TCH to Southern Harbour, Arnold's Cove, Come By Chance & Sunnyside

From the TCH (Route 1) turn off at Southern Harbour, a great detour off the beaten track. Back on the highway, turn off at Arnold's Cove, a must-see for bird watching enthusiasts. Arnold's Cove Bird Sanctuary is home to the highest concentration of Black Ducks in Eastern Canada and home to other species including Canada Geese, Pie Ducks, Mallards, Spoked Sandpipers and many more. Arnold's Cove is known as the “economic hub of the isthmus” and for good reason. The growing town of twelve hundred is a leader in business and services to the surrounding area and is a gateway to Placentia Bay in terms of shipping, refining, fishing and touring. The Town of Arnold's Cove has two main hiking trails, the Bordeaux Trail and the Cabot Trail.

The Bordeaux Trail is a 4-km loop, beginning at Monks Town Road. Along the trail, visitors can catch glimpses of seabirds and other wildlife that frequent the shorelines. Picnic tables and benches are provided along the trail for picnics and a chance to rest. Along the way, stop at Horse's Garden where you can still see the shapes of the land where settlers had vegetable gardens. The bird watcher may see a cormorant huddled on”Ellen's Rock” or maybe even a bald eagle taking a sweep into Bordeaux Cove. The Cabot Trail is a 3-km walking trail along the old highway.

Stop at Drake House, a registered heritage structure located in the community of Arnold's Cove. Drake House was constructed in the 1890's in the community of Haystack, Placentia Bay. When Haystack resettled in the 1960's, Frank Drake refused to move and remained in the house at Haystack for another 12 years. In the 1970's, the house was floated by barge from Haystack to its present site in Arnold's Cove. The building was designated as a representative example of those buildings which were floated across Placentia Bay during the resettlement period.

Easily accessed from the TCH, Come By Chance is best known today for its oil refinery which employs hundreds of people in the region and is one of the busiest shipping channels in Canada. On any day of the week, you will find international oil tankers traversing the bay and entering Come By Chance's deep port. A 5-km walking trail, located at the end of the community, will take visitors along the Come By Chance River, a licenced salmon river, beach area and the bird estuary. Often referred to as one of the top 10 bird watching sites in Newfoundland, visitors may see many different species of birds including bald eagles, osprey, northern harrier, green winged teal and many more.

Sunnyside sits across the isthmus, nestled on the shores of Trinity Bay. Not permanently settled until the 1800‘s, Sunnyside's history goes back hundreds of years to the 1600's when John Guy visited the area to make contact with the Beothuks whom he found on nearby Frenchman's Island. Sunnyside sits in Bull Arm, probably best known for the huge Hibernia project where a large GBS oil platform was built in the early 1990's, employing thousands of locals. Sunnyside is well known for the 5-km Centre Hill Trail beginning at the end of the community. The trail winds through marshes, ponds, brooks and a waterfall leading up 1153 feet at the peak. There are many photo opportunities along the route and a breathtaking, panoramic view of Trinity and Placentia Bays. There is an annual soiree each year in August which offers great opportunities for fun for all involved.

TCH (Route 1) to Route 210 Goobies

From the highway turn off onto Route 210 which leads to Goobies, once a major stop for the Newfoundland Railway, but in recent years, known as a gateway to the Burin Peninsula. Directly on the highway, you will find gas stations and restaurants to refuel your car and your stomach! From Goobies, Route 210 leads you to Swift Current and down the Heritage Run on the Burin Peninsula, or you can continue west on the TCH (Route 1) to The Discovery Trail.