It's located on Route 235 at the eastern tip of the Bonavista Peninsula, and about two hours' drive from Route 1. Nearby is Cape Bonavista, one of the most famous places in Newfoundland because it was here, according to legend, that John Cabot sighted land on June 24, 1497. The best way to explore Bonavista is on foot.
Street signs are rarer than hen's teeth, and there are quite an few one-way streets.
The Bonavista Museum is on Church Street. Another must-see is the Mockbeggar Property, a provincial historic site, that gives visitors a taste of life in the old days. In the Methodist Cemetery are some of the oldest gravestones in the province. In front of the Court House is a recreation of the old whipping post, where rough justice was administered to lawbreakers in centuries past. The Cape Bonavista Lighthouse east of the town was built in 1843 and has now been restored as an historic site where visitors can step back a hundred years to experience the isolated lifestyle of a 19th century lighthouse keeper.