How to Visit 5 Enjoyable Wonders in Norris Point, Newfoundland and Labrador

Located on Bonne Bay, Norris Point is a small fishing community near Gros Morne National Park. Make this your home base when exploring and you’ll be glad you did. Norris Point is close to many trailheads at Gros Morne National Park and has all the amenities you’ll need while exploring.

In addition, Norris Point and nearby Rocky Harbour are home to other great attractions that should not be missed! Below are the 5 things to do when visiting Norris Point and Rocky Harbour. Read on for all the details.

Where to Stay

🛏️ Norris Point or Rocky Harbour are great home base locations while exploring Gros Morne National Park. Check out the options on Tripadvisor. Below are a few great places to stay!

• The Candlelight Inn – (adults only) free breakfast served from 7:30-9 am, an onsite fire pit with modern and casual comforts. It’s top-rated too!
• Oceanview Hotel – entertainment 5 nights a week. Choose from a variety of room options and enjoy great meals on site featuring locally sourced ingredients.
• Bayside Cottages and Gros Morne Motel – cottages and motel units with ocean views all within walking distance of Rocky Harbour.
• Alderbed Cottages – cottages available all year round with great views. A two minute walk from the ocean and walking distance of local entertainment.

Things to do in Norris Point:

1. Visit the Bonne Bay Marine Station

First, Bonne Bay Marine Station is a marine ecology and research station located in Norris Point. The aquarium is open to visitors and provides interactive exhibits and boat tours of Bonne Bay. This fun location is usually open seasonally between May and September. Check with the staff to make sure it is open and ready to accept visitors.

During a tour of Bonne Bay Marine Station,  student interpreters will guide you through the biology and ecology of Bonne Bay. Get up close and personal with some of the marine creatures in their touch tank!

2. Go for a Cruise on Bonne Bay

Second, just next door to the Bonne Bay Marine Station is the Cat Stop. This is where the Bonne Bay Tour begins. Hit the open water on a catamaran and sail around the bay with plenty of entertainment, photography opportunities, and laughs!

It’s possible to spot wildlife including moose, eagles, whales, and other seabirds. After your tour, visit the Cat Stop Pub and Grub for great food and live entertainment!

Bontours also offers a water shuttle to nearby Woody Point. Seasonally, you can also take a Marine Discovery Tour or an evening cruise. Check out the website for all the details on these great tours.

3. Visit the Jenniex House & Take a Hike

Next, visit the Jenniex House and hike the James W. Humber Trail. The Jenniex House is a traditional Saltbox house built in 1926. Stop by for a tour of the home that features artifacts and antiques from years past. Admission is by donation and the museum is open from late June to mid-September.

The James W. Humber Trail begins at the Jenniex House. Following boardwalks, make your way to a nice viewpoint tower overlooking Bonne Bay, the Tablelands, and the surrounding area of Norris Point. Continue down the trail and eventually, you’ll reach a halfway point with picnic tables in the forest that can be used to take a rest or have a picnic.

4. Hike the Burnt Hill Trail in Norris Point

Next, our favorite short hike of the area: Burnt Hill. The trailhead is located at the Norris Point waterfront just east of the Cat Stop. The hill is surrounded by water on three sides with Norris Point on the other.

With spectacular views of the waterfront and Shag Cliff, this hike is worth the effort. The trail is named after a forest fire that occurred in 1898. This was one of our favorite things to do in Norris Point!

5. Stop for Ice Cream & Visit the Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse

Last up is a visit to Sweet Rock Ice Cream and a visit to Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse in Rocky Harbour. Made from scratch in Trinity, NL from unique and local ingredients, you can’t go wrong with a scoop or 3 of delicious ice cream!

Finally, head to Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse to enjoy your ice cream along with a beautiful sunset on the bay. This is another amazing and picturesque destination you shouldn’t miss while visiting the area.

Bonus!

Wait a minute. We can’t talk about Norris Point and Rocky Harbour without mentioning some great entertainment after dark. Check out Anchors Aweigh at the Oceanview Hotel!

Five local musicians make up one of the most widely-attended acts in Newfoundland. Spend an evening in June through September filled with funny wit and amazing tunes from this local act. Learn more about how to get your reservations for a great dinner and show here on the website!

Final Reflections

Norris Point was the perfect home base for our travels in and around Gros Morne National Park. Here, we had the most amazing Airbnb hosts who made us feel like part of their family. Contact us for recommendations or to find out where we stayed.

Norris Point is home to amazing views of the surrounding Bonne Bay and The Tablelands. We ended each day sitting on the back porch with stunning views of the waterfront. There are plenty of fun things to do in Norris Point, so don’t pass up this amazing little town!