Hiking & Boating -- The park has 77km (48 miles) of maintained hiking trails. Many of these are fairly easy treks of an hour or so through undemanding woodlands. The booklet you'll receive when you pay your entrance fee offers descriptions of the various trails. Among the more popular is the 4.4km (2.75-mile) Coastal Trail, which runs between Newman Sound Campground and the Marine Interpretation Centre. You get great views of the sound, and en route you pass the wonderfully named Pissing Mare Falls.

The most demanding is probably the Outport Trail, a 32km (20-mile) round-trip that winds in and around the south shore of Newman Sound past abandoned settlements. It's possible to overnight at two backcountry sites along the way. Each direction can be completed in about 6 hours, but with camping layovers the whole trip typically takes 2 to 3 days, with the going sometimes slowed by bogs and wet trail sections.

Note: Maps and advice on hiking options are available at the Marine Interpretation Centre.

For canoeing, head to either Sandy Pond or Southwest Arm. Canoes are available for rent at Sandy Pond by the hour or day. You can cobble together a very attractive 10km (6-mile) one-way trip from Sandy Pond by paddling to Beachy Pond (this requires a 400m/1,320-ft. portage), then continuing onward to Dunphy's Pond.

The park also lends itself quite nicely to sea kayaking. If you've brought your own boat, ask for route suggestions at the information center. (Overnight trips to Minchin and South Broad coves are good options, as are day trips to Swale Island.) If you're a paddling novice, sign up with Terra Nova Adventures (tel. 888/533-8687 or 709/533-9797), located at the Marine Interpretation Centre. The crew leads guided tours of the sound three times daily, when you're likely to spot eagles and maybe even a whale. The tours last between 2 1/2 and 4 hours and cost around C$45 to C$60 (US$36-US$48) adults, C$35 to C$45 (US$28-US$36) youths. Reservations are recommended.

For a more passive view from the water, consider a tour with Ocean Watch Tours (tel. 709/533-6024), which sails in a converted fishing boat four times daily from the wharf at the Marine Interpretation Centre. You're all but certain to see bald eagles and old outports, and, with some luck, whales and icebergs. The tours cost around C$35 (US$28; 2 hr.) and C$45 (US$36; 3 hr.), half-price for children. Reservations are recommended during peak season, when the tours take place three times daily.