Mistaken Point, Newfoundland Canada in summer; Shutterstock ID 1709187862; full: 65050; gl: 65050; netsuite: poi; your: Barbara Di Castro 1709187862

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Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve

Top choice in Newfoundland & Labrador

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Designated a World Heritage site in 2016, this ecological reserve protects 575-million-year-old multicelled marine fossils – the oldest in the world. The only way to reach it is via a free ranger-guided hike from the Edge of Avalon Interpretive Centre in Portugal Cove South.

You can also drive the bumpy gravel road between here and Cape Race. At the end, a lighthouse rises up beside an artifact-filled replica 1904 Marconi wireless station. It was the folks here who received the fateful last message from the Titanic.

The 'Mistaken Point' name, by the way, comes from the blinding fog that blankets the area and has caused many ships to lose their way over the years.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Colony of Avalon, Ferryland Archaeological Excavations, Newfoundland.

    Colony of Avalon

    29.01 MILES

    The seaside surrounds of the Colony of Avalon archaeological site only add to the rich historical atmosphere that permeates Ferryland. Join a tour and you…

  • Avalon Wilderness Reserve

    Avalon Wilderness Reserve

    25.18 MILES

    Dominating the interior of the region is the 1070-sq-km Avalon Wilderness Reserve. Illegal hunting dropped the region's caribou population to around 100…

  • St Vincent’s Beach

    St Vincent’s Beach

    25.36 MILES

    The stony beach at St Vincent's is raw even by Newfoundland standards. It's also a brilliant spot to engage in a bit of whale-watching (your best bet is…

  • Edge of Avalon Interpretive Centre

    Edge of Avalon Interpretive Centre

    7.3 MILES

    Part of the Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve, the center offers information and exhibits on the history of the reserve, fossil science and the unique…

  • Historic Ferryland Museum

    Historic Ferryland Museum

    29.18 MILES

    The village's former courthouse is now the small Historic Ferryland Museum. The towering hill behind the museum was where settlers climbed to watch for…

View more attractions

Nearby Newfoundland & Labrador attractions

1. Edge of Avalon Interpretive Centre

7.3 MILES

Part of the Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve, the center offers information and exhibits on the history of the reserve, fossil science and the unique…

2. Avalon Wilderness Reserve

25.18 MILES

Dominating the interior of the region is the 1070-sq-km Avalon Wilderness Reserve. Illegal hunting dropped the region's caribou population to around 100…

3. St Vincent’s Beach

25.36 MILES

The stony beach at St Vincent's is raw even by Newfoundland standards. It's also a brilliant spot to engage in a bit of whale-watching (your best bet is…

4. Colony of Avalon

29.01 MILES

The seaside surrounds of the Colony of Avalon archaeological site only add to the rich historical atmosphere that permeates Ferryland. Join a tour and you…

5. Historic Ferryland Museum

29.18 MILES

The village's former courthouse is now the small Historic Ferryland Museum. The towering hill behind the museum was where settlers climbed to watch for…

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