Newfoundland, located in eastern Canada and part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, is a sparsely populated island of austere beauty. At just over 42,000 square miles in area, it is the fourth largest of Canada’s islands, and the largest of its islands outside of those of its high arctic (Baffin, Victoria, and Ellesmere). Populated by less than a half million and experiencing a subarctic climate where North Atlantic storms lash it, relatively few travel to Newfoundland. Those who do venture to the area are treated to spectacular vistas of coastline, interior mountains, lakes, rivers, sweeps of tundra, and the colorful, historically-evocative architecture of its few settlements.
This bush trip visits all of the best that Newfoundland has to offer, beginning at the small Port au Choix Airport, located on the island’s northwest. The journey then weaves a course throughout a medley of the island’s geography to the Avalon Peninsula, ending at Newfoundland’s most populous city, St. John, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Assistance on the trip will be available in the form of a ‘Back on Track’ button on the VFR Map — however, be advised that using this will disable achievements tied to the activity.
Total Legs: 6 Total Distance: 387 Total Time(125kts): 3 hours 5 minutes
Leg 1
Port Au Choix to Deer Lake
Leg Distance: 100.51 Approximate time at 125kts: 48 minutes.
Port Au Choix(CCM4) to Portland Creek(POI1)
Distance: 32.21NM Bearing: 218° 15 minutes
After lifting off from Port Au Choix Airport, turn to the south-southwest, cross Ingornachoix Bay, and begin following the coastline and Newfoundland and Labrador Route 430. The route parallels the coast along this part of Newfoundland, which is called the Great Northern Peninsula. The Great Northern Peninsula is the longest (and largest by area) peninsula on the Island of Newfoundland. It is bounded on the west by the Gulf of St. Lawrence and on the east by the Labrador Sea (of the North Atlantic Ocean). Port Au Choix is rooted in Basque maritime heritage; its name is Basque for ‘Little Port.’ The town and surrounding area is one of Canada’s most important from an archaeological standpoint, as a number of finds revealed some of North America’s earliest inhabitants. Leaving Port Au Choix, pass by Hawkes Bay, then Little Brook Pond, followed by River of Ponds Lake; the lakes all nestled against the rugged coastline. After River of Ponds Lake, sight Inner Pond and then the small settlement of Portland Creek.
Portland Creek(POI1) to St. Paul’s(POI2)
Distance: 20.8NM Bearing: 221° 10 minutes
Continue following the coastline to the south-southwest and route 430 which parallels it. The highway is officially called the Great Northern Peninsula Highway in this part of Newfoundland. It is also called The Viking Trail, as the only verifiable Viking settlement in North America is located at L’Anse aux Meadows, at the northern tip of the Great Northern Peninsula. Gain a visual on Parsons Pond River, then Cow Head peninsula. St. Paul’s, a small fishing village, lies on the south end of St. Paul’s Bay, just south of Cow Head Peninsula.
St. Paul’s(POI2) to Rocky Harbour(POI3)
Distance: 16.87NM Bearing: 212° 8 minutes
From St. Paul’s, continue following The Viking Trail, and pass over Two Mile Pond, just south of St. Paul’s, then pass just to the west of Western Brook Pond. In the distance, south of a number of other ponds of various sizes, sight Rocky Harbour and the town of the same name.
Rocky Harbour(POI3) to Deer Lake(CYDF)
Distance: 30.63NM Bearing: 156° 15 minutes
Continue to track The Viking Trail, which from Rocky Harbour heads to the southeast at the base of the Great Northern Peninsula. Fly over the northern shore of East Arm of Bonne Bay, then sight Bonne Bay Big Pond, a large, complex-shaped lake which is skirted by The Viking Trail on its northern edge. Gain a visual on the town of Deer Lake. Deer Lake Airport lies just to the northeast of the town.
Leg 2
Deer Lake to Springdale
Leg Distance: 55.75 Approximate time at 125kts: 27 minutes.
Deer Lake(CYDF) to Hampden(POI4)
Distance: 28.98NM Bearing: 64° 14 minutes
Once in the air again, head to the northeast, following the track of the Upper Humber River. Cross Newfoundland and Labrador Route 422 and sight Hamden Bay in the distance. Hamden Bay is the southern end of White Bay, which lies to the east of the Great Northern Peninsula and is part of the Atlantic Ocean’s Labrador Sea. The town of Hampden, which is supported by small-scale lumber harvesting, lies just inland of Hamden Bay.
Hampden(POI4) to Springdale(CCD2)
Distance: 26.77NM Bearing: 116° 13 minutes
From Hamden, turn to the east-southeast. Sight a large ‘Y’-shaped lake in the distance, and fly just to the north of its two upper arms. Gain a visual in the distance of the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and Newfoundland and Labrador Route 410, the ‘Dorset Trail’. Pass to the north of this intersection and gain a visual on the Indian River and the distant Halls Bay. Springdale Airport lies to the west of where the Indian River empties into Halls Bay, just east of the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and Newfoundland and Labrador Route 390.
Leg 3
Springdale to Fogo
Leg Distance: 76.9 Approximate time at 125kts: 37 minutes.
Springdale(CCD2) to Halls Bay(POI5)
Distance: 8.71NM Bearing: 93° 4 minutes
After lifting off from Springdale Airport, fly over the town of Springdale and then out over Halls Bay.
Halls Bay(POI5) to Miles Cove(POI6)
Distance: 7.22NM Bearing: 95° 3 minutes
Gain a visual on Sunday Cove Island and then follow Port Anson Road (Newfoundland and Labrador Route 381) to the village of Miles Cove, which lies on the east end of Sunday Cove Island.
Miles Cove(POI6) to Triton(POI7)
Distance: 6.6NM Bearing: 117° 3 minutes
From Miles Cove, turn to the east-southeast and pass over Sunday Cove to Pilley’s Island, then cross over Stuckey Cove to reach Triton Island. Gain a visual on Brighton Road, where it makes a nearly 180 degree turn just south of Butler Cove. The village of Triton lies on the southeastern shore of Butler Cove.
Triton(POI7) to Fortune Harbour(POI8)
Distance: 14.62NM Bearing: 106° 7 minutes
Head to the east from Triton, passing over the northern extremity of Badger Bay to the small Woody Island. Continue past Woody Island, maintaining course, to cross the northern reaches of New Bay. Sight Long Point in the near distance, passing just to the south of it. Fly across Fleury Bight and the northern edge of Northwest Arm of Fortune Harbour, then reach Fortune Harbour, just north of Sweeny Island.
Fortune Harbour(POI8) to Purcell’s Harbour(POI9)
Distance: 21.4NM Bearing: 94° 10 minutes
At Fortune Harbour, turn slightly to the north and pass over Ship Run, staying north of Exploits Island and Black Island. Passing Black Island, gain a visual on the northwestern end of New World Island. Pass over Sam Cove, which lies just north of the small village of Valley Pond, and then reach Tizzard’s Harbour. From Tizzard’s Harbour, maintain course and cross Friday Bay and gain a visual on the southern reaches of South Twillingate Island. The village of Purcell’s Harbour lies on the north side of a prominent cove just ahead.
Purcell’s Harbour(POI9) to South Island(POI10)
Distance: 12.37NM Bearing: 99° 6 minutes
Continue on course after reaching Purcell’s Harbour. Pass over the northeastern extremity of New World Island and then gain a visual on South Island.
South Island(POI10) to Fogo(CDY3)
Distance: 5.98NM Bearing: 100° 3 minutes
From South Island, cross a wide strait and sight Fogo Island. Portuguese for ‘fire’, Fogo Island is the largest of the islands surrounding the main island of Newfoundland. Gain a visual on the intersection of Fogo Road (Route 333) and Deep Bay Road. Fogo Airport lies just to the west of the intersection.
Leg 4
Fogo to Gander Intl
Leg Distance: 45.16 Approximate time at 125kts: 22 minutes.
Fogo(CDY3) to Stag Harbour(POI11)
Distance: 4.97NM Bearing: 218° 2 minutes
From Fogo Airport, set a heading to the south-southwest and sight Stag Harbour, on the southernmost part of Fogo Island.
Stag Harbour(POI11) to Frederickton(POI12)
Distance: 9.59NM Bearing: 216° 5 minutes
Maintain heading after passing over Stag Harbour. Pass over Perry Island and then cross Sir Charles Hamilton Sound to reach Frederckton, a small town supported by lumber and fishing.
Frederickton(POI12) to Gander Intl(CYQX)
Distance: 30.6NM Bearing: 213° 15 minutes
Gain a visual on Gander Bay and track its eastern coastline, remaining well inland of the shore. Sight the Gander River and Newfoundland and Labrador Route 330 which parallels it. Follow Route 330 to Gander International Airport. Gander International Airport has played important roles throughout its history. It was built in 1935 as it lies close to the New York-London great circle route (a great circle route is the shortest distance between two points on a sphere, or a near-sphere object, like the earth). A strategic point during World War II, over 10,000 Allied troops were stationed at the location and more than 20,000 military aircraft stopped over at the airport to refuel. Post-World War II, it became known as the ‘Crossroads of the World’ as commercial transatlantic flights would stop to refuel here.
Leg 5
Gander Intl to Clarenville
Leg Distance: 47.29 Approximate time at 125kts: 23 minutes.
Gander Intl(CYQX) to Terra Nova National Park(POI13)
Distance: 33.58NM Bearing: 164° 16 minutes
After taking to the sky from Gander International Airport, head to the southeast, crossing Gander Lake. Gain a visual on the small village of Gambo, skirted by the Trans-Canada Highway, and cross over Gambo Pond, which lies to the southwest of the village. Gain a visual on Dunphy’s Pond in the distance, which lies due north of the Narrows of Clode Sound in the farther distance. Dunphy’s Pond lies within Terra Nova National Park. Terra Nova is Latin for ‘new land,’ the basis of the name Newfoundland. The landscape of the national park is iconic of that throughout Newfoundland: forests, bogs, streams, ponds, and exposed rock faces.
Terra Nova National Park(POI13) to Clarenville(CCZ3)
Distance: 13.71NM Bearing: 166° 7 minutes
Gain a visual on the small village of George’s Brook, which lies on the shore of the westernmost aspect of Smith Sound. Clarenville Airport lies to the northeast of George’s Brook, just to the northeast of the intersection of Routes 230 and 230-A.
Leg 6
Clarenville to St John’s Intl
Leg Distance: 61.43 Approximate time at 125kts: 29 minutes.
Clarenville(CCZ3) to Trinity Bay(POI14)
Distance: 22.17NM Bearing: 145° 11 minutes
After launching from Clarenville Airport, head to the southeast, passing over Smith Sound, and then out over Trinity Bay.
Trinity Bay(POI14) to Avalon Peninsula(POI15)
Distance: 14.48NM Bearing: 147° 7 minutes
Maintain course over Trinity Bay and sight the small coastal village of Winterton. Winterton lies on the northwestern aspect of the Avalon Peninsula. The Avalon Peninsula is home to St. John’s, the largest city and capital of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Avalon Peninsula(POI15) to St John’s Intl(CYYT)
Distance: 24.78NM Bearing: 149° 12 minutes
Maintain course over Conception Bay and gain a visual on St. John’s. St. John’s International Airport lies north of the city center and northeast of Windsor Lake, a prominent visual reference when approaching St. John’s.
