Twillingate

Twillingate is a town in northeastern Newfoundland.

Get in

From the western coast of Newfoundland, take Route 340 (Road to the Isles) from the Trans-Canada Highway through Lewisporte.

From the east coast of Newfoundland, take Route 330 (Cooper Blvd. in Gander) from the Trans-Canada Highway through Gander Bay, then turn right onto Route 340 to Twillingate.

Get around

Twillingate is relatively easy to navigate. Arriving on the island via Route 340, continue straight to reach the main area of town or turn left for Black Duck Cove, a small community on the island. The next small community is Purcell's Harbour, followed by Little Harbour, another small drive-through village. Drive another three kilometres and you will be in Twillingate.

The first street you will see (and will already be on) is Toulinguet Street, with several gas stations and stores. On your left, the first street is Rink Road (Bayview Street) that leads to Bayview (another subdivison of Twillingate) and the George Hawkins Memorial Stadium, home of the Fish Fun and Folk Festival.

After that, Toulinguet Street ends with a final intersection. Turning left will take you to Main Street North and the famous Long Point Lighthouse , while a right turn will lead you onto Main Street South to Durrell.

See

Twillingate is a popular location for iceberg viewing and whale watching.

• 🌍 Long Point Lighthouse, Main Street North, in Crow Head. A few minutes from town, has a beautiful area for looking out over the ocean to view whales and icebergs. Country Outport shop sells fudge, souvenirs.  

Other points of historic interest include:

• 🌍 Orange Lodge, 118 Main St. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Masonic Lodge, 115 Main St. (updated Jun 2018)
• St. Peter's Anglican Church. (updated Jun 2018)
• Southside United Church Museum. (updated Jun 2018)
• The Women's Institute. (updated Jun 2018)

Museums

The town's museums are a great way to learn about historic and contemporary culture.

• 🌍 Twillingate Museum & Craft Shop, 1 St Peters Church Rd, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Durrell Museum, 17 Museum Rd, ☎ [phone]. Jun-Sep 9AM-5PM daily. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Prime Berth (About 5km outside Twillingate near the causeway.), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Twillingate Fishing Museum and souvenir shop. Various exhibits, visit the walk-in codfish trap or see live rabbits. 

Do

Do a wine tour and tasting at Auk Island Winery in Durrell - taste wines made from local berries and iceberg water. Hike the numerous well-groomed hiking trails or enjoy local entertainment during the summer such as the Split Peas, All Around the Circle dinner theatre, Ada Jenkins' Backroom Sessions, Irene Bridger's gospel performance or a Kitchen Party with Karren Churchill.

Twillingate has a growing artist community. Visit Twillingate Gallery with the work of Nina Keogh and John Satterberg, Driftwood Gallery with Ted Stuckless' work, Paintings by Pearl in Crow Head featuring the art of Pearl Geiger.

Boat tours

• 🌍 Iceberg Quest Ocean Tours, 52 Main St, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 
• 🌍 Twillingate Adventure Tours, 128 Main St, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Tours, souvenir shop, restaurant. 
• Iceberg Shop, Main St South. Cecil Stockley's "Iceberg Man" tours. Shop with crafts and souvenirs. 

Buy

Eat

• 🌍 R&J Restaurant, Main Street North, ☎ [phone]. 9AM-9PM daily. Beautiful view of Twillingate Harbour. Wedgefries, fish n' chips, soup, Greco pizza. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Cozy Tea Room and Bakery, 123 Main St, ☎ [phone]. Locally owned, homemade baked goods, soup, toutons and beans with molasses. (updated Jun 2018)
• Island Pizza, Toulinguet Street. Pizza, ice cream. (updated Jun 2018)
• Seaside Variety (Mr. Scoops), Main Street South. A well-kept local secret. This understated little store has a selection of home-made berry ice creams. (updated Jun 2018)
• JJ's Fishmarket (In the centre of town.). Fish and chips served outside on the deck. (updated Jun 2018)
• Grubbies Restaurant, Main Street South. Overlooks the harbour, food ranging from french fries to soup, bar and Internet café. (updated Jun 2018)

Coffee shops

In summer, two shops offer a selection of speciality coffees:

• Crow's Nest Café, 127 Main St (In Crow Head shortly before reaching Long Point Lighthouse.), ☎ [phone]. A cafe with a breathtaking view and souvenir shop. (updated Jun 2018)
• Newfie Fog Café, Main St (In the centre of town.). (updated Jun 2018)

Drink

• 🌍 Anchor Inn, 3 Path End, Northside, Twillingate (Main Street North to Scott's Lane and turn right.), ☎ [phone]. Hotel with licensed 75-seat restaurant (seasonal, May-Dec) at main hotel entrance and a pub on the lower level, on the ocean-view side of the building. Pub offers a selection of Quidi Vidi Beer from St. John's, including its famous Iceberg Beer, as well as local Auk Island berry wines. Restaurant menu includes fresh, local seafood favourites, lobster in season, chowder, pasta. The restaurant is open from May to December for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Meals can also be enjoyed in the oceanfront lounge; bookings in peak season are recommended. The lounge often features live music. Across from St. Peter's Anglican Church. (updated Jan 2017)

Sleep

Twillingate's bed and breakfasts, vacation homes and cabins stretch from Main Street North to Durrell to Little Harbour. There is one hotel. In peak season, especially during the Fish, Fun and Folk Festival in late July, it is best to book early. Prices range from $60-70 per night to over $200.

• 🌍 Amber Retreat, 14 Slades Lane, Durrell, Twillingate (From Route 340, turn right onto Main Street South for 4.3 km. The road winds along the coast. Watch for Slades Lane on your right. Look out for the distinctive modern yellow saltbox home.), ☎ [phone]. Check-in: 3:30PM, check-out: 11AM. Vacation home, rated 4-star by Canada Select. Two large bedrooms with en-suite bath accommodate up to four people. Living/dining room, library/TV room, wireless high speed Internet, full kitchen (with dishwasher), laundry. Modern interior, traditional salt-box exterior with generous wrap-around decks. $150-200. 
• 🌍 Above the Tickle, 84 Main Street, Twillingate (From Route 340, turn left onto Main Street and around the first turn you'll see the distinct blue house with red door on your right.), ☎ [phone]. Check-in: 3:30, check-out: 11:00. Merchant home (Canada Select: 4½ star) with ocean view, close to the harbour, Tickle Bridge and "downtown". Three bedrooms (Q, Q, D) and 1½ bathroom, renovated interior, accommodates four to six people. Cable, high speed wireless Internet, living and dining rooms, full kitchen (including dishwasher), laundry, large garden. $150-200. 
• 🌍 Anchor Inn, 3 Path End, Northside, Twillingate (Main Street North to Scott's Lane and turn right.), ☎ [phone]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Hotel with licensed 75-seat restaurant (seasonal, May-Dec) and a pub. There are eight one- or two-bedroom efficiency suites directly behind the 14-room main hotel. Rooms $140-170, suites $170-200, +$15 per additional person. (updated Jan 2017)

Connect

Nearby

Boyd's Cove

Boyd's Cove is 40km south of Twillingate, 50km north of Lewisporte and 70km north of Gander.

• 🌍 Beothuk Interpretation Centre, Boyd's Cove, off Highway 340, ☎ [phone]. 9:30AM-5PM daily, mid-May to Thanksgiving. A Beothuk village 300 years ago, now an archaelogical site at the end of a 1½km walking trail which begins at the interpretation centre. An outline of housepits is the only evidence of the former Beothuk people, a Newfoundland native first nation extinct since the 1820s. (One of two sites dedicated to Beothuk history; there's also a Mary March Provincial Museum in Grand Falls-Windsor.) $6/adult. 

Go next

• Gander
• Fogo Island and Change Islands