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When we arrived in the little nearby town of Rocky Harbour the previous afternoon, we quickly went to the Park Headquarters to see if there were any seats still available for a boat trip on Western Brook Pond. In the peak tourist season of July and August, we were lucky to be able to book ourselves on the last cruise of the afternoon (summer departures for the 2-hour cruise are 10 AM, 1 PM and 4 PM) at a cost of US$27/adult (2004 prices). It was a beautiful sunny afternoon so we did not want to take a chance on the weather being cloudy or wet the next day. Run by Bon Tours, their two tour vessels Westbrook II and III can together seat 165 people in a combination open rear deck and enclosed mid-cabin arrangement. The photo shows the crowd waiting to board the last voyage of the day. We were fortunate enough to be near the front of the throng and managed to get seats where we could stand up and look out over the enclosed cabin to observe the landscape as we approached it. It can be breezy and cool out on the water, so it is best to come prepared with some long sleeved and legged clothing, even if it seems warm when you are dock-side!
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: Western Brook Pond
1. Contact Bonn Tours for a boat trip.
2. Buy a shirt from the treasure box store in Rocky Harbour. See the gallery upstairs.
3. Eat some cod
4. Don't do the tablelands trail. Huge disappointment
5. Visit Norris Point
6. See the local library if you need internet access. (non-wii fii)
7. See the viking settlement in Lanse aux Meadows
8. See if Woody Point has a hostel to stay in
9. Watch for moose when on a walking trail.
10. Drive slow. You will hit a moose before you will see one.
11. Pick berries
12. Walk the Western Brook Pond Trail and tour the fjord by boat
13. Whales
14. Icebergs
Written Oct 11, 2009
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Opened in 1998, the unpretentious Newfoundland Insectarium is probably Deer Lake's best-known tourist attraction. It is just off the Trans-Canada Highway and probably worth the detour if you are making a stop in Deer Lake (which is VERY likely if you are travelling across Newfoundland), especially if you like butterflies or have kids.
Despite the many critters on display, the highlight of the place is definitely the Butterfly Pavilion. There is also a beehive, where kids of all ages are invited to spot the queen bee. A short walking trail behind the Insectarium brings you to a surprisingly photogenic marsh.
Written Feb 11, 2007
Address: Highway 430
Website: http://www.nfinsectarium.com/
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There is a visitor's centre located along the Trans-Canada Highway (next to Irving Big Stop) near to Deer Lake which is worth to drop by if you need any information. However, this visitor's centre is closed from mid-autumn throughout the winter season.
Written Jan 14, 2006
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As in other parts of Newfoundland, the houses and buildings of Deer Lake are rather simple and made from wood which are plenty around this area. The locals would paint their houses and buildings with various colours to make them more attractive. More photos are at the travelogue section of this VT page.
Written Jan 14, 2006
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When you enter the town of Deer Lake from the Trans-Canada Highway, there is a memorial statue with a deer on top and a Canada flag next to it (see photo). This is worth a look, I think it is some sort of war memorial.
Written Jan 14, 2006
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Irving Big Stop is located along the Trans-Canada Highway (next to Deer Lake Motel) a few minutes drive out of town and it is a very important coach and bus pick-up point for the DRL Coach Service which are the only public coaches running from Port Aux Basque to St John's (and the other way). It is also a bus pick-up point for buses going from Corner Brook to Gros Morne National Park and beyond (e.g. along the Viking Trail all the way to St Anthony's). More information about public transportation in Newfoundland will be available in my VT Newfoundland page soon.
Written Jan 14, 2006
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There is a lake next to the town by the same name (Deer Lake) which has a beach area which is very popular among the locals during the summer season. Next to the beach is a small park called Friendship Park. More photos of the lake are at the travelogue section of this VT page.
Written Jan 14, 2006
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As the tour passes close inshore to the various huge cliffs, you will have the chance to see many amazing rock formations formed over the years by erosion. In addition, there are frequent rock falls (geologically speaking) and the evidence can be seen on huge portions of the walls where the surface has been swept clean of all plant life. The boat operators mentioned that one tour about 10 years earlier had actually witnessed a section of the cliffs giving way and crashing down into the Pond. I wish I had been there for that one! The photo shows our accompanying tour boat as we make our way back toward the entrance to the pond. The floating dock nearby is where transfers to land are made for those who chose to hike into or out of here via the trail system in the Park. Because of its relative isolation from industrial pollution, the highlands-fed water of Western Brook Pond has been tested as some of the purest in the world.
Updated Jan 7, 2005
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On the southern edge of Gros Morne, is an amazing geological wonder called the Tablelands. This, in fact, was one of the reasons that the park was made a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Tablelands is a 260-million year old chunk of lava from the earth's crust that broke off and was thrust to the surface during collisions between the constanting moving tectonic plates in this part of the world. There are a few other places in the world that also boast similar formations, in Oman, Cyprus, Tibet and southern Chile. The rocks are composed of peridotite but, when thrust to the surface they change to the mineral serpentine. Due to weathering effects, serpentine turns to a tan colour, giving this huge formation its distinctive look. The chemical composition of the rocks is also not very condusive to plant life, consequently it appears to be a barren moon-like surface in comparison to the surrounding spruce forests.
Updated Aug 15, 2004
Reviews and photos of Deer Lake attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Deer Lake sightseeing.
On the southern edge of Gros Morne, is an amazing geological wonder called the Tablelands. This, in fact, was one of the reasons that the park was made a UNESCO...
1 member lives in Deer Lake
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To reach the 1000-year old Viking settlement and the amazing whale watching voyages at the northern tip of Newfoundland (see my St. Anthony's page), you have to pass through Gros Morne National Park...
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Starting place of the Viking Trail
Known as the "gateway to Gros Morne National Park", Deer Lake is a sleepy town at the crossroads of two of Newfoundland's major highways -- the Trans-Canada Highway and the Viking Trail. Deer Lake's...
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Deer Lake - A Simple Town By The Lake
Deer Lake is a simple and idyllic town located next to a lake by the same name. This town is the gateway to the famous Gros Morne National Park of Newfoundland (which is an UNESCO World Heritage...
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this page is about my trip to Gros Morne National Park, Deer Lake is the nearest town so thats what i used
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