The Sir William F. Coaker Heritage Foundation was formed in 1995. An incorporated, not-for-profit, volunteer-based association, it is dedicated to the preservation and careful development of the Historic District of Port Union.
Although we are still the Root Cellar Capital of the World, our little town has grown beyond its root cellar fame. Today Elliston is becoming better known for its larger tourism value especially the puffin viewing site.
The great sealing disasters of 1914 contributed greatly to the loss of a generation soon to be devastated by World War I. In remembering these men, Home from The Sea presents the historic and cultural context of sealing in Newfoundland and Labrador through seven captivating visitor experiences.
Built in 1843, the light at Cape Bonavista is one of the few in the world where you can still climb up the stone tower and see the same seal oil fueled catoptric light apparatus that was used in the 1800s. Experience a light keeper's day in 1870 - a 24-7 job of polishing glass, filling oil lamps, recording weather patterns and watching the waves from one of the most rugged points in Newfoundland.
The Garrick is a multi-use, 200-seat theatre and meeting space in the Town of Bonavista. Owned and operated by the Bonavista Historic Townscape Foundation, this year-round cultural facility offers comfortable theatre seating, state-of-the-art sound and lighting equipment including full digital cinema,and exceptional acoustics. At The Garrick you can find the best in performing arts and film.
A salty scent lingers within the cluster of white, 19th century clapboard buildings of the Ryan Premises, perched on the shore of Bonavista’s historic and picturesque harbour. Hear the reminiscences of the site’s interpreters, most of whom have a personal connection to the fishing industry; marvel at the variety of artifacts in the on-site Bonavista Museum; and explore the internationally-recognized “Cod, Seals and Survivors” exhibition that tells the 500-year story of Canada’s east coast fishery.
Discovery Aspiring Global Geopark invites you to discover a little more about your geological past. Located on the upper half of the Bonavista Peninsula on the eastern coast of the island of Newfoundland, Discovery has a variety of sites where you can tour and learn about the Earth.
The ocean waters off Newfoundland offer one of the best places in the world for a whale watching tour. Using our Fast Rescue Craft (FRC) we offer the most authentic and exciting experiences on the Atlantic Ocean giving us the ability to cover a vast area. Our vessel is the newest and fastest in the region to let you spend more time with the whales and on the water.
We have an extensive range of tours exploring highlights and hidden delights in the Bonavista area. Our tours have an emphasis on adventure, and we explore unique scenery, wildlife and Newfoundland culture.
Nestled at the top of the Bonavista Peninsula is the tiny community of Elliston – the root cellar capital of the world. People flock here from all over the world for its many tourist attractions, such as the breathtaking coastline – complete with roaring shoreline and fascinating rock formations; accessible and friendly puffin colony; and the root cellars scattered about the terrain in and around the towns of Elliston and Maberly.