Two hikers with backpacks walk up wooden stairs toward a white lighthouse with a red dome on a clear day. The path is surrounded by rocky terrain and sparse vegetation under a blue sky.

Explore Cape Spear and Petty Harbour

By Newfoundland & Labrador

Beautiful Cape Spear is the most easterly point in North America. Watch icebergs, seabirds, and whales from the shoreline, hike the East Coast Trail, and wander the ruins of the Second World War fortifications. The Cape Spear lighthouse is Newfoundland and Labrador’s oldest surviving lighthouse and a National Historic Site of Canada. The lighthouse has been restored to its 1839 appearance and visitors are able to see what it would have been like for a lighthouse keeper and his family to live there in the mid-19th century. You can even learn more about the history of lighthouses and light keeping at the Visitor’s Centre (bilingual guide service is available!).

A white lighthouse stands atop a rocky cliff, overlooking a vast ocean under a cloudy sky. The foreground features rugged terrain with patches of green vegetation. The water below is calm with gentle waves.

Cape Spear National Historic Site. Photo by Eric Hanson.

There’s nothing quite like witnessing the first sunrise in North America. A calm, serene, experience that you need to put on your bucket list. It may even make you a morning person. Watch this video to get a taste what you can expect.

Petty Harbour

When you’re finished your tour of Cape Spear, visit the small, picturesque fishing village of Petty Harbour. It’s less than 10 minutes away. Wander around and take in the calm air of this hidden gem. Relax. Turn off your cell phone and get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

A small fishing boat docked between two colorful wooden buildings, with a scenic view of the sunset over a calm waterway. The sky is painted in hues of orange, pink, and purple, highlighting the silhouetted hills in the background.

Fishing stages in Petty Harbour. Photo by Ray Mackey.

If you’d like to try something new, why not zipline through the fog? North Atlantic Ziplines gives the adventurous type the opportunity to sore high over the community. Sometimes you can even see whales jumping in the ocean below. It’s a great experience. You feel like you’re flying.

A scenic view of a mountainous landscape with a winding road. Clouds hover low, partially covering the green and rocky terrain. A patch of blue sky is visible through the clouds, creating a serene and misty atmosphere.

The view from North Atlantic Ziplines.

Wind down after your zipline experience, get your hands wet and learn about local marine life at the Petty Harbour Mini Aquarium. They have 30 exhibits and touch tanks – a fun activity for the whole family. A tour of Cape Spear and Petty Harbour is a great way to spend the day.