncovered. Guided tours of about an hour and a half run through the summer season, and the site also offers a heritage garden tour, a children's dig-themed tour and a conservation lab. Allow half a day, or a full day if you also walk the coast and have lunch in the village. A guided Irish Loop tour from the city includes Ferryland and removes the need to drive, which suits visitors without a car.
Mistaken Point (about two hours)
At the southern tip of the peninsula, Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve protects fossils of some of the oldest complex life on earth. The fossils can be seen only on a guided hike of about six kilometres, which requires a reservation, and the tours run daily from mid-May to early October. Allow three and a half to four hours for the tour plus the drive from the city, and wear sturdy waterproof shoes. This is a demanding day, but the site is of world importance, and the coast is lovely. It combines naturally with Ferryland on the same trip, if you start early.
Cape St. Mary's (about two and a half hours)
On the southwest of the Avalon, Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve is a cliff-top walk of about a kilometre to a viewpoint above Bird Rock, where about 24,000 northern gannets nest. The birds can be seen from as close as ten metres. The interpretation centre is open from about May to October, and there is no fee to visit. Fog is common, so be prepared. It is a long drive, but one of the best wildlife experiences in the province, and it needs no boat.
Combining trips
Do not try to do too much in a day. A good pairing is Cape Spear and Quidi Vidi in the morning with a late lunch downtown. Another is Bay Bulls in the morning for the boat and a stop in a village for lunch. A longer day could take in Ferryland and Mistaken Point, leaving early and returning in the evening, but check the tour times first, since the fossil walk runs at a set time. Cape St. Mary's is best as a day on its own.
Practicalities
Check the weather forecast and the season before you set out, because fog, wind and rough seas affect boats, trails and views. Fuel up in the city, carry water and snacks, and expect limited services in small communities. Cell coverage can be patchy on remote stretches. If you prefer not to drive, choose a guided tour, which also gives you a local guide's stories. Whichever you choose, leave time to stop in the villages, since the outports are part of the experience.
