Travel Information : Land of First Contact
HOW TO GET HERE
The people now living in the Land of First Contact love to see visitors. If you don't plan to arrive in your own Viking longboat or a replica of John Cabot's Matthew, here are a few options:
BY AIR - There are two main airports on the island of Newfoundland - St. John's on the east coast and Deer Lake on the west coast. From either one, you can take a regional airline to the St. Anthony airport. Rental cars are available at the St. Anthony airport but book early if possible.
Regional Airlines:
Air Labrador (from Montreal to Blanc Sablon), 1-800-563-3042, www.airlabrador.com
Provincial Airlines, 1-800-563-2800, www.provincialairlines.com
Car Rental:
National, 709-454-8522, www.nationalcar.com
BY CAR - If you are coming by car, there is an good road up the west coast ( Route 430, also known as the Viking Trail) that connects to the Trans Canada Highway at Deer Lake. It passes through Gros Morne National Park and then hugs the shoreline all the way to St. Anthony. It is one of the most beautiful drives in the Province.
To get to the 7 historic and scenic communnities on the east coast, take Route 432 at Plum Point or at the St. Anthony airport.
To reach the Labrador coast from the island of Newfoundland you can fly to Blanc Sablon, on the Quebec side of the border using the regional airlines listed above. You can reach the Labrador side of the Strait of Belle Isle by ferry from St. Barbe, Newfoundland. Crossing time is 80 minutes and there are several ferries each day, depending on weather. See http://www.tw.gov.nl.ca/ferryservices/schedules. There is a good 2-lane paved road that goes west as far as Old Fort on the Quebec side and east to Red Bay on the Newfoundland & Labrador side. From Red Bay north the road turns to gravel and you can drive all the way to North West River.
ACCOMMODATIONS-
There is great variety in the accommodations is this region from intimate B&Bs to motels, inns and lodges. There are also cabins, historic houses you can rent, and even a lighthouse where you can stay. Here is a list of some of the accommodations. For a complete list please contact NewfoundlandLabrador.com or see 2010 Newfoundland and Labrador Traveller's Guide.
Inns and Lodges
Tuckamore Wilderness Lodge, Main Brook – http://www.tuckamorelodge.com
Tickle Inn at Cape Onion, Ship Cove – http://tickleinn.net
Quirpon Lighthouse Inn, Quirpon – http://linkumtours.com
Mayflower Inn, Roddickton – http://mayfloweradventures.com
Hotels and Motels
Grenfell Heritage Hotel & Suites, St. Anthony – http://grenfellheritagehotel.ca
Haven Inn, St. Anthony – http://haveninn.ca
Plum Point Motel, Plum Point – http://www.plumpointmotel.com
Dockside Motel, St. Barbe – http://docksidemotel.nf.ca
St. Brendan’s Motel, St. Lunaire-Griquet – (toll free#1-877-993-2520)
B&Bs
Valhalla Lodge Bed & Breakfast, Griquet – http://valhalla-lodge.com
Crows Nest Inn B&B, St. Anthony – http://www.bbcanada.com
Snuggle Inn B&B, St. Anthony – http://wwwbbcanada.com/snuggleinn
Stage Cove B&B, Conche – - http://stagecovebandb.ca
Along the Labrador Straits
Northern Light Inn, L’Anse au Clair – http://northernlightinn.com
Beachside Hospitality Home, L’Anse au Clair – normanletto@nf.sympatico.ca
Grenfell Louie A. Hall B&B, Forteau – http://wwwgrenfellbandb.ca
Seaview Cabins, Forteau – http://tourlabrador.ca
Barney’ B&B, L’Anse au Loup – barneysbedand breakfast@hotmail.com
Oceanview Resort Motel, West St. Modeste – http://www.oceanviewresort.ca
Basinview B&B, Red Bay – blancheearle@hotmail.com