Irish Loop to Ferryland Tour

The best part of this day is the way it moves beyond St. John’s into small coastal communities where scenery, fishing traditions, archaeology, and Irish-Newfoundland culture come together. You’ll visit the Colony of Avalon, eat a pan-fried cod lunch in Ferryland, and finish with local stories and a proper Mug Up in Renews.

I like the combination of included transportation and lunch, especially if you do not have a car. I also like the human touch: guides such as Billy and Larry add local facts, songs, and personal stories rather than simply pointing out sights from a van. The main drawback is the pace. This is a long day with plenty of driving, and some stops are only about 10 minutes.

Key points to know before booking

• Bay Bulls and Bauline East: Two short coastal stops offer harbor views, village scenery, and fresh air without requiring a long walk.
• Colony of Avalon: The main historical stop lasts about an hour and includes admission to the archaeological site.
• Ferryland cod lunch: A pan-fried cod meal is included, with arrangements possible for dietary restrictions if you notify the operator.
• Renews Mug Up: A local storyteller welcomes you into the community and shares personal tales from the area.
• Small-group feel: The vehicle holds a maximum of 20 people, and the tour requires at least four bookings to operate.
• Hotel pickup matters: Pickup begins before the advertised 9:30 a.m. start, with times ranging from five to 45 minutes early depending on your location.

Following Newfoundland’s Irish Loop south from St. John’s

The Irish Loop is a good choice when you want to see more of the Avalon Peninsula without renting a car. From St. John’s, the road follows the southern shore through small settlements, open coastal views, and places tied to Newfoundland’s fishing and Irish heritage.

You should think of this as a full regional day rather than a quick sightseeing outing. The advertised start is 9:30 a.m., but the complete experience lasts about 7.5 hours once hotel pickups, driving, and stops are counted. Most of the time is spent in the vehicle, with short walks and visits along the way.

That balance works well for me. You get a broad sense of the area in one day, and you do not have to manage directions, parking, or rural roads. At the same time, you should not expect long hikes or an unhurried afternoon at every village. The tour gives you several carefully chosen tastes of the southern shore.

The group can reach 20 people, although the experience requires at least four bookings before it runs. That is small enough for a more personal guide than a large coach outing, but the exact atmosphere will depend on the day’s group size.

Bay Bulls, where the sea sets the tone

Bay Bulls is the first stop, with about 10 minutes to take in the harbor and surrounding scenery. It is a brief visit, so I would treat it as a chance to stretch your legs, take photographs, and connect the road journey with the coastal world that has shaped this part of Newfoundland.

The village is also close to the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, known for puffins and other seabirds. This land tour does not replace a boat trip to the reserve, but it gives you another view of the same coastal area. If you have already been out on the water, Bay Bulls helps you see the fishing villages and shoreline from land. If you have not, it still gives useful context for the region’s connection to the sea.

Do not expect a long stop or a formal wildlife presentation here. The value comes from the setting and from the guide’s explanation of the place. Weather will affect how much you can comfortably see. Newfoundland rain can turn a photo stop into a quick look from the vehicle, so bring a waterproof layer even if St. John’s is clear when you leave.

Bauline East and the small-village view

Bauline East receives another short stop of about 10 minutes. This is a quiet coastal village with scenic trails, shoreline views, and local heritage, though the supplied timing means you will not have time for a substantial hike.

I like having both Bay Bulls and Bauline East on the route because they keep the day from becoming only a history tour. You see how small communities fit into the coastline, and you get a sense of the distance between settlements. For anyone staying only in St. John’s, these short stops offer a useful change of scale.

The tradeoff is clear: ten minutes goes quickly. You may have time for a short walk and a few pictures, but not a full exploration. If you have limited mobility, you can remain in the vehicle at stops if you prefer. The tour involves a couple of steps up or down, and there are opportunities to walk around, but no long walk is required.

One hour at the Colony of Avalon

The Colony of Avalon is the day’s main historical stop. This 17th-century English settlement sits on Newfoundland’s southern tip, and the visit lasts about an hour. Admission is included, so you do not need to budget a separate entrance fee.

Here, the tour shifts from scenery to archaeology. You can see preserved excavation areas and learn about early colonial life in Newfoundland. The importance of the site is not just its age. Archaeological remains turn broad historical facts into something you can see in the ground, in the layout of a settlement, and in the objects connected with daily life.

An hour is a sensible amount of time for this stop. It gives you room to hear the story and look around without making the entire day a museum visit. Still, if archaeology is your main interest, you may wish for longer. The tour has several other stops and a meal to fit into the same day, so the Colony of Avalon is an introduction rather than an exhaustive study.

I find this stop particularly useful because it gives structure to the scenery outside. The villages and harbors are not just pretty places on a route. They are part of a long pattern of settlement, fishing, farming, and movement along the coast.

Ferryland cod lunch and a useful break

Lunch is served in Ferryland and is included in the $157.36 price. The standard meal is pan-fried cod with vegetables. It is a practical choice for this region and gives you a proper pause in the middle of a day that otherwise includes road time and short outdoor stops.

The meal adds real value to the tour. If you arranged transportation and lunch separately, the cost and planning would rise quickly, particularly if you are visiting without a car. You should notify the operator about dietary restrictions. One person on a recent outing did not eat fish and made separate arrangements, while the guide checked in to make sure everything was fine.

That example also points to an important limit. The included meal is built around cod, so this is not the best choice if you need a highly specific menu and do not want to arrange an alternative. Ask before booking if your dietary needs are more involved than a simple adjustment.

Ferryland also breaks up the rhythm of the day. After the first coastal stops and the Colony of Avalon, lunch gives you time to sit down before continuing up the southern shore toward Renews.

Renews and the personal side of the tour

Renews is where the experience becomes most personal. A local storyteller welcomes the group to his hometown and shares tales from his time there. You are also invited in for a proper Mug Up, a local Newfoundland custom that gives the stop a social feel rather than making it just another viewpoint.

This is one of the strongest reasons to choose the tour. Coastal scenery is easy to photograph, but a person who grew up in the community can give you a sense of what it means to live there. You hear the place through memory and local character, not only through dates and roadside signs.

The visit lasts about an hour, which is much longer than the quick photo stops at Bay Bulls and Bauline East. That extra time matters. It allows conversation, storytelling, and a more relaxed connection with the community.

The exact guide can shape the day. Billy is noted for his area knowledge, friendly manner, and singing voice. Larry is also praised for adding fun facts about Newfoundland. The operator assigns the guide, so you should not assume one particular person will lead your outing, but both names have become associated with the tour’s strongest personal touches.

What the guides add to the road time

A seven-hour road tour needs a guide who can make the driving feel worthwhile. Billy has been described as a warm host who shares information throughout the day, while Larry is known for local facts and an entertaining approach. Singing may also appear, depending on who is driving and the mood of the group.

That matters because the route includes significant travel between stops. You are not spending seven hours walking through attractions. You are moving through the southern shore by vehicle, with the guide filling in the places between formal stops.

I would choose this outing partly for that interpretation. You can see the Irish Loop on your own, but you would need to research the Colony of Avalon, plan a lunch stop, find the villages, and arrange the timing. Here, the guide connects those pieces and gives you a running explanation of Newfoundland life.

The guide also appears attentive to individual needs. If you would rather not get out at a particular stop, you can remain in the vehicle. That flexibility is helpful on a wet day or if steps are difficult.

Rain, wind, and the realities of a Newfoundland day

The experience requires good weather, and that condition is worth taking seriously. Coastal Newfoundland can be beautiful under changing skies, but rain and wind may limit how long you want to stand outside. One wet outing made it difficult to get out at many places, even though the scenery remained impressive from the vehicle.

Bring a waterproof jacket, shoes with a good grip, and layers. These are sensible preparations rather than guarantees of clear weather. The tour still has indoor and vehicle-based elements, including lunch and the Renews visit, but the coastal stops are most rewarding when you can step outside.

If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of four people is not reached. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded.

Pickup details for hotels and cruise passengers

Pickup is offered at listed major hotels and bed-and-breakfasts, but the 9:30 a.m. departure time is not your personal pickup time. Depending on your accommodation, the vehicle may arrive five to 45 minutes earlier.

For example, pickup is scheduled 45 minutes before departure at the Best Western, Capital Hotel, Comfort Inn, Fairfield Inn, Hampton Inn and Suites, Holiday Inn Express, Ramada, and Sandman Signature. It is only five minutes early at Extended Stay, Leaside Manor, and Monastery Spa and Suites. Other hotels fall between those times.

You need to select your pickup location and wait outside the lobby unless the instructions specify a different place. Delta and DoubleTree pickups are from the lower lobby. For cruise passengers, the closest pickup is the Alt Hotel, about 300 meters from the cruise terminal, with pickup scheduled 15 minutes before departure.

Pay close attention to the city when booking. This tour leaves from St. John’s, Newfoundland, not Saint John, New Brunswick. They are roughly 1,000 kilometers apart, an easy mistake to make when searching online.

Is $157.36 good value?

At $157.36 per person, the tour is not a bargain-priced shuttle, but the inclusions make the cost reasonable for a full day. You receive hotel pickup and drop-off, transportation around the Irish Loop, admission to the Colony of Avalon, lunch, and an English-speaking guide. Taxes and other required fees are included.

The strongest value comes from combining several services that would be awkward to arrange independently. A rental car would give you freedom, but you would still need to plan the route, learn the history, locate the lunch stop, and drive for much of the day. This tour removes that work and lets you focus on the coast and communities.

You should add a gratuity for the guide because it is not included. Also remember that the tour’s value depends on what you want. If you prefer a slow day with long hikes, extended time at one historic site, or complete control over stops, a private car or self-drive plan may suit you better.

For a solo visitor, couple, or small group without a vehicle, I think the price is fair. Lunch alone is not the reason to book it. The real value is having a local guide connect the villages, archaeology, food, and stories into one manageable day.

Who should book this Irish Loop outing?

I recommend it most strongly to you if you want to get beyond St. John’s without driving. It suits people who enjoy coastal scenery, local food, history, and conversation in roughly equal measure.

It is also a good fit for cruise passengers with enough time in port, provided your ship schedule allows for the full 7.5-hour experience and you can reach the Alt Hotel pickup point. The guide handles the route, which removes the stress of navigating an unfamiliar area.

You may enjoy it less if you need a fast, tightly packed sightseeing schedule. The drive is a major part of the day, and short stops can feel brief. You may also want another option if fish is not suitable for you and arranging a separate lunch feels inconvenient.

The rating is 4.8 out of 5, with 94 percent of participants recommending the experience. The most praised qualities are the guides, the cod lunch, the coastal scenery, and the chance to hear directly from people connected with Newfoundland communities. Those are the features I would use to make the booking decision.

Should you book the Irish Loop to Ferryland Tour?

Book it if you want an easy, guided introduction to the southern shore and value local stories as much as scenic stops. Billy and Larry bring different personalities, but the format gives you a guide, a meal, transportation, archaeology, and community contact in one day.

Skip it if you want long walks, a flexible schedule, or a tour centered almost entirely on wildlife. Bay Bulls is close to the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, but this is not presented as a dedicated puffin or whale-watching trip.

For most people staying in St. John’s without a car, I would book it, pack for rain, confirm your exact pickup time, and leave room in your day for the road itself. The Irish Loop is not a quick checklist of attractions. It is a long coastal introduction to the places and people south of the city.

FAQ

How long does the Irish Loop to Ferryland Tour last?

The tour is advertised at about seven hours, while the complete experience generally lasts about 7.5 hours once driving and hotel pickups are included.

What time does the tour start?

The listed departure time is 9:30 a.m. Your actual pickup time is earlier and depends on your hotel or bed-and-breakfast location.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A pan-fried cod lunch with vegetables is included. You should notify the operator about dietary restrictions.

Is admission to the Colony of Avalon included?

Yes. Admission to the Colony of Avalon is included in the tour price, and the stop lasts about one hour.

Where can I be picked up?

Pickup is offered at listed major hotels and bed-and-breakfasts in St. John’s. The closest pickup point to the cruise terminal is the Alt Hotel, about 300 meters away.

Can the tour be canceled because of weather or low bookings?

Yes. The experience requires good weather and at least four people booked. If the operator cancels for either reason, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.