The "Rock" is a sizeable bit of geology and flora and is much, much larger  than you think. If you are driving, particularly during high season, remember that Marine Atlantic's ferries run not only from North Sydney to Port-aux-Basques, but also from North Sydney to Argentia on the east coast of the province just an hour and a bit from the City of St. John’s.  If you are determined to see as much of the province as you can,  then it makes imminent sense to arrive via one port and leave via the other!  The former is a 4-5 hour run, the latter is 14 hours.  Remember, however, that it takes 9-10 hours of straight driving to make the car journey from Port-aux-Basques to St. John’s.  Moose are numerous!  The numbers are vast and so is a moose when picked up in your vehicle’s headlights.  

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If you are planning to fly in and then rent a vehicle, two very important points: firstly – never assume that it is OK to leave the car rental until you hit the soil.  There are several occasions throughout the high season when rental vehicles are as scarce as the proverbial “hen’s teeth”.  So book early.  Secondly, try to rent from a company that offers generous mileage.   Newfoundland and Labrador is a big land and gas is expensive.  Inquire about the drop off rules as well. It may be that you can hire a car on the east coast - in St. John's - and drop it off at a west coast location, like Deer Lake, and fly out of that location.   If you decide to forego renting a vehicle, St. John's has several tour operators who provide excellent in-city and Avalon tours, as well as over-nighters, to places like Trinity, Brigus and Bonavista.