* Subject to change
Welcome to Targa Newfoundland, where adventure awaits you every day. Our event has been running for over 20 years, and we take pride in our enviable safety record, one of the best in our sport. Below are details of each day of the rally and the communities you’ll visit. Check out Our Communities to learn more about these places and Where to Stay page for accommodations.
Day One: Thursday September 11*
Skills Review and Practice Session (mandatory for 1st time entrants)
Our two-day Course Familiarization Program, commonly called Targa School, is specifically designed for this event to teach each member of the teams their roles, develop interrelation with each other, hone their teamwork, test their skills, and become comfortable in their car. The Targa Driving Skills Review and Practice Session on Day 1 is mandatory for all teams new to the event. Returning teams are welcome but do not have to attend. This two-day session will be held at the St. John’s Curling Club.
Location: St. John’s Curling Club, 135 Mayor Ave., St. John’s
Overnight stay: St. John’s
Day Two: Friday September 12*
Stage Review (mandatory for all participants)
Day 2 is the Stage Review and First Responders and Competitors Meeting, which is mandatory for all teams. During this full day session, all teams come together to understand the course and the communities they will visit. Each stage is explained in detail, with a focus on roles and duties as a First Responder team should they arrive first at the scene of an incident. They will also be introduced to the event officials, who will brief the participants on start and finish protocols, good sportsmanship, and the Targa behaviour expectations.
Location: St. John’s Curling Club, 135 Mayor Ave., St. John’s
Overnight stay: St. John’s
Day Three: Saturday September 13*
Official Start: Prologue and Leg 1
On Day 3, teams will leave the Holiday Inn and gather at the Mary Brown’s Centre in downtown St. John’s for the official start and then proceed out of the city travelling along the Atlantic Coast via the Southern Shore Highway. The Prologue will be held in the area of Burnt Cove and Bauline East in the morning followed by lunch at the Stone Ducky restaurant in Bay Bulls. The Bay Bulls multi stages are set for the afternoon.
Car Show: After the stages, there will be a meet-and-greet for the public at Hickman Motors on Kenmount Road in St. John’s.
Locations: St. John’s, Atlantic Coast, Burnt Cove, Bauline East, Bay Bulls
Overnight stay: St. John’s
Day Four: Sunday September 14*
Leg 2 Placentia Bay – Southwest Avalon Peninsula
On Day 4, teams will head out on the Trans-Canada Highway to the Placentia Bay area. The route will see them travel to the historic former French capital town of Placentia. They will then proceed to the Cape Shore, along the cliffs and down into the river valleys with stages in Point Verde and Sanctuary. Lunch will be provided at the Dr. Leslie M. Tuck Centre in Cape St. Mary’s. Afterward, teams will tackle the narrow, challenging road to the Cape St. Mary’s bird sanctuary followed by the St. Bride’s stage. From there, teams will transit to Gander for the final stage of the day – the Come From Away Memorial Stage through the streets of the historic airport town.
Car Show: After the stage is completed, competitors will participate in a public meet-and-greet at Hickman Motors on Airport Boulevard in Gander.
Locations: St. John’s, Placentia Bay – Southwest Avalon Peninsula, Cape Shore, Point Verde, Sanctuary, St. Bride’s, Cape St. Mary’s, Gander
Overnight stay: Gander
Day Five: Monday September 15*
Leg 3 Notre Dame Bay – North Central Newfoundland
On Day 5, teams will travel by the Trans-Canada Highway to the former logging community of Glenwood on the Gander River, then proceed to stages in the communities of Bobby’s Cove, Pleasantview, Point Leamington, and Leading Tickles, where lunch will be provided at scenic Oceanview Park. In the afternoon, stages take place in Leading Tickles and Glover’s Harbour then teams head to Appleton for the final stage of the day.
Car Show: After the stages are completed, competitors will participate in a meet-and-greet with the public in front of Appleton Town Hall.
Locations: Glenwood, Bobby’s Cove, Pleasantview, Point Leamington, Leading Tickles, Glover’s Harbour, Appleton
Overnight stay: Gander
Day Six: Tuesday September 16*
Leg 4 Bonavista Bay – Eastport Peninsula
On Day 6, teams will head to the Eastport Peninsula on Bonavista Bay, which is one of the special areas of the province and once was the summer home to the Beothuk tribe. Known for its rugged shoreline and soft sandy beaches, the area will host morning stages in the historic fishing communities of Happy Adventure and Salvage. Lunch will be hosted in Salvage at the Salvaje Longhouse and will include a celebration to mark the 1000th stage of Targa Newfoundland. That will also be the site of a meet-and-greet. After lunch, we’ll run stages in Salvage, Eastport, and Burnside. There will be a public meet-and-greet at the Royal Canadian Legion in Eastport before teams head east to Port Blandford for the last stages of the day.
Locations: Eastport, Happy Adventure, Salvage, Burnside, Port Blandford
Overnight stay: Clarenville
Day Seven: Wednesday September 17*
Leg 5 Trinity Bay
On Day 7, teams will make their way to the Trinity Bay area and Random Island. Random Island is a small island off the coast of Newfoundland and is home to many lively communities that will host some of our key stages. We’ll start in Robinson’s Bight and Martin’s Hill and then move on to the fishing and lumbering communities of Lower Lance Cove and Petley. After lunch at Hickman’s Harbour Community Centre, teams will run stages in Hickman’s Harbour and Petley before heading back to Clarenville for the night.
Car Show: The public are invited to an evening meet-and-greet at Hickman Motors on Shoal Harbour Drive in Clarenville to see the cars and meet the teams.
Locations: Robinson’s Bight, Martin’s Hill, Hickman’s Harbour, Lower Lance Cove and Petley
Overnight stay: Clarenville
Day Eight: Thursday September 18*
Leg 6 Conception Bay Central
On the last day of the competition, we’ll be racing in the Conception Bay area towns of Conception Harbour, Colliers, Marysvale, Turk’s Gut, Georgetown, and Brigus. These towns will host some of the most competitive stages of the event. Some of the stages will be repeated multiple times for the ultimate challenge. The day will begin with the John Curran Memorial Stages in Conception Harbour and Colliers followed by the Mary O’Flaherty Memorial Stages in Marysvale and Turk’s Gut and then on to stages in Georgetown. Teams will stop for lunch at the Royal Canadian Legion in Brigus. The rally will come to a fitting conclusion through the narrow, winding streets of that historic town. After the last stage in Brigus, teams will head to the St. John’s waterfront for the trophy presentation at The Keg Steakhouse + Bar.
Locations: Conception Harbour, Colliers, Marysvale, Turk’s Gut, Georgetown, Brigus, St. John’s
Overnight stay: St. John’s
Day Nine: Friday September 19
Free time and Awards Dinner – St. John’s and Northeastern Avalon
Congratulations on finishing the 2025 Targa Newfoundland! Spend the day at your leisure, shopping and sightseeing in St. John’s and Northeastern Avalon. The Awards Dinner will start at 6 p.m. at the JAG Boutique Hotel, 115 George Street West, St. John’s.
Targa Tourist Tour
Our registrar and tour guide extraordinaire, Wayne Lorenzen, will show you some of the highlights of the historic city of St. John’s and the surrounding area. Teams will drive to Cape Spear Lighthouse National Park, the most easterly point of North America and site of the oldest surviving lighthouse in the province. The site offers a glimpse into the lives of 19th century lighthouse keepers and their families. Marvel at migrating whales and hunting seabirds on this rough Atlantic coast.
Next stop is lunch on the famous (infamous?) George Street in downtown St. John’s which comprises two blocks of bars, pubs, and restaurants. It’s the centre of the entertainment district and its reputation has spread far and wide. It has inspired songs and stories, and has been a magnet for musicians and their fans for decades.
After satisfying your need for food and drink, it’s off to Signal Hill National Historic Site with spectacular views of St. John’s harbour which has sheltered ships for 500 years. This most popular landmark is beloved by visitors and locals alike for its hiking trails, stunning views, and the iconic Cabot Tower. Steeped in history, Signal Hill was the site of military battles and technological triumphs. Signal Hill is where Marconi received the first trans-Atlantic wireless signal in 1901.
Following a short hike to Queen’s Battery, we’ll head to Quidi Vidi. This quaint fishing village located in the east end of St. John’s will transport you to a different time. From the idyllic cottages dotting the roadside to the wharf lined with colourful fishing stages, Quidi Vidi, pronounced Kitty Vitty or Quada Vida, depending on who you ask, offers a glimpse into the quintessential island outports of Newfoundland & Labrador. We’ll visit Quidi Vidi Brewery, known for its Iceberg Beer and other award-winning brews, where we’ll share some tall tales about our Targa adventures.
Overnight stay: St. John’s
*Please Note:
Each day will begin with a breathalyzer test of the teams by the Competitor Relations Officers (CROs) while the day’s activities are reviewed by the Clerk of the Course.
Each evening, competitors/teams will be free to socialize or work on their vehicles at the vehicle storage centres.