About
The Quirpon Lighthouse Inn offers a one-of-a-kind experience, situated on an island that can only be reached by zodiac or helicopter. Guests are treated to a boat ride through iceberg alley as part of their stay, and the isolation of the island provides a unique sense of tranquility. The historic lighthouse from the 1920s features a whale and iceberg viewing station, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the surroundings.Why you should go
- Experience a truly unique stay on an isolated island only accessible by zodiac boat or helicopter
- Enjoy breathtaking scenery with opportunities for whale watching and iceberg spotting
- Immerse yourself in an authentic lighthouse ambiance with rustic accommodations
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We were there overnight but wish we could have stayed longer. I enjoyed the wind, the iceberg we saw early in the morning, and the cozy feeling of the space. The Zodiac ride was a delight. I'm an amputee so I hitched a ride on the gator to the Inn. The food was basic but better than I'd had in a lot of places in Newfoundland. Left my Kindle behind which they were happy to send to me. What a great experience!
Beautiful but not for everyone. Mid June 2025
I found it hard to find information on really what to expect so I'll try and give that.
When you meet at the wharf there isn't any bathroom available, just fyi. It's only a 15-20 minutes ride there though (faster than I thought it would be). Bring layers. We were they in mid June and we used all of them. Bring rain pants as much for the wind on the boat as anything, but you will get wet if you're sitting at the back (but it's a smoother ride there). Ed has dry spots for bags. Bring toques, gloves wind/rain proof coat with hood for wind, hiking shoes, and/or rain boots with good tread. We had waterproof hiking runners that were ok, but we didn't get rain.
Also bring slippers because you have to take shoes off at the door and the floors can be cold.
It's about a 10-15 minute walk up hill to the houses. Ed was passing us with the luggage, they take that up for you, and offered us a ride the rest of the way, which was nice. There are two houses with rooms. The first (I labeled it second in the photos) house is about 5 minute from the main house, which is where all the meals are. Also, if you're staying in the other house, you have to walk back there to use the bathroom at your room, if needed. I would suggest staying in the main house, like others have said, if the choice.
We had the large room in the other house, with an ensuite in the room, which was nice, but the toilet area was incredibly small so you have to back in, lol. Bed was comfortable. Each house has a living room to hang out in and an enclosed viewing room close by, although there one by us wasn't finished painting when we were there.
You can buy wine, beer and pop in the main house. Juice, coffee, tea and water are provided.
After reading things on the website I was concerned about having to walk the 5.5 km to the house if it was windy and we couldn't dock by the houses, but it was pretty windy when we came in and we docked at the normal spot. I saw a review about them having to lower a ladder down to get out of the boat, but there was a permanent ladder there and it was easy to get in and out of there boat. I also didn't think, from photos, there were seats in the boat, but there are.
The island is beautiful, but two nights is perfect. All you need is one full day here, in our opinion. Definitely one night wouldn't be enough.
There is very limited cell service but you do get the occasional bar on your phone when near the main house, if you're concerned about being totally off the grid.
The ladies who work here are so nice and great cooks. The meals were good and filling. No need to bring snacks.
If you want to go hiking here be prepared to hike where there are no trails. It's very rocky and marshy, so it’s a slow walk.
All in all we had a great experience and are really glad we came. But our weather was good (although windy the day we came in and out). I think if it rained while you were here, the experience wouldn't be as good. But at least with the viewing buildings close by you can still enjoy the view and stay warm and dry. But bring a book.
I only gave it a 4 because I save 5’s for places that have everything. But I know it was a 5 for many that were there at the same time as us. If you’re looking for a rugged get away from everything, this is it. We really liked it but there was room for improvement, so I couldn’t give it a 5.
And if you have any mobility issues, this is not the place to go.
The Quirpon Island Inn is a truly unique and wonderful place! The team is friendly, the scenery is breathtaking, and the zodiac ride to the inn was exciting. The reason I am only giving this 3-stars is because of the wide gap between our expectations (based on the website) and cost (we paid $600/night), versus the reality of our experience. Had we known what to expect and chosen it with that in mind, our view of the experience would have been different.
Here is what you can expect:
- A fun zodiac ride to the island at a single scheduled time. As it is a small boat, you must limit your luggage to a small pack and you may not bring large suitcases. Bring a coat for the boat ride as even in the summer it is chilly.
- The Inn itself is rustic, pretty, and relatively untouched over the years. This means no air conditioning, storm windows that do not open more than a crack, and external bathrooms that you must leave your room to use. You definitely feel like you are getting a true rustic lighthouse experience. Our room did have an en-suite bathroom, but the shower/toilet combination was as small as one on a cruise ship and the sink was outside the bathroom in the bedroom. We visited during an unseasonably warm period and, despite a small fan, our second-floor room was so hot overnight that we were unable to sleep. I imagine it would have been fine in more temperature spring/late fall weather, but consider this when booking in summer or winter.
-There are no bath robes, so consider bringing your own if your bathroom is not in your room.
- The food is delicious, but there is no restaurant and no bar. This means you eat what they make (no choices), at a set time (our dinner was at 7pm), at one communal table with the other guests. There is a small selection of alcohol which you may help yourself to, note in a ledger, and pay for at the end. Wine is not standard with dinner. I suggest bringing your own snacks and beverages if you have room.
- There is no wifi and very-little-to-no cell reception. If you are looking for a place to totally unplug, this is a great option.
- There is very little to do on the island besides hike it. While the website shows a helicopter, fishing tours, and other tours, these must need to be arranged in advance (call to inquire) because there was no helicopter or tours to join when we arrived. We did learn that a zodiac tour could be arranged on site. There are no regular shuttles on/off the island outside of the set time check-in arrivals and check-out departures.
- There is a common sitting room with sofa/chairs, but there is nowhere to comfortably sit and play cards, etc. The dining table is often in-use or being set for the next meal. Plan to spend time sitting on the porch.
- Mosquitos and flies can be quite bad depending on when you visit. Absolutely pack bug spray.
- You will likely see whales! Many guests we were with saw whales on the zodiac ride over and/or from the property.
This is a truly authentic, rustic experience and if that is what you are hoping for you will love the Quirpon Island Inn! The people are friendly, the food is good, there is lots of interaction with other guests, no devices, and the location is awe-inspiring! This is NOT a luxury experience and more like a bed-and-breakfast approach.
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Cove Trail, Saint Lunaire-Griquet, NL A0K 2X0, Canada
Know before you go
- Pack light as luggage must be limited due to transportation constraints (small pack only)
- Bring warm clothing even in summer as it can get chilly especially during boat rides
- Consider bringing your own snacks and beverages as there are no restaurant choices available
- Prepare for limited amenities such as no air conditioning or wifi to fully embrace the unplugged experience
Reviews
The Quirpon Lighthouse Inn offers a truly unique and rustic experience on an isolated island accessible only by zodiac boat. Guests highlighted the breathtaking scenery, authentic lighthouse ambiance, delicious communal meals, friendly staff, and opportunities for whale watching and iceberg spotting. While some mentioned challenges like limited amenities, rough boat rides in bad weather, and cold temperatures during certain seasons, overall visitors appreciated the opportunity to unplug and immerse themselves in nature at this adventurous paradise.Review score
4.2out of 5
5 stars
22
4 stars
3
3 stars
4
2 stars
2
1 star
2
We were there overnight but wish we could have stayed longer. I enjoyed the wind, the iceberg we saw early in the morning, and the cozy feeling of the space. The Zodiac ride was a delight. I'm an amputee so I hitched a ride on the gator to the Inn. The food was basic but better than I'd had in a lot of places in Newfoundland. Left my Kindle behind which they were happy to send to me. What a great experience!
Beautiful but not for everyone. Mid June 2025
I found it hard to find information on really what to expect so I'll try and give that.
When you meet at the wharf there isn't any bathroom available, just fyi. It's only a 15-20 minutes ride there though (faster than I thought it would be). Bring layers. We were they in mid June and we used all of them. Bring rain pants as much for the wind on the boat as anything, but you will get wet if you're sitting at the back (but it's a smoother ride there). Ed has dry spots for bags. Bring toques, gloves wind/rain proof coat with hood for wind, hiking shoes, and/or rain boots with good tread. We had waterproof hiking runners that were ok, but we didn't get rain.
Also bring slippers because you have to take shoes off at the door and the floors can be cold.
It's about a 10-15 minute walk up hill to the houses. Ed was passing us with the luggage, they take that up for you, and offered us a ride the rest of the way, which was nice. There are two houses with rooms. The first (I labeled it second in the photos) house is about 5 minute from the main house, which is where all the meals are. Also, if you're staying in the other house, you have to walk back there to use the bathroom at your room, if needed. I would suggest staying in the main house, like others have said, if the choice.
We had the large room in the other house, with an ensuite in the room, which was nice, but the toilet area was incredibly small so you have to back in, lol. Bed was comfortable. Each house has a living room to hang out in and an enclosed viewing room close by, although there one by us wasn't finished painting when we were there.
You can buy wine, beer and pop in the main house. Juice, coffee, tea and water are provided.
After reading things on the website I was concerned about having to walk the 5.5 km to the house if it was windy and we couldn't dock by the houses, but it was pretty windy when we came in and we docked at the normal spot. I saw a review about them having to lower a ladder down to get out of the boat, but there was a permanent ladder there and it was easy to get in and out of there boat. I also didn't think, from photos, there were seats in the boat, but there are.
The island is beautiful, but two nights is perfect. All you need is one full day here, in our opinion. Definitely one night wouldn't be enough.
There is very limited cell service but you do get the occasional bar on your phone when near the main house, if you're concerned about being totally off the grid.
The ladies who work here are so nice and great cooks. The meals were good and filling. No need to bring snacks.
If you want to go hiking here be prepared to hike where there are no trails. It's very rocky and marshy, so it’s a slow walk.
All in all we had a great experience and are really glad we came. But our weather was good (although windy the day we came in and out). I think if it rained while you were here, the experience wouldn't be as good. But at least with the viewing buildings close by you can still enjoy the view and stay warm and dry. But bring a book.
I only gave it a 4 because I save 5’s for places that have everything. But I know it was a 5 for many that were there at the same time as us. If you’re looking for a rugged get away from everything, this is it. We really liked it but there was room for improvement, so I couldn’t give it a 5.
And if you have any mobility issues, this is not the place to go.
The Quirpon Island Inn is a truly unique and wonderful place! The team is friendly, the scenery is breathtaking, and the zodiac ride to the inn was exciting. The reason I am only giving this 3-stars is because of the wide gap between our expectations (based on the website) and cost (we paid $600/night), versus the reality of our experience. Had we known what to expect and chosen it with that in mind, our view of the experience would have been different.
Here is what you can expect:
- A fun zodiac ride to the island at a single scheduled time. As it is a small boat, you must limit your luggage to a small pack and you may not bring large suitcases. Bring a coat for the boat ride as even in the summer it is chilly.
- The Inn itself is rustic, pretty, and relatively untouched over the years. This means no air conditioning, storm windows that do not open more than a crack, and external bathrooms that you must leave your room to use. You definitely feel like you are getting a true rustic lighthouse experience. Our room did have an en-suite bathroom, but the shower/toilet combination was as small as one on a cruise ship and the sink was outside the bathroom in the bedroom. We visited during an unseasonably warm period and, despite a small fan, our second-floor room was so hot overnight that we were unable to sleep. I imagine it would have been fine in more temperature spring/late fall weather, but consider this when booking in summer or winter.
-There are no bath robes, so consider bringing your own if your bathroom is not in your room.
- The food is delicious, but there is no restaurant and no bar. This means you eat what they make (no choices), at a set time (our dinner was at 7pm), at one communal table with the other guests. There is a small selection of alcohol which you may help yourself to, note in a ledger, and pay for at the end. Wine is not standard with dinner. I suggest bringing your own snacks and beverages if you have room.
- There is no wifi and very-little-to-no cell reception. If you are looking for a place to totally unplug, this is a great option.
- There is very little to do on the island besides hike it. While the website shows a helicopter, fishing tours, and other tours, these must need to be arranged in advance (call to inquire) because there was no helicopter or tours to join when we arrived. We did learn that a zodiac tour could be arranged on site. There are no regular shuttles on/off the island outside of the set time check-in arrivals and check-out departures.
- There is a common sitting room with sofa/chairs, but there is nowhere to comfortably sit and play cards, etc. The dining table is often in-use or being set for the next meal. Plan to spend time sitting on the porch.
- Mosquitos and flies can be quite bad depending on when you visit. Absolutely pack bug spray.
- You will likely see whales! Many guests we were with saw whales on the zodiac ride over and/or from the property.
This is a truly authentic, rustic experience and if that is what you are hoping for you will love the Quirpon Island Inn! The people are friendly, the food is good, there is lots of interaction with other guests, no devices, and the location is awe-inspiring! This is NOT a luxury experience and more like a bed-and-breakfast approach.
We traveled to Quirpon Island in mid-June, 2023 for two nights. Our experience was not as good as some of the other reviewers. It was very cold, a high of 36 Fahrenheit, the sea was rough and the wind gusts were over 30 mph. It was too late to cancel the reservation. Taking the Zodiac boat to the island was a rough go as the waves were high and it was scary; it was not fun and adventuresome as expected when we booked our stay. We took a hit from a large wave as Ed maneuvered the boat toward the dock and all of us in the boat got soaked (head to toe), along with our luggage and shoes. I didn’t stop trembling from the wet and cold until the next morning. The staff at the inn were gracious enough to wash and dry our clothes. We didn’t do any hiking on the island as it was so cold outside and the ground/rocks were wet and slippery. The staff in the kitchen were great. The food was good and reminiscent of visiting grandma’s house. We had a Zodiac iceberg/whale tour scheduled the second day but the seas remained rough. I was disappointed that Ed did not refund our money for the boat tour.
A lighthouse at the northern most point of Newfoundland. I mean come on…how is this not incredible? People need to get over their vision of anything other than this as a unique life experience unlike any other and not expect calm ocean waters, 5 star luxury, etc…The hiking was amazing, the views stunning and whale watching spectacular. The food and hospitality were excellent as well, but you go to Quirpon for the experience of it, which is truly unforgettable.
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Cove Trail, Saint Lunaire-Griquet, NL A0K 2X0, Canada