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Most Unique Vacation Home in St. John's!

Holiday home in St. John's with kitchen and patio

Photo gallery for Most Unique Vacation Home in St. John's!

The Light Keepers Houses (Photo courtesy of Dave Greening)
View from Signal Hill National Historic Site
Assistant Light Keeper's House, Fort Amherst, St. John's, NL
Living room - kitchen
Living room

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Fireplace
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

View map
St John's, NL
  • Place, Port of St. John's
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, George Street
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Place, The Rooms
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Airport, St. John's, NL (YYT-St. John's Intl.)
    ‪11 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Jetted bathtub

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Most Unique Vacation Home in St. John's!

Situated on the edge of The Narrows at the entrance to the Port of St. John’s, a beautiful and unique vacation home located in a former light keeper’s house at Fort Amherst - the site of the first lighthouse in Newfoundland and one of the most photographed sites in the province. This property is one of two vacation homes operated at the Fort Amherst Light Station. The head light keeper's residence is also available for rent, please visit our listing at vrbo #469496.


House completely renovated, beautifully and tastefully decorated. Two bedrooms (one with king-size bed and one with twin beds) each with flat screen TVs, pull out sofa bed, two full bathrooms, fully equipped kitchen, BBQ, dishwasher, washer/dryer. Front deck with views of Signal Hill and the harbourfront. Sit back and watch the boats entering and leaving St. John’s Harbour. Enjoy whale watching from our large rear deck overlooking the spectacular Atlantic Ocean. Depending on the season lucky guests will have amazing views of icebergs along the coastline. Entrance point to the East Coast Trail just steps away.

Minimum three-night rental. Off-season rates available.

*Please note that rates are displayed in USD when viewing Rates and Availability Calendar. Can change to CAD at top of screen. Rates are computed in CAD when booking.*

We are now accepting bookings for the head lightkeeper's house. This two-story, 3-bedroom/3-bath house has been completely and beautifully restored and renovated. The listing is located at vrbo #469496.

Our vacation homes have been featured in newspapers across Canada.

Keywords: vacation home, short term rental

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Parking available

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The Light Keeper's House (Photo courtesy of Dave Greening)
Head Light Keeper's Residence at the mouth of St. John's Harbour!
  • Ocean view
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
10.0 out of 10, (107 reviews)
Head Light Keeper's Residence at the mouth of St. John's Harbour!

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

St. John's

Located in St. John's, this holiday home is by the ocean. Fort Amherst Lighthouse and Fort Amherst are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Waterford River Walk and Harbourside Park. George Street and Railway Coastal Museum are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with power boating and fishing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails and mountain biking.
View more Holiday homes in St. John'sOpens in a new window
Map
St John's, NL

What's nearby

  • Fort Amherst - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Port of St. John's - 4 min drive - 2.1 km
  • George Street - 5 min drive - 3.6 km
  • The Rooms - 5 min drive - 3.6 km
  • Signal Hill National Historic Site - 10 min drive - 1.8 km

Getting around

  • St. John's, NL (YYT-St. John's Intl.) - 28 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Battery Cafe - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Bagel Cafe - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Terre Cafe - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Bannerman Brewing Co - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Olivers Restaurant - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Most Unique Vacation Home in St. John's! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Most Unique Vacation Home in St. John's!?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Most Unique Vacation Home in St. John's!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Most Unique Vacation Home in St. John's! located?

Situated by the ocean, this holiday home is steps away from Fort Amherst Lighthouse and Fort Amherst. Railway Coastal Museum and Waterford River Walk are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 123 out of 124 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 124 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 124 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 124 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 124 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Laura a.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stunning location. Beautiful spacious home for the 5 of us.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Paul S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing place!

Wonderful place with incredible views. We even watched whales for an entire evening!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ashley T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What an excellent stay. Totally great property in an extremely unique and historic location. Kitchen well stocked, comfy living area, comfy beds and the best views ever. Good internet, nice deck area, and it was so fun talking to people coming to check out the lighthouse who were amazed that you could rent the place. We booked 14 months in advance when the listing was already 1/3 booked for the summer, get it early folks!
From Signal Hill
Great morning coffee spot
Nighttime lights
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shirley M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family holiday

Sitting on the deck in the early morning and evening was better than any retreat you could ever attend. Serenity and total relaxation comes to mind.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gino R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome location and place

Property managers were a great help & very responsive. The location and accommodations are second to none! We'll definitely come back!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mike H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful

What a wonderful, cozy cottage with an amazing view. You're able to watch boats go in and out of the harbor as well as the expansive ocean and coastline to the south.Easy to get to and close to many restaurants and shops.The cottage itself Has nice, large windows.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Beryl M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful location, cosy and comfortable!

The view directly of the lighthouse and entrance to St. John’s harbour made this home the best place in St John’s! The king size bed was SO comfortable, and all the facilities perfect for our needs. We stayed 3 nights, had the full range of weather from rain, fog (complete with foghorn!), snow (in mid-April!) and then beautiful sunshine, but we enjoyed it all. If we come back to St John’s, we will book again!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Donna W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Extraordinary Unique Experience

The Light Keeper’s Cottage was an extraordinary unique experience in places to stay. The home is comfortably furnished, updated, clean, and the hosts were extremely responsive from pre-booking to check out. The beautiful view is a one of a kind experience too. Additionally, the entire area of St.John’s was a traveler’s delight with cordial, helpful locals, great food, and many things to do and see.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Megan T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Can’t beat the view!

A great view from the home! The drive up was a little
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephen C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

What a lovely way to spend a vacation in St. Johns

Very clean and comfortable. Stunning location, even with the odd fog horn. Really helped to have laundry available. Efficient checkin.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

What a beautiful place!......Quelle belle place!

My family (5 total) and I stayed here for 2 weeks but we wish it was longer. This is one of the most unique and beautiful places we have ever stayed in. BBQ'ing on the deck while watching the boats and whales go by.....where else could you do this? :Peter and Nicole have created a real Canadian gem here. Thank you for a great vacation experience.

10/10 Excellent

Bruce R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

One of a Kind

Comfortable accommodation in a one of a kind location. No better spot to watch the ships come and go from the harbour. Close to the city without being in the hustle and bustle. And if you get caught out in the fog, you can just follow the sound of the fog horn back to the front door.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Barbara C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Best view in St John’s!

I can’t imagine a more exquisite place to stay while visiting St John’s. The view of the harbor, boat traffic, the sea, gorgeous lighthouse, and the East Coast Trail a few feet from your door. The assistant lighthouse keeper’s home is spacious, clean, with comfortable beds and a full kitchen. Do bring ear plugs in case of fog-the fog horn is required when it is dense.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Danny S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

An amazing location and wonderful home

The pictures on the VRBO site don’t begin to tell you how amazing this location in St. John’s is. We stayed 12 nights and never tired of looking out the windows. The view changed constantly, as the St. John’s weather is always changing. Amazing foggy views, amazing clear weather views, amazing sunrise views, amazing nighttime views. And… on top of all that the house is very well done, in great (like new) condition and is very comfortable. A home run stay!
Stayed 13 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brian B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The kitchen was equipped with everything we needed. Everything was wonderful especially watching ships in the Harbour.
Stayed 9 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This place is spot on. Absolutely nothing can be said in the negative of staying here. The hosts. The location. The whole experience of being on this property to view the history of the this lighthouse. The beam at night. The ocean activity in day. A dream. 100% book it. Your experience at St John’s will be forever remembered. Thanks for the memories.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Highly recommended.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nicola B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location with spectacular views of city and Signal Hill. We even saw whales!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Denica H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Paradise on earth.Feels like home.
Cozy
Sunset
Sunrise
Morning coffee with a view.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Deborah C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A little slice of heaven.

A room with a view! Spectacular! Enjoying nature at its best. Meeting people from around the world. Seeing the envy on people’s faces when they learn, “you’re staying here”. Wow. Seeing whales and eagles in our own backyard. Even the fog horn was super cool. Ahhhh, this is the life! Can’t believe how lucky we were to find this place. Can’t wait to go back.
Stayed 12 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Pamela H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Best View Ever!!!

Beautiful century home with updates for comfort that do not take away from it's historic charm. Best view of the St. John's harbour and Signal Hill. Love watching the boats come and go. What a fantastic start to our vacation of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Debbie T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Best Place to Stay

We loved staying here. It was convenient and unique. The beds were comfy and the views spectacular.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Scott K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful views

Location and views were amazing. Enjoyed watching ships go by. We were very appreciative for early check in. Hosts were prompt and responsive.
Stayed 8 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jim R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Best of St. John's!

This is the only place you should consider if travelling to St. Johns. Being at the entrance to St John's Harbour there is a constant parade of vessels of all types coming and going. The views of the ocean and lighthouse are stunning. Our September weather was a little bit of everything. We even got to hear the little foghorn which lulls you to sleep. The house is clean, the kitchen well-equipped with everything, the king size bed is super comfortable. The location is very close to downtown St. Johns and a convenient base for exploring the region by car. However, we found ourselves just wanting to hang out at "home" at Ft. Amherst. Peter and Nicole gave the impression of being very responsive hosts, however, if you stay here you probably won't need them. Everything is perfect! Thank you for sharing your property with us.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Robin R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lighthouse & ship watcher's dream

The ability to watch and hear ships come & go from this fantastic view point is beyond belief. Artania's, cruise ship, one long blast plus two short as she SALUTED the Harbour upon her departure and again as Signal Pilot, the pilot vessel, left her starboard side to return to the Harbour. The fog horn was like music to our ears and upon return one day discovered that we couldn't hear it from the chain's location down the road. It was like the sound was just for us and those on sea ... another great memory. The l/r windows offered views of the Harbour and the Atlantic and the kitchen window, over the sink, the Atlantic too. The "port hole" type window in the side hall provided a perfect photo frame for ships and rainbows too. So glad that my sister found "you" and really enjoyed the view and the location too. Our hosts went above and beyond and their help and feedback was appreciated more than words can say. We definitely enjoyed our stay and would recommend it over and over again. Thank you, thank you very much for sharing this slice of heaven.
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2024

About the host

Hosted by Owner/Manager

Host profile image
The owner, Peter Gill, is the grandson of Leo Power, one of the longest serving light keepers at the Fort Amherst lighthouse. Peter operates Fort Amherst Vacation Homes along with his wife Nicole.

What makes this property unique

All the benefits of a sea side property in outport Newfoundland with the convenience of being located in the city. See the downtown lights from the front deck. A 5-minute drive to downtown. Entrance to the East Coast Trail just feet away.

Languages:

English

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