Discover Hant's Harbour

Hant's Harbour on Trinity Bay combines a long fishing history with distinctive historic sites and routes for outdoor activities. The community's history dates back to the migratory fishery in the early 17th century. Today, the Willow Tree Museum, the Custard Head Fishing Premises and the D'Iberville Trail offer different ways to explore: local history, traditional fishing practices and time on a designated trail. This mix can help you decide whether Hant's Harbour matches your travel interests.

Fishing History at Specific Sites

The Willow Tree Heritage Society operates the Willow Tree Museum in Hant's Harbour. The Willow Tree Heritage Museum preserves historical artifacts from the community and tells the story of its early years. This offers a look at everything from individual objects to the community's early history.

The fishing history is especially vivid at the Custard Head Fishing Premises. The Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador designated the site a Registered Heritage Structure in 1999 for its cultural and aesthetic value. It is considered a typical example of a coastal fishing premises and illustrates the development of the fishing industry from the early 20th century to the present day. Along the south shore of Trinity Bay, families worked together at sites like these to prepare fish for their own use and livelihood. The original fishing artifacts at the premises include a splitting table. The buildings are made of locally milled wood, including wooden posts, logs, board ends, shingle boards and cedar shingles.

Other sites also add to the picture of Hant's Harbour. The Willow Tree Heritage Stage overlooks the harbour. Built in 1905, it remains in its original condition; check its condition before your visit. An old cemetery on Church Hill is where the victims of the 1835 Fanny shipwreck were buried.

Walks and Active Time Outdoors

The D'Iberville Trail begins right beside the Hant's Harbour Lighthouse. The route is suitable for birdwatching, hiking and snowshoeing. It is 6.3 kilometres long, has 213 metres of elevation gain and an estimated round-trip time of 51 minutes. This time is an estimate; the distance, elevation gain and round-trip time give you specific points to consider when planning. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a leash.

The Hant's Harbour Lighthouse was built on Custard's Head in 1881: the wooden, octagonal tower was attached to a one-storey shop with a gabled roof. The lighthouse is maintained and operated by the Coast Guard. Its immediate proximity to the trail connects this distinctive historic structure with the route's starting point.

The Willow Tree Walk is designated as a self-guided walk. An audio tour around Hant's Harbour has nine stops and shares stories of people with close ties to the community. Check the tour's current availability and the number of stops before your visit. The Short's Pond Trail is considered an ongoing project of the Town of Hant's Harbour, while also being in a condition suitable for use. As it is an ongoing project, check the conditions before you travel.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Trip

If you're mainly interested in fishing history, the museum, heritage premises and cemetery offer different historical points of interest. For time outdoors, the designated activities and specific route details for the D'Iberville Trail provide a different perspective. This can help you weigh which focus matters most for your stay, rather than trying to fit every stop into the same itinerary.

Take these interests into account when searching for a vacation rental, too: first consider whether you want to visit Hant's Harbour for its local history, outdoor activities or both. Once you find a specific listing, you can compare its location with the places you want to visit.

Explore more destinations: Tors Cove, Grates Cove, Mount Pearl, Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove, Spaniard's Bay, St Mary's, Holyrood, Whiteway.

For the broader travel overview: Division No. 1.