Campgrounds are your only option within the park itself. At the northern end of the park, the town of Eastport is 16km (10 miles) from the Trans-Canada Highway on Route 310 and offers several places to stay overnight.
One good place is the handsome white Doctor's Inn Bed & Breakfast, 5 Burden's Rd. (tel. 877/677-3539 or 709/677-3539), with six rooms priced at C$70 to C$95 per night; there are a large patio and gazebo here, full breakfast is included with your rate, and you can purchase lobster dinners in the dining room during the summer. It's normally open from May through the end of October. There's also the seasonal Inn by the Sea (tel. 866/677-3002 or 709/651-2842) on a hill overlooking the beach at 82 Beach Rd. This Cape Cod style home close to the beach features five simple, old-fashioned rooms costing C$75 to C$95 per night. One unit has a Jacuzzi, and all of them have phones and Internet access. The hosts serve you snacks on arrival.
Finally, right on the beach are the Seaview Cottages (tel. 709/677-2271) at 325 Beach Rd., open May through September. There are 23 basic one- and two-bedroom cottages with televisions and kitchenettes lined up side-by-side here, and the property includes a small indoor heated swimming pool, miniature golf course, barbecue area, and other family-friendly amenities. Rates are about C$60 to C$75 per night, making them a good-value choice.
Camping
Terra Nova's main campground is at Newman Sound. It has more than 340 campsites (mostly of the gravel-pad variety, about a hundred with electrical hookups) in and around spruce forest and sheep-laurel clearings. Amenities include free showers, a grocery store and snack bar, evening programs, a children's activity center (Nature House), a Laundromat, and hiking trails. Be aware that the campground can get noisy and bustling in peak season. Fees are C$19 to C$29, depending on level of services and time of year. It's open from mid-May through mid-October.
At the park's northern border is the more rustic Malady Head campground, open a shorter season (late June through early Sept). This is a better destination for those looking for quiet. It has about 100 campsites, hot showers, and access to a popular hiking trail, but no electrical or water hookups at the sites. If you want to build your own campfire, come here; at Newman Sound, fires are restricted to communal fire pits. The camping fee is C$17 to C$22 per night.
Terra Nova also maintains a handful of primitive but scenic backcountry campsites at a half-dozen other areas. Between four and eight parties can camp at each site, and all but Beachy Pond allow open fires. Dunphy's Island is accessible by canoe only and involves a 400m (1/4-mile) portage; on the shore across from the island site is another site, which is also accessible via a 5km (3-mile) footpath. These all cost C$16 per night.
For a more coastal backcountry experience, head for either Minchin's Cove or South Broad Cove. Both can be reached after demanding hikes (of 11km/7 miles and 16km/10 miles, respectively) on the Outport Trail, which departs from Newman Sound Campground. You can also arrange to be dropped off by boat, then picked up later; ask at the visitor center for details. As I've mentioned previously, backcountry campers must register in advance at the park's visitor center and pay an access fee for the privilege.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
