You’ll find Rose Blanche at the end of the road, literally. As you are coming out of the ferry terminal in Port aux Basques, the first exit to the right is Route 470, Isle aux Morts. Follow that road for 42 km to the east and you’ll be at Rose Blanche.
Newfoundland Travel Tip
If you are coming towards Port aux Basques on the Trans Canada it will look like you are driving into the ferry terminal. You’ll pass signs thanking you for visiting the province. Don’t be fooled, just before you get to the terminal, there’s a final exit for Route 470.
The road along the south coast ends at Rose Blanche. Most communities east of here on the south coast are only accessible by a coastal ferry that does not take cars. The drive to Rose Blanche is one of the prettiest drives on the island. It’s a very winding road that follows the coastline. It’s difficult to drive more than 60 or 70 km/h for most of the route. Towards the end of the road, you’ll start seeing signs for the granite lighthouse.
At the top of a hill just before you descend into the community there is a small parking area with welcome signs and a vista of the town. If you get to the gas station you have gone 100 ft too far. In short order you will pass Diamond Cove, Harbour le Cou and finally enter Rose Blanche.
Rose Blanche Attractions
The Granite Lighthouse in Rose Blanche is worth the drive. It was built in 1871 from locally quarried granite. It was rebuilt in the late 90’s. You can actually go into the lighthouse in the summer months (July & August). We visited in June, when a lot of tourist sites in Newfoundland are still closed. A well kept path takes you over or around the hill to get to the lighthouse. The views of Rose Blanche and the surrounding area is amazing.
There is a great trail called Harbour le Cou Old Road as you come into town. It is a very old trail, not very long and the views of the region are awesome. This trail has one of the best views of the resettled community Petites. Before the road was put in this was how the people of Harbour le Cou and Rose Blanche would visit the other community.
Newfoundland Travel Tip
We’ve dropped into town hall in several communities. Sometimes they’ll have information on local attractions or accommodations. They’ll let you use the washroom. You can usually have a nice chat.
Rose Blanche covers a fairly large area that includes the communities of Harbour Le Cou and Diamond Cove. Rose Blanche has several windy narrow roads. The main road through town is one way. Make sure you take a drive through town. It’s very pretty, one of our favorite spots is next to the Rosesea B&B. Here you will find a nice view of the harbour, that provides glimpses of the lighthouse in the distance.
Rose Blanche has a convenience/grocery store in town and a gas station on Route 470 just outside of town.
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