Human Nature Adventures Tours
Newfoundland Close-Up: A Photographic Adventure
Tour date: Sat, Jul 17 2010
Duration: 8 days
Newfoundland. The place is epic. Glaciers carved the face of this land and Vikings set summer camps on its western shores more than a thousand years ago. The giants of the sea - whales and icebergs - make this their summer home. Thousands of seabirds feast on the riches of the sea and raise their young. It's breathtaking. It's inspiring. Find yourself in the midst of Newfoundland's awesome beauty on this photographic adventure tour. With camera in hand we will take you to the heart of the most easterly corner of North America, still largely undiscovered by the vast majority of travelers.
This tour is for photographers, their companions and the artistically-minded. Your particular needs and interests are addressed in a multi-dimensional experience that mixes group instruction, hands-on learning and one-on-one coaching in the midst of cultural and ecological wonders. Presentations are interactive, inspiring and informative; the hikes are filled with vistas and natural beauty that invite hours of artistic contemplation; the traditional home-cooked meals and accommodations celebrate the best of Newfoundland hospitality.
Your guides have deep roots here and will open doors to places and experiences undiscovered by the casual tourist. So pack your camera and join celebrated nature photographer, Dennis Minty, and his partner Antje Springmann, for “Newfoundland Close Up”, an unforgettable experience that will leave you inspired and more adept at capturing the natural world with your camera.
Itinerary
Day 1
Our tour begins in St. John’s, Newfoundland’s vibrant, historic capital. You will be picked up directly at your accommodations from where we head out for the one hour drive to Conception Bay. Cupids, our home base for the first part of our adventure, is a picturesque and welcoming town. Settled in 1610, it is Canada’s oldest English colony. Here we are hosted by charming B&B’s brimming with true Newfoundland hospitality. After an introduction to nature photography we head outdoors as the shadows lengthen, to take a hike on Burnt Head Trail and practice the lessons of the day while indulging in the scenic splendour of this undiscovered gem.
Day 2
We set off near dawn to explore the Burnt Head trail for a lesson in capturing early morning light. We walk among the former settlement of Deep Gulch, and take in a spectacular cliff view of “The Arch”, a natural rock formation along the way. We also make frequent stops for tips and exercises that help us see creatively.
We have lots of opportunity to practice our shooting in the afternoon as we explore the neighbouring town of Brigus. This picturesque community was home to the arctic explorer Captain Bob Bartlett and prides itself on having maintained its historically idyllic character. We take time to wander among the laneways, watch boats in the harbour, or even take a tour of Capt. Bob’s Hawthorne Cottage before heading back to our B&B’s for some relaxation time before dinner.
Day 3
Bay Roberts’ East Shoreline Heritage Walk is one of Newfoundland’s most scenic hikes. Our path takes us through meadows where we pass stone walls, root cellars and other evidence of early settlements. We stop and explore tiny pebble beaches before making our way along towering cliff-tops that offer an expansive view of Port-aux-Graves Peninsula, Bell Island, and Conception Bay beyond. Here we have ample opportunity to apply what we have learned so far, as well as go further into composing landscapes, capturing light, and choosing exposures. At the end of the trail a delicious lunch awaits us.
In the afternoon we head to our next base, Port Rexton on the Bonavista Peninsula, home of “The Shipping News”. Before dinner there will be time for an exploration of the local area or to sit back and watch the stunning views of the bay from our host inn. In the evening our photographers gather for a photo review while the others take some time out for a walk and enjoy the spectacular scenery.
Day 4
After a hearty breakfast, we spend the morning close to the puffins at Elliston, visiting Bonavista’s charming homes and iconic lighthouse near where John Cabot first set foot in Newfoundland. In the afternoon we will hike the Skerwink Trail rated by Travel & Leisure Magazine as one of the top 35 walks in North America and Europe. The 5.3 km trek takes us through stunning landscapes of forest, meadow and rocky coastline. Ancient sea stacks, 540 million years old rise from the ocean floor, remnants of the erosive power of the sea. More leisurely options are available for those who choose not to take the Skerwink trek.
Day 5
In the morning we explore Trinity including the option to hike to the top of Gun Hill for its breathtaking views of the town and its spectacular Harbour. This stately and vibrant community is steeped in history and has the sense of grandeur due to its fish merchant history. A photographic discovery awaits around every corner and we have ample time to explore its charms before lunch.
In the afternoon we take a step back in time when we visit the film set of “Random Passage” which documented the life of Newfoundland’s first European settlers. Some may want to carry on the delightful walk to Kearley’s Harbour, a small coastal community abandoned in the 1960’s. The evening is spent on Trinity Bay exploring the coastline’s charming coves by boat .
Day 6
In store for us today is one of the world’s most spectacular wildlife experiences – Cape St. Mary’s Seabird Sanctuary. “The Cape” is North America’s second largest gannet colony; nowhere else on the planet are you able to get closer to these majestic birds. We sit atop cliffs as thousands of these magnificent birds sail above and below us, and the air is filled with the drone of their chatter. We spend the afternoon in this spectacular setting before heading for tonight’s lodging in Salmonier.
Day 7
We begin the day with a quiet walk through Salmonier Nature Park, a marvellous environmental education and wildlife rehabilitation centre. See and photograph many of the animals that are otherwise difficult to see in our dense woodlands. Native wildlife species are maintained in spacious natural enclosures along one of the finest boardwalk trails in Canada. Then it is on to the ‘Southern Shore’ where we take to the water in search of whales in Bay Bulls and Witless Bay. Here lies one of the world’s greatest gathering places of whales and seabirds drawn each year by the abundant food supply. The air is filled with thousands of puffins, kittiwakes and murres heading out to sea and back as they tend their young. We are looking for the giants of the sea: minke and humpback whales. Our small boats allows us to get close enough to hear the mighty blow as they break the surface, smell their pungent breath, and see the water pearl off their flukes as they rise from the ocean. For some the tour will end today and they can catch flights out first thing tomorrow.
Day 8 (optional)
Memorial University’s Botanical Gardens, a 110 acre managed nature reserve dedicated to the display and study of Newfoundland’s native flora and its habitats including wetlands, boreal forest and barrens. We spend our morning here exploring and practicing our new skills before a nice lunch.
Our afternoon takes us to Cape Spear National Park, North America’s most easterly point and home to the oldest surviving lighthouse in Newfoundland and Labrador. We explore this rugged area of craggy cliffs and windswept barrens before a short stop in the pretty fishing village of Petty Harbour/Maddox Cove on the way back to St. John’s and our final good-bye. We will end the day by 4PM and we'll deliver you either to the airport or to your chosen accommodation.
Details
July 17 – July 24, 2010
7 or 8 days (last day optional) 7 nights
$2,995 CDN + GST, based on double occupancy, $185 for optional, extra day.
Maximum participants: 6
Prices include:
• All accommodations
• All meals
• Ground transportation
• Your instructor/guide(s)
• All park/tour fees
Prices do not include:
• Flights to and from St. John’s
• Laundry, phone calls, items of a personal nature
• Alcoholic beverages
• Travel/medical insurance
Fitness level: Easy to moderate
We reserve the right to alter the itinerary to meet changing circumstances and to take advantage of special opportunities.