While I haven’t been to every single town in Newfoundland, I have been quite a few, so I’m confident when I saw that Trinity is the prettiest town in the province. From theatre to historic sites to hiking, there are lots of things to do in Trinity.
The town sits in a protected harbour at the end of a narrow peninsula. Geography constricts the town and keeps it tiny – you are never more than a few hundred meters from anything else. Most of the town’s buildings have been restored and painted in bright colours, making it very picturesque.
After spending a few days in Trinity and nearby Bonavista, I can see why so many people love it so much.
This guide to things to do in Trinity, Newfoundland includes:
- Trinity Basics: How to get there? How long to spend? Best time to go? What’s the weather like? And lots more.
- Map of Trinity that includes all the places I mention in this post.
- Best things to do in Trinity: Historic sites, theatre, hikes, restaurants, kayaking, whales, and more.
- Where to stay in Trinity: My picks for the best hotels and B&Bs.
This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.
Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn
Trinity Basics
How to Get to Trinity
Trinity is about 2/3 of the way down the Bonavista Peninsula. It’s a 3-hour drive from St. John’s via the Trans Canada Highway and Route 320. You will need to rent a car in St. John’s and drive yourself since there is no public transportation.
How Long to Spend in Trinity
Trinity is not very big, so you can see all the sites in one day. However, I think that eating at the Twine Loft and/or attending a show at the Rising Tide Theatre are must-dos. Since those are evening attractions, it makes sense to spend at least one night in Trinity – I don’t recommend doing a day trip from St. John’s.
Since nearby Bonavista also requires a day or two, I recommend spending two or three nights on the Bonavista Peninsula, splitting your time between Bonavista and Trinity.
Best Time to Go to Trinity
Just like the rest of Newfoundland, mid-June to late September is tourist season in Trinity. The weather is the nicest at this time of year and all of the hotels, restaurants, tour companies and historic sites are open. It’s also the best time to see whales.
When I visited at the beginning of June, some places weren’t open for the season yet. If you visit in May, June, or September, check the opening hours of anywhere you want to visit.
Trinity Weather
Summer weather in Trinity is warmer and drier than the rest of the year. The average temperatures are between 10 and 20°C. June, July, and August get the least rain. However, it can be rainy, foggy, or chilly at any time – the whole time I was in Trinity it was foggy or rainy! Pack a rain jacket and a warm jacket like a fleece or lightweight puffy jacket, just in case.
History of Trinity
Indigenous people have lived in what is now Newfoundland since time immemorial. It is the traditional territory of the Beothuk and Mi’kma’ki. The town got its name because Gaspar Corte-Real, a Portuguese explorer arrived in the bay on Trinity Sunday (the first Sunday after Pentecost) around 1500.
Like most places in Newfoundland, the town of Trinity began as a seasonal fishing station. English fishermen lived here in the summer to be close to the cod fishing grounds just offshore. The first permanent European settlers arrived in the 18th century.
The town quickly prospered and became one of the main merchant fishing towns in Newfoundland, at times exporting up to 30% of the cod caught in the province. But by the mid-19th century, the fishing industry changed. Exports through St. John’s rather than directly from Trinity became more common so the town’s importance declined.
Today, Trinity has just 76 year-round residents and is primarily a tourist attraction. Many of its buildings are protected as heritage sites, while others have been converted into summer homes and tourist accommodations.
Trinity Map
To help you find your way around, I made this custom Google Map of Trinity for you. It includes every single place I mention in this post.
Best Things To Do in Trinity
Explore the Town
The town of Trinity is just is at the top of the must-see list for many visitors to Newfoundland. This picturesque historical fishing town has a huge number of heritage buildings. And unlike many small towns in Newfoundland, most of the town’s buildings are restored.
Trinity is undeniably one of the prettiest places in Newfoundland. It’s also small enough that you can wander through most of the streets in an hour or so, gawking at the adorable and colourful houses. If you want a local to show you around, book the historical walking tour.
While the restored buildings are gorgeous, it also has a bit of Disney Land feel because most of the old houses are now inns, B&Bs, and summer places for wealthy St. John’sers. (That’s what you call someone from St. John’s. Apparently, St. John’san is also correct!) Very few people actually live in Trinity, so it feels much more like a tourist attraction than a town.
However, Trinity is still gorgeous and worth a visit. In addition to the restored houses, don’t miss the Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Parish Hall, St. Paul’s Anglican Church, the Courthouse (now a gift shop), and the Lester-Garland Premises. You can go inside the latter two and look at exhibits since they are managed by the Trinity Historical Society.
Climb Gun Hill
Also known as Rider Hill or Ryder Hill, Gun Hill is the prominent hill behind the town. Its name comes from the cannons (guns) placed partway up to protect the town. A trail goes all the way to the peak and also circles the hill. It’s a 3 km loop that takes about an hour.
But you only have to go a short way up to a viewing platform just above the cemetery to get a great view of the town. In my opinion, it is the BEST view in Trinity. It’s a stiff climb, but it only takes a few minutes.
You can access the trail from Courthouse Road or Victoria Lane. A quick note: while both of these look like gravel roads, don’t drive on them. They are trails for ATVs and hikers. (Embarrassingly, we found this out through trial and error. Thankfully, our rental car was fine!)
Rising Tide Theatre
The Rising Tide Theatre in Trinity puts on several Newfoundland-themed plays each year at their indoor theatre. They also offer a popular walking tour/theatre combo called the Trinity Pageant where you follow a route through town, meeting various characters along the way. I really wanted to attend the pageant, but it wasn’t offered on the night we were in town.
Go Kayaking
Trinity is a great place to go kayaking since the town sits on a huge sheltered bay. Trinity Eco-Tours offers guided kayak tours in Trinity Bight. Whale and puffin sightings are also possible. I wanted to go kayaking, but it was pretty rainy on the day that I visited.
Take a Whale-Watching and Iceberg Tour
Trinity Eco-Tours also offers whale-watching and iceberg tours on fun and fast zodiacs. You can see whales, dolphins, seals, puffins, and lots of seabirds. And if you visit earlier in the season you also have a great chance of spotting icebergs.
Eat at the Twine Loft
The Twine Loft has a reputation as one of the best restaurants in Newfoundland, or at least one of the best outside of St. John’s. It’s a fine-dining three-course set menu experience. Reservations are required and I recommend booking at least one or two weeks in advance.
The setting is gorgeous, in an old fishing building (a twine loft in fact!) right on the water. On our visit, the service and ambiance were great. The food was good, but not outstanding. I’m not sure if we caught them on an off-night or if the restaurant was hyped up too much and our expectations were too high. In any case, I still recommend eating here if you’re in the area.
Enjoy the Views at the Dock Marina
If you’re looking for a more casual meal, head to the Dock Marina, where they specialize in fish and chips, burgers, and more. They have a great patio that overlooks the dock for Trinity Eco-Tours.
Get a Sweet Treat
Trinity is the home of both Sweet Rock Ice Cream and Aunt Sarah’s Chocolate – they have the same owners. While they have a storefront on Water Street in St. John’s, the artisanal chocolate and ice cream are all made right here in Trinity. They make some fabulous only-in-Newfoundland flavours like partridgeberry.
Trinity Lighthouse at Fort Point
The lighthouse at Fort Point sits on a narrow finger of land that juts out into Trinity Bight. The lighthouse and fort are a historic site with info boards. But the main reason to visit is the view. You can look across to the Skerwink Trail, back to Trinity inside the bay, and out to the wild Atlantic Ocean.
Explore Port Rexton
Port Rexton is the next town over from Trinity and unlike Trinity, people actually live there. It’s not as pretty as Trinity, but it is much more real. There isn’t much going for tourists but Port Rexton Brewing is worth a visit if you like craft beer. Two Whales Coffee Shop in Port Rexton also has great coffee and a lovely lunch menu. I had a great bowl of vegetable soup to warm me up after our soggy Skerwink Trail hike.
Hike the Skerwink Trail
The Skerwink Trail is a spectacular loop hike that follows sea cliffs around a headland in Port Rexton, a town next to Trinity. Lots of people say it is the best hike in Newfoundland and it made my list of the best hikes in Newfoundland.
However, the day that I hiked, it was pouring rain so I didn’t love it as much as I could have. However, the coastal views were incredible, despite the rain and fog. Hike Discovery have put a lot of work into maintaining the path. But you’ll still need to watch out for muddy bits.
Visit Bonavista
The town of Bonavista is 45 minutes away at the end of the Bonavista Peninsula. It’s a much bigger town than Trinity, and it also has lots of fascinating historical buildings and an iconic lighthouse. But my favourite reason to visit Bonavista is because nearby Elliston is the best place to see puffins on land in Newfoundland. If you stand still, they will waddle right up to you!
Where to Stay in Trinity and Port Rexton
I have to be honest and say that we were on a budget during this part of our trip so we camped at Lockston Path Provincial Park. It has a quiet riverside campground in the forest and it’s an easy 20-minute drive to Trinity via the gravel Stock Cove Road. Campsites are just $27 per night.
However, there are lots of great hotels and B&Bs in Trinity. The Artisan Inn has rooms in several historic properties in Trinity, including at the Twine Loft. The Eriksen Premises offers B&B rooms in a heritage building that used to be a general store.
There are also tons of Airbnb-style vacation rentals in Trinity and Port Rexton. This brightly-painted cottage is right in the heart of Trinity. Or get a great ocean view at this three-bedroom cottage.
Final Thoughts
No matter whether you think that Trinity is quaint and charming or a sanitized Newfoundland-style Disney Land, there is no arguing with the fact that Trinity is gorgeous. It’s worth a visit to stroll the streets and step back in time. And of course, you can’t leave the area without visiting Bonavista!
Do you have questions about the best things to do in Trinity? Leave me a comment so I can help out.
READ NEXT:
- 10 Things To Do in Bonavista, Newfoundland
- 18 Best Things to Do in St. John’s, Newfoundland
- 10 Things To Do in Twillingate, Newfoundland
- Things to do on Fogo Island, Newfoundland
- 16 Best Hikes in Newfoundland
- Things to do on Fogo Island, Newfoundland - September 6, 2024
- Backpacking the Yoho Valley Loop/Iceline Trail - September 4, 2024
- 10 Things To Do in Twillingate, Newfoundland - August 1, 2024