2025 Newfoundland

shanekingsley

shanekingsley

Curry - so nice it burns you twice
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Anyone here ever ridden to Newfoundland?

I've never been before and this seems like a great way to spend 3 weeks in Aug/Sept instead of riding in the US. Asides from visiting Gros Morne and camping there, I know absolutely nothing about the Rock.

Not sure if I'll do this trip clockwise or counterclockwise, but I would definitely plan take each ferry (St Barbe and Port Aux Basques). So on one part of the trip I would be riding through Labrador city and the other part will ride around Cape Breton and Gaspe, even though I've been to both before. l may also plan to pop into PEI for a day or two, but could skip it if time was tight.

Any suggestions for must ride roads or super scenic things to check out on the Rock?
Amazing campground or motels you know of?

Thanks!

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St John's was a cool little town, very hilly.

We visited the Quidi Vidi brewery, very cool-looking place and good beer too. Quidi Vidi Brewery - Shop

If you like dark ale, try their 1892!

Ches's Fish and Chips is a NFLD institution. Locations — Ches's Famous Fish and Chips

Of course, go visit Cape Speer and Signal Hill.

Whale watching season should be in full tilt. The Absolute Best Time to go Whale Watching in Newfoundland

And also hit a pub in the evening and get officially Screeched In...
 
Didn't ride it but spent 3 weeks on the Rock in the campervan a couple summers ago.

As far as interesting stuff to see check out this site. Newfoundland is full of abandonned stuff.

HiddenNewfoundland.ca

Hidden Newfoundland takes an informative look at a variety of lesser known attractions, curiosities and locations in Newfoundland
www.hiddennewfoundland.ca www.hiddennewfoundland.ca

I know you like to hike and the hike up to the B36 crash site in Burgoynes Cove is a good one.

You can ride out on the unused airstrip and check out all the bunkers in Argentia. If you camp at the Argentia park the hills behind are littered with bunkers too.
 
timtune said:
Didn't ride it but spent 3 weeks on the Rock in the campervan a couple summers ago.

As far as interesting stuff to see check out this site. Newfoundland is full of abandonned stuff.

HiddenNewfoundland.ca

Hidden Newfoundland takes an informative look at a variety of lesser known attractions, curiosities and locations in Newfoundland
www.hiddennewfoundland.ca www.hiddennewfoundland.ca

I know you like to hike and the hike up to the B36 crash site in Burgoynes Cove is a good one.

You can ride out on the unused airstrip and check out all the bunkers in Argentia. If you camp at the Argentia park the hills behind are littered with bunkers too.
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Awesome thanks - was actually thinking about taking the Argentia ferry instead so this sounds perfect. And thanksd for that link - will check it out for sure.

Also just registered with RideTheRock
 
I have driven (car) there several times and been through the maritimes at least 30 times. Lots of bears and moose on NFLD. Very nice. PEI is amazing but you have to pay to leave the island!
 
If you're hitting Gros Morne than in one ferry and out the other is likely best.
 
Try to be in The Rock in August instead of September. Weather unpredictable but, July and August are the two best months of the year.

St John’s will have some festivals going along George Street with tons of live music. Heading out of St John’s you can do a light house tour taking you along the coast through small fishing villages. I made it as far as Gander before heading back and had a couple of locals take me fishing for Salmon and it was amazing.

No matter what, you will encounter some rain or fog or cold with some sunshine. I’ve yet to experience the west coast of NL but, want to check out Stephenville and Cornerbrook. My best friend’s family is from around there.


There is always the road side stops of Dildo and Come by Chance for a pics.


https://imgur.com/a/rN9jSKE
 
Lightcycle said:
If you're taking the 16-hour Argentia<->N. Sydney ferry, be aware that there's a "No Sleeping On The Floor" policy. They'll ask you to get back into a chair to sleep.

Better to book a cabin if you can't sleep in a chair or need to be horizontal.

And the cabins do book up faster than the chairs.
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I was in a cabin, during a hurricane! They should not have left the port.
 
Lightcycle said:
If you're taking the 16-hour Argentia<->N. Sydney ferry, be aware that there's a "No Sleeping On The Floor" policy. They'll ask you to get back into a chair to sleep.
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I wonder when they start that. I slept outside on the deck. Me and my friend got stuck with chairs in the main room because everything was booked up. But someone was snoring like crazy so I took a walk outside and slept on the bench. Amazing sleep!
 
We did a bus tour 44 people. Flew into Deer Lake and out from St. John's. It was fun. I liked not having to get up and drive every day.
Book hotels/motels early, as the bus can sometimes book an entire place for a night, and there are tours running regularly, and simultaneously.
 
I know, but this is just a suggestion. Most people that go to NS only go to the cabot trail. If you ever get the opportunity you might want to go the other direction and run the south shore all the way around the coast and back again to truro. This would be a great trip and take two or three days.

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ToSlow said:
I know, but this is just a suggestion. Most people that go to NS only go to the cabot trail. If you ever get the opportunity you might want to go the other direction and run the south shore all the way around the coast and back again to truro. This would be a great trip and take two or three days.

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Thanks for that. I had a friend who used to teach at Dalhousie and so I stayed in Truro for a week, We explored some of the south, but never past Halifax - that looks pretty nice.
 
shanekingsley said:
Thanks for that. I had a friend who used to teach at Dalhousie and so I stayed in Truro for a week, We explored some of the south, but never past Halifax - that looks pretty nice.
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If you really wanted to take your time you could make a full wk of it. lot of sites to see and things to do
 
I did the Cabot Trail back in 2006 on bike and 2007 in car. I rode it counter clockwise and drove it clockwise.
I recommend doing it clockwise as the views are better. You get more of the "postcard views" in this direction.

As for PEI.
With your riding abilities, you don't need more than half a day to get around the perimeter of the island.

The island is beautiful but I remember getting through the entire thing in a day.
We stretched it to the next day by spending time going to see a play and dinner..... ohhh ya ...we also got engaged there too... 😁
 
I went to Nfld on the bike back in 2018. Ferry to St. John's then rode around to Gros Morne (got a cabin for the long route but not the shorter return trip). It was beautiful, but not amazing from a riding point of view. There aren't many smaller through roads. Across the majority of the island you have the main highway and then little spur roads that go to a specific village/site and nowhere else. It means a lot of backtracking if you want to see all of the most picturesque little coves. I found it frustrating given that my usual method of moto-touring is to string a bunch of destinations together and just ride all day.

The wind near the coasts during my visit was incredible. At times it felt like I was riding on a 45 degree angle and I had 3 different 5/16" bolts shear off on my windscreen mount.

All that said, I've also been considering heading back there this summer, given the current geopolitical situation... I'd likely go across the Trans-Labrador highway, spend a few days hiking in Gros Morne and then make my way east to the big city. Now that I know what to expect, I'd be planning a less motorcycle-centric time on the island and alotting more time for touristy stuff off the bike.
 
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