Eastern Newfoundland Close-up
The Avalon and Bonavista Peninsulas
When: TBA, 7 days, 7 nights
Cost: $3495, single supplement $695
Max participants: 6
About the Tour
Listen to the explosive spout of a humpback whale as it breaks the surface of a clear blue ocean. See the comical flight of a full-bellied puffin as it attempts to get airborne. Smell the salty landwash where the sea touches North America’s eastern-most land and where First Light really is first.
With camera in hand we will take you to the heart of the most easterly corner of North America, still largely undiscovered by the vast majority of travelers. This is a tour for photographers of all levels, their companions and the artistically-minded. Your particular needs and interests are addressed in a multi-dimensional tour that mixes group instruction, experiential learning and one-on-one coaching in the midst of cultural and ecological wonders. Presentations are interactive, inspiring and informative; the hikes are filled with vistas and natural beauty that invite hours of artistic contemplation; the traditional home-cooked meals and accommodations celebrate the best of Newfoundland hospitality. We will amble through charming historic communities like Brigus, Cupids and Trinity; experience gannets, puffins and whales closer than most anywhere on earth; hike trails that take us along towering cliffs, through gentle meadows and explore Newfoundland’s famous rocky beaches.
Your guides have deep roots here and will open doors to places and experiences undiscovered by the casual tourist. So pack your camera and join celebrated nature photographer, Dennis Minty, and his partner Antje Springmann, for “Newfoundland Close Up”, an unforgettable experience that will leave you inspired and more adept at capturing the natural world with your camera.
Itinerary
Day 1
Our tour begins in St. John’s, Newfoundland’s vibrant, historic capital. After your pickup, we head out to Cupids on the shore of Conception Bay, our home base for the first part of our adventure. Picturesque and welcoming, Cupids was settled in 1610 making it Canada’s oldest English colony. After an introduction to Newfoundland and nature photography, we head outdoors in the afternoon to explore and practice the lessons of the day while indulging in the scenic splendour of this undiscovered gem.
Day 2
We amble the Burnt Head trail and walk among the remnants of abandoned settlements. We take in a spectacular cliff view of “The Arch”, a natural rock formation along the way. Later, we explore the neighbouring town of Brigus, a picturesque community that was home to the arctic explorer Captain Bob Bartlett and prides itself on having maintained its historic, idyllic character.
Day 3
Bay Roberts’ Shoreline Heritage Walk is one of Newfoundland’s most scenic hikes. Our path takes us through meadows where we pass stone walls, root cellars and other evidence of early settlements. We stop and explore tiny pebble beaches before making our way along towering cliff-tops that offer an expansive view of Port-aux-Graves Peninsula, Bell Island, and Conception Bay beyond. In the afternoon we head to Port Rexton and luxurious Fisher’s Loft, our base for the next 3 days. Before dinner there will be time for an exploration of the local area or to sit back and watch the stunning views of the bay from our host inn.
Day 4
This morning we visit Elliston, the best place in Newfoundland to see puffins while standing on solid ground. In the afternoon we will hike the Skerwink Trail rated by Travel & Leisure Magazine as one of the top 35 walks in North America and Europe. Ancient sea stacks, 540 million years old rise from the ocean floor, remnants of the erosive power of the sea where bald eagles are frequent visitors.
Day 5
In the morning we explore Trinity with an optional hike to the top of Gun Hill for its breathtaking views of the town and its spectacular Harbour. This stately and vibrant community is steeped in history and has the sense of grandeur due to its fish merchant history. In the afternoon we take a step back in time on the film set of “Random Passage” which documented the life of Newfoundland’s first European settlers. The evening is spent on Trinity Bay exploring the coastline’s charming coves by boat followed by a gourmet dinner in resettled community.
Day 6
In store for us today is one of the world’s most spectacular wildlife experiences – Cape St. Mary’s Seabird Sanctuary. “The Cape” is North America’s second largest and most accessible gannet colony. We sit atop cliffs as thousands of these magnificent birds sail above and below us, and the air is filled with the drone of their chatter.
Day 7
We begin the day with a quiet walk through Salmonier Nature Park, a marvellous environmental education and wildlife rehabilitation centre. See and photograph many of the animals that are otherwise difficult to see in our dense woodlands. Native wildlife species are maintained in spacious natural enclosures along one of the finest boardwalk trails in Canada. Then it is on to the ‘Southern Shore’ where we take to the water in search of whales in Bay Bulls and Witless Bay. Here lies one of the world’s greatest gathering places of whales and seabirds drawn each year by the abundant food supply.
Tour Leaders: Dennis Minty and Antje Springmann
Prices include:
• All accommodations
• All meals
• Ground transportation
• Your instructor/guide(s)
• All park/tour fees
Prices do not include:
• Flights to and from St. John’s
• Laundry, phone calls, items of a personal nature
• Alcoholic beverages
• Travel/medical insurance
Fitness level: Easy to moderate. Includes hikes on mostly prepared trails in hilly terrain. Footing can be uneven.
Please note: Itinerary is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseeable factors
