lighthouse picnics

We walked out to the lighthouse in about 45 minutes or so. In the lighthouse itself, you are asked to make your selections for your lunch basket (reservations required---mine from months before) and given a number on a stick. Then you pick up your blanket, walk outside to the sunny, naturally terraced seaside cliffs and pick a spot for your lunch, stick the number in the ground and await it's delivery. Here you can hear and see a few whales spouting at times, see seals cavorting, watch the puffins fish.....and we even saw a fox on land!---while the gourmet lunch is assembled for you. The basket arrives, the repast begins--delicious and delectable.....and decidedly one of the best adventures of that week. It is indeed Ferryland....

I had a great time and it was truly one of my favorite things we did on vacation despite it raining the whole time we were eating. It's a decent trek by car out on the peninsula, and once you get to the parking area, you have about a 10 minute walk up to the lighthouse. I wasn't prepared for that so I didn't wear the most comfortable shoes for a walk. So be prepared but the walk is easy. You will definitely need a reservation especially during the summer months. I made our reservation about 2 weeks in advance and that seemed about an average time frame according to the person I spoke with. We got there and ordered our food and then went outside to pick a spot to enjoy. Food was AMAZING! Loved every thing. Really fresh and I was very full by the end. Highly recommend taking the time to do this. Little over an hour drive from St. John's.

Our accommodation host, a local for the past 6 years in St. John's provided the recommendation to journey to Ferryland, a small town south of St. John's about 1 to 1 & 1/2 hours, depending upon your pace, There is a reasonable amount of tourism development, interesting museum, shops etc. at Ferryland. However if you take a journey with your vehicle on primarily a one-track gravel trail for about a kilometre in the direction of the lighthouse in the distance, you will have a satisfying experience at the end of your journey. The vehicle needs to be parked about 80% of the way to the lighthouse and you take a decent hike on a roadway then pathway - a lot of it uphill - to the lighthouse. The journey is worth it and if the weather is good take your time - views are spectacular. Some industrious & talented people at Ferryland have transformed the 2 storey lighthouse keepers home into a tiny gift shop, kitchen and restaurant - but the big feature is the picnic option. Ordering from the menu (excellent choices you would not expect in rural Newfoundland), we had a curried chicken sandwich on wonderful all grain bread with a superb orzo dish & sticky toffee cake for dessert. When you order and pay you are given a maritime style flag and you can then head out further on towards the tip of land for more spectacular views and a cozy seat. A blanket is provided to spread out and they deliver your picnic basket. (We cheated and brought a bottle of wine/glasses & took care to take away any refuse). A wonderful idea anytime - worth the meal - but if it is a sunny day (and a warm one as well when we were there early September) - it was unbelievable. Watching ships come and go; seabirds a plenty and the rolling sea...........spectacular. We were surprised at the quality of the food provided and would definitely make the drive - if only for lunch!! Don't miss this tourist friendly option.

Jackie and I decided to enjoy a beautiful day in Ferryland with our golden Kristal after hearing great things about this location attraction. After a beautiful drive on the Irish Loop we arrived in Ferryland and took the dirt road to the lighthouse parking lot. From there we walked for about 10 minutes to the actual lighthouse we here we placed our order, received a blanket and a flag. A short time later our lunch arrived and the flag made it's way back to the kitchen to help identify the next order.For lunch we had Ham and Brie on a lovely brown bread, side salad, amazing deserts, and very tasty lemonade. Everything about it was absolutely perfect.After lunch we relaxed in the sunshine and fresh air enjoying the clouds and watching people fly kites and share stories. Simply magical!This is a must do attraction.

We are still talking about this Gem of a place,and we were there on July 27!! Beautiful walk in,great day ,amazingly fresh and really good REAL food! sunny ,light breeze,wish I could have capture this on film.Guess we were too busy living the experience,taking all in that beauty, rather than recording it! suited us fine.2 couples had a blast!We will be back!!Brent and Carole Pinsent

The location is absolutely amazing and the food very good, all homemade directly at the lighthouse. Advanced booking is necessary.

Great good "served" in a fabulous setting - your own blanket on the ground overlooking the ocean. Rather pricey, but worth every penny.

The location is beautiful - be prepared for an easy/medium hike up to the lighthouse. The lunch was fantastic - and we thoroughly enjoyed finding a location to eat and then just enjoy the afternoon. It has a very laid back feel, and is a unique place to eat, relax and watch sea lions!

I loved having the picnic prepared for us. The food was great and the view was excellent. We saw whales from the cliff. You dine on a cliff overlooking the ocean. You have to do a 20 minute walk to and from the Lighthouse. One hill is pretty steep but I saw men, women, children walk it.

Whether you choose the half hour hike from the visitors center or the 10 minute hike from the parking area it's well worth the climb. The road is narrow with loose gravel and very potty in spots so be cautious on the drive up. Wear comfortable hiking shoes and dress in layers because temperatures change within minutes. It was foggy today when we went up but that didn't spoil our experience at all? We still had a wonderful view and the most amazing picnic lunch ever! The staff was incredible and so friendly. The orzo salad was simple yet bursting with flavour. The ham sandwich with green apple and brie on oatmeal bread was to die for! The lemonade served in mason jars was the icing on the picnic cake. They thought of everything...even the blanket!TIPS: wear proper shoes, dress in layers, and call ahead to make reservations.

There were no reservations left, so we just hiked to the lighthouse. This hike is beautiful, with another uphill climb! Saw the menu and spoke to satisfied customers. Must book well in advance to participate in the picnic. The whales and a seal were right there close to the shore. Mind you, these were large cliffs and rocks reaching out into the ocean.The smell of baking enticed us inside the house and we learned about local history. We were impressed and plan on a picnic on our next visit to Newfoundland.

Do yourself a favour and visit the Lighthouse Picnics! I grew up around the area and visit as often a possible, definitely once a year during the season. A beautiful walk out to the lighthouse. Amazing scenery, friendly staff, great service...are there any other restaurants that will climb down a hill to bring your food? When you arrive you put your order in, take a blanket and flag and go find somewhere to sit. Lie down and relax while waiting for your picnic to be delivered! TIP: get the ham, brie, and green apple sandwich, orzo salad, and homemade lemon aid...and maybe a coconut cream cheese muffin for dessert. Oh, the curry chicken sandwich is also good...so is the chocolate cake...OMG, get it all...I CANT WAIT TO GO BACK!

My wife and I went here for a picnic on the recommendation of the tourist information centre in st. John's and I can say hand on my heart that it was the best picnic I've ever had.Ferryland is about 50 minute drive from St. John's down the Irish loop. In early July it's a lovely drive as everything is green and you get some lovely views of the bay.When you get to Ferryland you can either park in the interpretation centre car park (and spend some time learning about the history of the colony) or drive another 1.5km up a gravel road and park half-way to the lighthouse. It's a gravelly, probably windy walk. A fairly gentle hike but still a good walk. It's worth it.The lighthouse has been beautifully refurbished. Once you have had a chance to look around you can order your picnic, find a place to sit overlooking the bay and wait for them to bring the hamper out.The picnic lunch is superb; focusing on local products and traditions. The sandwiches can make you fall in love with the idea of sandwiches all over again and the fresh-pressed lemonade served in a mason jar was the perfect blend of sweet, sharp and refreshing.We went in early July and were entertained by a pair of minke whales cavorting in the bay for about an hour before drifting off to sleep in the afternoon sun. You really do have to book in advance because the place is extremely popular and quite limited in how many people it can serve but if you're anywhere in eastern newfoundland it's well worth a visit.

What a fantastic idea! Once you place your order you are given a flag and blanket. You go find your spot overlooking the ocean and your food is delivered to you. The lunch includes homemade lemonade, your choice of freshly made sandwich, salad and homemade desert. Everything was fresh and delicious. The view was amazing and we were lucky enough to see puffins in the ocean.

Definitely a must do during an visit to eastern Newfoundland. Make reservations well ahead of time, especially during July and August, as you will not want to be disappointed. Ham and cheese sandwich with green apple was a surprising treat. Roast beef sandwich was tender and delicious. Orzo salad is fresh and light and a great addition to lunch. Oatmeal bread is so soft; it takes the sandwich to another level. All the dessert options are great and if you have trouble deciding you can always pay to add a second (or third dessert) if need be. Homemade lemonade is served in a mason jar which only add to the overall experience. The walk isn't hard to get out to the lighthouse. Scenery is amazing. Make a day of it and be prepared for a nap in the sunshine after lunch.