Ferryland Real Estate
Oldest European settlement site in Canada, Southern Avalon headlands, and the Irish Loop's wild Atlantic coast — Ferryland is where Newfoundland history begins.
Living in Ferryland
Ferryland, on the Southern Avalon's Irish Loop drive, holds a distinction most communities would trade anything for: it is the site of one of Canada's oldest European settlements — Lord Baltimore's Colony of Avalon, established in 1621, predating Plymouth Rock by a year and representing one of the earliest serious attempts at permanent English settlement in North America. The Colony of Avalon Archaeological Site is an active dig where archaeologists have been recovering 17th-century artifacts since 1984 — an open-window into early colonial life that is both a heritage attraction and a genuine ongoing research project. The Ferryland Lighthouse, perched on a headland above the Atlantic, is one of the most spectacularly sited in Atlantic Canada.
The Irish Loop drive that connects Ferryland to Witless Bay Ecological Reserve (the largest Atlantic puffin colony in North America, with approximately 260,000 nesting puffin pairs) and Mistaken Point UNESCO World Heritage Site (with 565-million-year-old Ediacaran fossils) makes Ferryland the anchor of Southern Avalon's extraordinary natural and cultural heritage corridor. For buyers, this is one of Newfoundland's most historically significant communities at some of its most accessible real estate prices.
Heritage Colony of Avalon Area Homes
Properties near the Colony of Avalon site and Ferryland harbour offer 17th-century-adjacent history on a wild Avalon headland — modest Newfoundland homes in a community where the dig site is a genuine daily neighbour.
Southern Avalon Coastal Properties
Irish Loop waterfront and headland properties around Ferryland offer some of the province's most dramatic Atlantic coastal scenery — sea stacks, iceberg viewing corridors, and wild Avalon character.
Rural Irish Loop Acreages
Southern Avalon back-road properties offer genuine remote Newfoundland lifestyle with barrens, coastal ponds, and moose country at prices that reflect authentic outport-adjacent economics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Colony of Avalon?
The Colony of Avalon is a National Historic Site in Ferryland where Lord Baltimore (George Calvert, later founder of Maryland) established a 1621 English settlement — one of the first serious European attempts at permanent colonization in what is now Canada. Active archaeological excavation since 1984 has recovered over two million 17th-century artifacts. The interpretation centre allows visitors to watch the dig in progress — a genuinely remarkable living heritage experience.
Can I see puffins from Ferryland?
Yes — Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, with the largest Atlantic puffin colony in North America (approximately 260,000 breeding pairs), is about 30 kilometres north of Ferryland on the Irish Loop. Tour boats run from Bay Bulls and Witless Bay to the reserve islands. From the headlands around Ferryland, puffins and murres are commonly visible flying past.
Is iceberg viewing good from Ferryland?
Ferryland's headlands are one of the best land-based iceberg viewing points on the Avalon Peninsula. Icebergs calved from Greenland glaciers drift south through Iceberg Alley (the Labrador Current along Newfoundland's northeast and east coasts) in April through June, with some exceptional years seeing icebergs as late as July. Ferryland Lighthouse Picnic is specifically designed to take advantage of this viewing opportunity.
How far is Ferryland from St. John's?
Approximately 75 kilometres (about 65 minutes) south on the Irish Loop via Bay Bulls. It's a realistic day-trip from St. John's and a viable weekend-cottage distance. Full-time buyers do commute from Ferryland to St. John's, though the drive's winding coastal character makes it longer than the straight-line distance suggests.
What is Mistaken Point and how close is it to Ferryland?
Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve (UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2016) is about 50 kilometres southwest of Ferryland at Cape Race, where 565-million-year-old Ediacaran organisms are preserved in sea-cliff rock faces — the oldest-known multicellular organisms in fossil form. Guided tours are required. It's one of paleontology's most significant global sites, on Ferryland's doorstep.
Is there a Land Transfer Tax in Newfoundland?
Newfoundland and Labrador does not have a provincial land transfer tax — it is one of the few provinces with no deed transfer tax whatsoever. The only registration cost is a small Land Registration Office fee, typically under $100, for registering the deed. This makes NL one of Canada's most buyer-friendly provinces for closing costs. Your lawyer will confirm all applicable fees at closing.