When Italian explorer Giovanni Caboto (or John Cabot as he is locally known) first discovered North America in 1497, his first words were “O buono vista!”. When translated into English, this phrase means, “Oh happy sight!”, certainly fitting for the town of Bonavista.
Rocky shores, pebbled beaches, and picturesque fishing boats line small formations of houses, new and old. Whales, seabirds, and icebergs are usual guests along the amazing shorelines surrounded by dense trees. In “The Dungeon”, the cliffs give way into a mammoth opening with two seaward-side channels where you can swim, hike, climb, and explore amid a glittering sheen of iron pyrite.
In the harbour, step inside a full-sized, floating replica of The Matthew, and imagine John Cabot as he made his first voyage to North America.
From the top of the Cape Bonavista Lighthouse Provincial Historic Site, witness the waves of the Atlantic Ocean crashing upon the rocks and look out over the horizon where our keepers have stood watch for centuries.
At the Ryan Premises National Historic Site, Bonavista Museum, and the Mockbeggar Plantation Provincial Historic Site, walk into a lesson about the saltfish trade – the cornerstone of our economy for centuries.
After you’ve explored all of Bonavista’s heritage buildings, stroll along our narrow roads and quaint laneways. Friendly and approachable people say hello in distinctive accents reminiscent of our Irish and English ancestors. At Christmas, we still dress up in all forms of clothing, identities disguised, and “mummer” from house to house - laughing, singing, and dancing until all hours of the night.
When you visit the town of Bonavista, you might be hard pressed to decide what impresses you most: the community’s tangible history, its traditional personality, or the stunning beauty of this place. A trip to Bonavista is not only a happy sight, but a happy stay as well.
Bonavista is located on the island of Newfoundland on the Discovery Trail Route 235, just three hours from both Gander and the Argentia ferry, and three and a half hours from the capital city of St. John’s.