Terra Nova National Park

Terra Nova National Park is in Eastern Newfoundland. It joined Canada's national parks system in 1957 and is Canada's most easterly national park. Terra Nova is an excellent way to experience the nature, discovery and adventure of eastern Newfoundland. It is a place where sheltered Atlantic fjords stretch inland to touch the boreal landscape.

View from Ochre Hill

The Terra Nova region is rich in natural resources, such as fish and sea mammals. These resources have attracted people to the Terra Nova area for at least 5,000 years. Prehistoric peoples and European settlers depended on the rich resources of the sea and land, as do many people in the region today.

Understand

Terra Nova National Park covers an area of 399 km² (154 sq mi), which is a bit smaller than the island Montreal.

View from Malady Head

Terra Nova National Park is on the east coast of Newfoundland along several inlets of Bonavista Bay. The park takes its name from the Latin name for Newfoundland; it is also the original Portuguese name given to the region.

Terra Nova National Park was established in 1957 to protect the Eastern Island Boreal Forest natural region. This region covers most of the island of Newfoundland, east of Deer Lake.

Organized activities and serviced campsites are only available mid-May to mid-October. Some trails are closed between October and January. Contact the park office ☏ +1 709-533-2801 or email: info.tnnp@pc.gc.ca.

History

The first European settlers in Canada landed at Alexander Bay; what is now the coast of Terra Nova National Park.

Landscape

Terra Nova's landscape is typical of the northeast coast of Newfoundland, but with remnants of the Appalachian Mountains contributing to widely varied and rugged topography throughout the region. The park's seacoast consists of several rocky "fingers" jutting into Bonavista Bay along an area stretching from just north of Port Blandford to the vicinity of Glovertown. The coastline varies from cliffs and exposed headlands to sheltered inlets and coves, contributing to Newfoundland's prime recreational boating area.

Inland areas consist of rolling forested hills, exposed rock faces, and bogs, ponds and wetlands. Wildlife protected by the park range from small to large land mammals, migratory birds, and various marine life. Terra Nova also protects an area containing remnants of the Beothuk Nation, as well as many of the early pioneer European settlements in the region.

Flora and fauna

Animals that inhabit this national park are coyotes, black bears, moose, caribou, black ducks, red foxes, beavers, bald eagles, red squirrels, river otters, lynxes, puffins, snowshoe hares, ospreys, pine martens, and minks. Marine animals that inhabit offshore are humpback whales, minke whales, fin whales, pilot whales, harp seals, orcas and dolphins.

It is characterized by black spruce trees with pockets of balsam fir, white pine, mountain ash, tamarack, maple and other deciduous tree species.

Visitor information

• Park website

Get in

By car

Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) travels through the park. Terra Nova National Park is 250 km (155 miles) northwest of St. John's, Newfoundland, and 60 km (37 miles) southeast of Gander. Depending on where you're coming from -eastern or western Newfoundland - you will enter through the eastern or western gate. The highway's route through the park is some 40 km long, with signs to point you to the Visitor Information Marine Centre in Salton's Brook, campgrounds, and other relevant stops.

DRL operates daily bus routes all around Newfoundland, and has stops near the eastern and the western gates of Terra Nova National Park.

By boat

If you have your own boat, the park is accessible by sea along the northeastern side of the island. For docking and boat launches, try Inner Newman Sound. The mouth of the Southwest Arm in Alexander Bay is another good docking option.

By plane

Terra Nova National Park is:

• Approximately 220 km west of St. John's International Airport (St. John's) on Highway 1
• Approximately 67 km east of Gander International Airport (Gander) on Highway 1

Fees and permits

• Daily fees (2024): adult $6.50, senior $5.50, children under 18 free, family $13.50.
  • Annual passes cost about the same as 5 day passes, less if purchased between May 1 and June 30.
• Fishing permits (2024): daily $13.50, annual $46.25.

Parks Canada Passes

The Discovery Pass provides unlimited admission for a full year at over 80 Parks Canada places that charge a daily entrance fee. It provides faster entry and is valid for 12 months from date of purchase. Prices for 2024 (taxes included):

• Family/group (up to 7 people in a vehicle): $151.25
• Children and youth (0-17): free
• Adult (18-64): $75.25
• Senior (65+): $64.50

The Cultural Access Pass: people who have received their Canadian citizenship in the past year can qualify for free entry to some sites.

See

• 1 Newman Sound Estuary. 
• 2 Bonavista Bay (from the Blue Hill Autotrail).  

Do

• Newman Sound Amphitheatre. Number of shows 
• 1 Visitors Centre and Marine Interpretation Centre. interpretive video and interactive exhibits 
• Coastal Trail. from Newman Sound to Headquarters Wharf 
• Kayak Newman Sound. Sheltered waters in the sound make for good kayaking. 
• 2 Coastal Connections, ☏ +1 709-533-2196. Offers boat tours with a chance of seeing bald eagles, whales, and icebergs. 
• 3 Twin Rivers Golf Course. 

Buy

• Heritage Foundation Gift Shop, ☏ +1 709 533-3142. 10AM-5PM. (updated Aug 2015)

Eat

• Sandy Pond. Snacks available in the park. 
• 1 Mary Brown's (north entrance to park), ☏ +1 709-533-2541. Chicken chain restaurant (updated Dec 2018)

Sleep

Hotels

Accommodation, except camping can be found just outside the park boundaries, for example:

• 1 Clode Sound Motel, 8 Main Street, Charlottetown, ☏ +1 709 664-3146, guestservices@clodesound.com. 
• 2 By D'Bay Cabins, Port Blandford, ☏ +1 709 543-2637. 

Camping

It’s wise to book in advance for serviced summer camping.

• 3 Newman Sound Campground. 400 serviced and unserviced wooded campsites. Per night unserviced/serviced $28.50/$42.50 (Sep-Oct $26.50/$39.50). (updated Jan 2024)
• 4 Malady Head Campground. 60 unserviced wooded campsites with firepits. Per night $24.00. (updated Jan 2024)
• oTENTiks. Tents on platforms with beds for up to six people Mid-Jun to early Sep $111, late May to mid-June and early Sep to late Oct $100. (updated Jan 2024)
• Backcountry. Unserviced back country sites are found throughout the park. $17.50. (updated Jan 2024)

Go next

• Eastport Peninsula and Avalon Peninsula
• Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site on the west coast of Newfoundland.

Routes through Terra Nova National Park

Gander ← Glovertown ←

W  E

→ Clarenville → St. John's