Communities and Directions

TRINITY, TRINITY BAY

Digital Map of Trinity Courtesy of www.townoftrinity.com

🗺️ Getting to Trinity

Trinity is approximately 1 hour from the Trans-Canada Highway (Route 1). Take the exit for Route 230 near Clarenville.

You have two driving options:

Via Route 230 (direct from Highway 1):
- Straightforward and efficient.
Via Route 230A through Clarenville:
- Slightly more scenic.
- Ideal if you plan to stop in Clarenville for supplies (larger grocery stores and a full-service NLC liquor store).
- Time difference is minimal compared to the direct route.

Once on Route 230, drive 50.8 km, then turn right onto Route 239.

Continue for 3 km, then take the left-hand turn just after the bay to enter historic Trinity.

For more details about getting to the Artisan Inn visit our GETTING HERE section.

Trinity Highlights: 🔗 Visit Explore Trinity to learn more.

Local shopping
Whale watching tours
7 Provincial Historic Sites
Rising Tide Theatre
Restaurants and cafés
Gun Hill hiking trail
- Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark Geosite
Guided historical walking tours

The following communities located on Route 239, Route 230 and Route 235 are all easily accessible from Trinity ranging from 10 minutes to 50 minutes by vehicle.

SOUTH OF TRINITY on ROUTE 239

New Bonaventure

Distance: 25 minutes from Artisan Inn
Directions:
- Take the sharp left hairpin turn at the Royal Bank to get onto Trinity Road.
- Turn left onto Route 239 at the T-intersection.
- New Bonaventure is at the end of the road, 15.8 km from Trinity.
Highlights:
- Random Passage, Grand Seduction, and Shipping News film sets
- Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark Geosite

Fort Point

Distance: 19 minutes from Artisan Inn
Directions:
- Take the sharp left hairpin turn at the Royal Bank to get onto Trinity Road.
- Drive 1.9 km, then turn left onto Main Road/Route 239.
- Drive 2.7 km, then turn left at Dunfield.
- Continue for 4 km.
Highlights:
- Fort Point Lighthouse and Interpretation Centre
- Peter Pan & Wendy Filming Location
- Whale spotting (during feeding months)

NORTH of TRINITY on ROUTE 230

Port Rexton/Trinity East

Cliffs of Skerwink Trail — Skerwink Trail Marieke Gow Photography

Distance: 13 minutes from Artisan Inn
Directions:
- Take the sharp left hairpin turn at the Royal Bank to get onto Trinity Road.
- Turn right onto Route 239 at the T-intersection.
- Drive 3.6 km, then turn right onto Route 230.
- Drive 4.5 km (5 minutes) to Port Rexton.
- At the bright yellow gas station, turn right onto Rocky Hill Road.
- Drive 1.9 km to reach Trinity East and the start of the Skerwink Trail.
- To reach Port Rexton Brewery, turn left off Rocky Hill Road onto Station Road.
Highlights:
- Port Rexton Brewery
- Skerwink Trail
- Two Whales Vegetarian Coffee Shop

English Harbour

Distance: 19 minutes from Artisan Inn
Directions:
- Take the sharp left hairpin turn at the Royal Bank to get onto Trinity Road.
- Turn right onto Route 239 at the T-intersection.
- Drive 3.6 km, then turn right onto Route 230.
- Drive 5.9 km, then turn right at the English Harbour sign.
- Drive 4.9 km to reach English Harbour.
Highlights:
- English Harbour Arts Centre
- Horsechops (great for whale watching during feeding season)

Champney’s West

Distance: 18 minutes from Artisan Inn
Directions:
- Take the sharp left hairpin turn at the Royal Bank to get onto Trinity Road.
- Turn right onto Route 239 at the T-intersection.
- Drive 3.6 km, then turn right onto Route 230.
- Drive past Port Rexton, passing Two Whales Coffee Shop, and take the next right to Champney’s West.
- Stay right at the fork, drive 7.2 km.
Highlights:
- Fox Island Hiking Trail
- Champney’s West Aquarium

Port Union

Distance: 30 minutes from Artisan Inn
Directions:
- Take the sharp left hairpin turn at the Royal Bank to get onto Trinity Road.
- Turn right onto Route 239 at the T-intersection.
- Drive 3.6 km, then turn right onto Route 230.
- Continue driving for 27.9 km (approx. 25 minutes).
Highlights:
- Murphy’s Cove Lodges Pond Trail
- The Factory Historic Site
  - Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark geosite

Elliston & Maberly

Atlantic Puffins — Puffins by Paul Dolk: To purchase this print visit Paul Dolk’s Website

Distance: 45 minutes from Artisan Inn
Directions (from Route 230):
- Take the sharp left hairpin turn at the Royal Bank to get onto Trinity Road.
- Turn right onto Route 239 at the T-intersection.
- Drive 3.6 km, then turn right onto Route 230.
- Drive 39.7 km, then take the Route 238 turn-off on your right.
- Drive 6.3 km to reach Elliston.
Alternative (from Bonavista):
- Continue on the main road, then turn right at the Spillar’s Cove sign.
- Drive 7.1 km to reach Elliston.
Highlights:
- Home From the Sea Sealers Museum
- Sealer’s Memorial Statue
- Puffin Viewing Site
  - Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark geosite
- Root Cellar Capital of the World
  - Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark geosite

Bonavista

Distance: 45 minutes from Artisan Inn
Directions:
- Take the sharp left hairpin turn at the Royal Bank to get onto Trinity Road.
- Turn right onto Route 239 at the T-intersection.
- Drive 3.6 km, then turn right onto Route 230.
- Drive 37.7 km (approx. 40 minutes) to enter Bonavista.
Highlights:
- Ryan Premises National Historic Site
- The Matthew
- Cape Bonavista Lighthouse
  - Puffin viewing in season
- Shopping
- Cape Shore Hiking Trail
- The Dungeon
  - Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark geosite

Spillars Cove

Distance: 49 minutes from Artisan Inn
Directions:
- Take the sharp left hairpin turn at the Royal Bank to get onto Trinity Road.
- Turn right onto Route 239 at the T-intersection.
- Drive 3.6 km, then turn right onto Route 230.
- Drive 37 km, then turn right at the Spillar’s Cove sign.
- Drive 2.4 km past Crewe’s Garage.
- Please park your vehicle where the pavement ends and do not attempt to drive on the dirt road. This will contribute to the erosion of a geologically significant area of our peninsula and makes it difficult for hikers to proceed safely.
Highlights:
- Spillar’s Cove Sea Stacks
  - Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark geosite
- Peter Pan & Wendy Filming Locations

Route 235 Communities

The Bonavista Peninsula forms a loop, with Route 235 being the opposite side of the loop to Route 230. You can visit these communities either on your way to Bonavista or on your way back. These directions are for visiting them on your way to Bonavista. We recommend avoiding Route 236, as it is a dirt road that may not be suitable for rental vehicles.

Open Hall, Red Cliff, Tickle Cove

Distance: 40 minutes from Trinity
Directions:
- Take the sharp left hairpin turn at the Royal Bank to get onto Trinity Road.
- Turn right onto Route 239 at the T-intersection, and drive 3.6 km.
- Turn left onto Route 230 at the T-intersection.
- Drive 25.3 km (21 minutes), then turn right onto Route 235.
- Drive another 25.3 km (25 minutes) to the left turn for Open Hall (a few minutes past Plate Cove East).
To reach Red Cliff: Continue driving 2.4 km (3 minutes).
To reach Tickle Cove: Continue driving 2.5 km (5 minutes).
- The turn-off for the Tickle Cove Sea Arch is a right turn just before the community’s boat slipway. If you pass the slipway, you’ve gone too far.
Highlights:
- Paul Dolk Photography Studio
- Filming locations for Grand Seduction & Severance Season 2
- Tickle Cove Sea Arch
  - Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark geosite

King’s Cove, Duntara & Keels

Rocky Terrain with houses and ocean — Keels

King’s Cove, Duntara & Keels

Distance: 45 minutes from the Artisan Inn
Directions:
- Take the sharp left hairpin turn at the Royal Bank to get onto Trinity Road.
- Turn right onto Route 239 at the T-intersection, and drive 3.6 km.
- Turn left onto Route 230 at the T-intersection.
- Drive 26 km (21 minutes) to the Route 235 turn-off and turn right.
- Drive 31.6 km (28 minutes) to reach King’s Cove.
To visit Duntara: Turn left at King’s Cove and drive 5.2 km (7 minutes).
To visit Keels: Turn left at King’s Cove and drive 8.5 km (14 minutes).
Highlights:
- Lighthouse Hiking Trail in King’s Cove
  - Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark geosite
- Devil’s Footprints in Keels
  - Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark geosite
- Two Rooms Contemporary Art Gallery in Duntara

Upper Amherst Cove

Distance: 45 minutes from the Artisan Inn
Directions (from Route 235 communities):
- Continue driving 18 km (18 minutes) north to reach Upper Amherst Cove.
Directions (direct from Trinity):
- Take the sharp left hairpin turn at the Royal Bank to get onto Trinity Road.
- Turn right onto Route 239 at the T-intersection, and drive 3.6 km.
- Turn right onto Route 230 and drive 30.4 km (24 minutes) to Catalina.
- Turn right onto Route 237.
- Drive 11 km (12 minutes), then turn right.
- Drive 1.8 km (2 minutes) and turn left into Upper Amherst Cove.
Highlight:
- The Bonavista Social Club (open for special events and private catering)

Puffin Viewing

The Bonavista Peninsula is one of the few places in North America where you can get up close to a puffin colony, without having to get on a boat, although, you can do that too if you wish.

ELLISTON: BIRD ISLAND

Bird Island is one of the best places to view Puffins from land in Newfoundland. It’s location is accessible free of cost, but we encourage our visitors to contribute a small amount to the donation box as there is some infrastructure and upkeep required for the site and area.

When you arrive at the Puffin site, there is a 5-minute walk from the road to the cliff that faces the island where to Puffins nest. Depending on the time of the day, their mood and the size of the crowd, the puffins may fly to your side of the cliffs.

Elliston has become very popular with visitors. If you would like to experience the puffins in a less crowded environment, we suggest taking a tour with Tuckamore Discovery Tours, or ask the Artisan Inn Staff when you check in where some other, more locally known, spots to view puffins are.

For directions to Elliston from Trinity please visit our page

Communities and Directions

Additional Links

http://www.townofelliston.ca/5ttd/puffins.html

Video: Candice Does Newfoundland: Elliston Puffins and Roots Cellars

Downhome Article about Tuckamore Discoveries Puffin Tours

Matador Network: Elliston Puffins

Information about puffins from Canadian Geographic:

The Atlantic Puffin is a pigeon-sized sea bird, the smallest species of puffin. Their black head, back and wings contrast sharply with their white underside, while their blue, orange and yellow beaks and bright orange feet give them a splash of colour.

Puffins are poor fliers and evolution has not yet helped them to develop a graceful landing strategy. While not as useful in the air, their wings make them excellent underwater swimmers.

Puffins live for the majority of the year at sea, but come to land to breed and burrow on the Bonavista Peninsula between late May and late August. Puffins normally keep the same mate and burrow from year to year and, on average, live for up to 20 years.

An Atlantic Puffin flies over Bird Island in Elliston — Puffins by Paul Dolk: To purchase this print, visit Paul Dolk’s Website

Whale and Iceberg Tours

Trinity Bay and Bonavista Bay serve as nature’s playground during the Spring and Summer months in Newfoundland.

Twenty-two species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises swim the waters along the coastline of Newfoundland and Labrador during the months of May to August. The Bonavista Peninsula is a perfect location to see and appreciate these magnificent creatures of the sea.

Some species spotted in Trinity Bay and Bonavista Bay include: Humpback Whales, Sperm Whales, Minke Whales, Pothead Whales and Killer Whales (Orcas). White-sided dolphins and Bluefin Tuna are frequently spotted during the Fall.

Boat tours also provide the opportunity to see the many majestic icebergs floating past Trinity during Spring and early Summer. The prime time to see icebergs is between late May and late June.

Finally, the Peninsula’s unique geological features offer an added bonus on every trip.

A whale shows off during a tour with Sea of Whales Adventures — Marieke Gow Photography

Those who come to visit during the month of June and early July are sometimes lucky enough to spot icebergs, whales and various sea birds, including: the Atlantic Puffin and Bald Eagles all at once!

To see daily records of whale sightings in our area CLICK HERE.

The two communities that offer boat tours with the focus of seeing wildlife are Trinity and Bonavista.

TRINITY

Three boat tours are located within walking distance of the Artisan Inn

Sea of Whales Adventure

Vessel Type: Zodiac
Phone: 1-709-464-2200
Address: 1 Ash’s Lane
Walking Distance from the Twine Loft: 2 minutes

Atlantic Adventures

Vessel Type: Trawller sailer
Phone: 1-709-464-2133
Address: 1 Dock Lane
Walking distance from the Twine Loft: 6 minutes

Trinity Eco Tours

Vessel Type: Zodiac
Phone: 1-709-464-3712
Address: 1 Stoneman’s Lane
Walking distance from the Twine Loft: 4 minutes

BONAVISTA

Discovery Sea Adventures

Vessel Type: Fast Rescue Craft
Phone: 1-709-470-0322
Address: Roper Street, Bonavista NL
Located in the parking lot of the Matthew Legacy site

Bonavista Puffin and Whale Tours

Vessel Type: Larger vessel type with indoor and outdoor seating and a washroom on board
Phone: 1-709-468-8438
Address: 15 Roper Street, Bonavista NL
Located in the parking lot of the Matthew Legacy site.

Places to Whale Watch From Land in Trinity Bight

While boat tours offer a first class whale watching experience, getting you up close and personal with wildlife, not everyone has the greatest sea legs. We can never guarantee a whale sighting, however, we can tell you where the locals often go to watch Humpbacks feeding once they have arrived for the season. Our staff receive updates from local boat tours and summer residents when pods are feeding close to shore in certain area’s. We do our best to communicate anything exciting that we are aware of when we register guests at the inn or during morning breakfast.

Fort Point Lighthouse and Beach

We recommend getting a lunch to go from Trinity Mercantile Coffee Shop and heading to Fort Point Lighthouse for a picnic. Whales are often seen feeding during the month of July just off the point’s beach.

Driving Distance from Trinity: 19 Minutes

English Harbour / Horse Chops

Cliffs of English Harbour — Located 19 minutes from the Artisan Inn

This is the area many locals go to watch whales from the cliffs. The beach in English Harbour is also a popular spot to watch the capelin when they start to roll. locals are often seen here with buckets to harvest the small silver fish for a meal.

Driving Distance from Trinity: 19 Minutes

Skerwink Trail, Trinity East/Port Rexton

Whales often feed below the cliffs, offering hikers a bird’s eye view. One cannot drive up to these spots, but instead, must hike the outer trail for the best vantage points.

Driving distance from Trinity: 13 minutes

Please note that whales are wild animals and their feeding times and locations can never be guaranteed.

Find Driving Directions to all communities mentioned

COMMUNITIES AND DRIVING DIRECTIONS