witless bay whale watching tours

Gatherall’s Puffin & Whale Watch

Newfoundland Boat Tour

Discover the ultimate wildlife adventure with gatherall’s.

Experience the thrill of experiencing puffins, whales, icebergs and incredible coastal scenery with the Gatherall Family & crew on this TOP RATED Newfoundland boat tour.

“ BEST OF THE BEST ” by  TripAdvisor, Gatherall’s  is among the top 1% of things to do worldwide!  

What you’ll see – newfoundland wildlife.

Tours daily May 14 to Sept 20!

Tours incorporate whales / icebergs when present regardless of tour description.

Experience the thrill of witnessing puffins and whales in their natural habitat on this top rated Newfoundland Puffin & Whale Boat Tour!

Book your boat tour from Bay Bulls with Gatherall’s! With close to 40 years of touring experience, Gatherall’s has the expertise to ensure that you have the ultimate Newfoundland boat tour!  Set sail to the breathtaking Witless Bay Ecological Reserve – home of the Atlantic Puffin ( North America’s largest puffin colony ) and one Newfoundland’s best whale watching destinations. Embrace the magic of Newfoundland’s wildlife with Gatherall’s.

Check for best times as attractions vary seasonally.

Marvel at playful puffins nesting on the cliffs and diving into deep waters.  

Be captivated by majestic humpback whales as they explore the ocean’s surface.

Early season, incredible icebergs often arrive just in time to enchant & astound our guests. 

#1 On TripAdvisor

Five stars  on  google, facebook  and  yelp, expert guided tours – gatherall’s crew.

Professional, knowledgeable and friendly guides offer a live interpretation detailing the lives of the birds, whales, icebergs and the colourful character of Newfoundland.

Tour commentary is interspersed with a colourful mix of local humour, stories & song capturing the essence of Newfoundland’s culture. Gatherall’s crew blends youthful exuberance balanced with decades of seagoing experience to ensure you have the best experience.

Multiple guides crew each tour and are equipped with wireless microphones to ensure that they’re available to mix with guests, answer your questions, offer assistance and chat one on one. 

Tour duration typically between 90 to 110 minutes.

Best Viewing Times

Puffins, whales, & icebergs.

Tour operate daily May 14 through September 20.  We would love to experience puffins, whales, and icebergs on every tour but please remember that nature keeps its own schedule. 

If & when whales, icebergs and other marine wildlife is present it will be incorporated into the tour offered at that time so that you’re assured of the best experience possible.

Take a look at the recommended “ best times ” to see puffins, whales, and icebergs provided below. Visit us during the peak times for the best chances to view puffins, whales and icebergs!

Our guidance is based on almost 40 years of offering tours plus generations as seafarers. The time of day generally doesn’t affect sightings, but time of the season sure does!

Whales and/or icebergs cannot be guaranteed on any specific cruise.

Tours will incorporate whales / icebergs when present regardless of tour description.

“ Best Times ” viewing guide is based on historical norms but may vary.

Puffins arrive early May and can be viewed in large numbers through till mid September with a few staying till the 3rd week of September. Timing for the other seabirds (murres, guillemots, gannets, kittiwakes, fulmars & more) varies by species.

Whale encounters typically peak mid-June through to mid-August (may vary slightly year to year). Whales may arrive mid May and stay as late as September but please remember that sightings outside of the peak season are a bonus! Whales are not guaranteed.

Iceberg season around the St. John’s area typically runs May through to mid / late June. Although we are at the end of Iceberg Alley and see fewer bergs than northern Newfoundland, the bergs here are often very dramatic as they near the end of their journey.

Unforgettable Experiences Await!

Ready to book.

Planning your holiday and want to know the best times?  Visiting and wondering whats in season? Just click the tour option below that fits your travel schedule or explore the site to learn more about Gatherall’s.

Tours operate daily May 14 to September 20.

Music & Friends

Puffin Palooza

Coastal Puffins

Birds & Bergs

Puffin & Whale Watch

Nature Tour

Open may 14 through september 20.

Dates & times may be subject to change.

• Open 7 days a week in season.
• Only 25 minutes from downtown St. John’s.
• Shuttle service available.
• Fabulous selection of local crafts & gifts
• Group rates for 30 adults or more.
• Beach BBQ & bonfire facilities for staff party, reunion, wedding socials, conferences & events.
• Group transportation available.

Screech-In’s

Get Screech’d-In by Gatherall’s

Shuttle Service

Pickups from most St.John’s hotels

One of Newfoundland’s best craft stores

Why Gatherall’s tour boat is the best in Newfoundland …

Gatherall’s catamaran is designed to provide our guests with the best experience. The upper deck allows you to spot whales even when they are further away and seemingly disappear in the ocean swells ( think penthouse view versus ground floor view ). Abundant deck area and rail space provides more unobstructed views of the action. If you’re lucky, the whales may choose to visit for a closer look! When they do, the superior viewing angles of the cat enable you can see further into the water to watch as they slip effortless beneath. While viewing puffins, the upper viewing decks of the cat keeps you at eye level with their nests for the best views and pictures.

Riding the cat means that your carbon footprint is smaller too. The cat was designed to be ultra efficient, meaning we consume less fuel per guest per mile traveled than other vessels.

Click to learn more about the best tour boat.

Spacious & Comfortable

Gatherall’s cat is the largest tour boat in Newfoundland.  The cat offers the most space and the smoothest ride.  Multiple viewing decks provide rail space for everyone.  Room for all guests inside the cabin in the event of rain. Washrooms and canteen service on board.

Certification & Training

Vessel & crew are Transport Canada Certified and inspected annually. All required life safety & fire safety equipment is in place and our crew have been expertly trained in Marine Emergencies Duties, Domestic Vessel Safety, Marine First Aid plus more.

Range & Speed

The unique design of the cat allows it to travel further than other vessels. Featuring dual engines and slim hulls means that the cat can travel more quickly than other tour boats. It can also travel further to find whales & icebergs and spend more time.

Responsible Whale Watching 

Gatherall’s makes every effort to ensure you have a great experience but please remember that respect for wildlife comes first.

All whale watching boats – big and small – are governed by the the same regulations regarding approach distances and practices.

In our experience, patience and a cautious approach are often rewarded. Whales may be plentiful and curious, while other times they are busy feeding, sleeping or travelling doing long, deep dives – this is a matter of chance. To improve our success, our catamaran can travel further in less time and its high decks enable our crew (and you) to spot the whales from greater distances so as to not miss any of the action.

Our captains are familiar with their behaviour will try to provide you with the best possible experience without disturbance.

Our Captains communicate with the other boats to co-ordinate visits to ensure as few boats are around them at any given time. Sometimes the encounter is a short, fleeting glimpse as a whale passes through our area. Other times it may be a profound and intimate interaction as a whale(s) comes alongside to check us out. Either way, we are tremendously lucky to be in their presence.

Interactions are entirely up to the whales.  We’re just there to observe in a respectful manner.

Newfoundland puffin &  whale boat tour, frequently asked questions, whether its your first adventure or you’re a returning friend, we know you have questions and we’re only too happy to answer them. a few of the most common questions and answers are provided below – click any one to load more faq’s or visit our faq page .  of course you’re welcome to reach out to us if you have a specific question that’s not listed., how long is the tour, what time of day is best, are whales guaranteed, what if it rains, where do we park, top rated newfoundland puffin & whale boat tour .

Close to 40 Years of Great Service.   We’re proud of our commitment to providing incredible experiences and stellar customer service.  We’ve been welcoming explorers since 1984.  We’ve learned a few things along the way.  With so many great reviews, you know Gatherall’s should be your first choice for your boat tour in Newfoundland to see puffins, whales and icebergs.

Awesome Trip

The crew were so friendly& entertaining, the scenery & birds incredible, and we got to see a couple of whales! Definitely met and exceeded our expectations.  Thanks

Highly Recommended

Great Tour with excellent staff! From the check in to the onboard staff, everyone was friendly, efficient, and professional.  This is our second whale watch with this company. Highly recommend for an authentic experience.

Fantastic Experience!

Fantastic experience!! Crew were informative and very entertaining!! Boat was very clean and safe, and we learned a lot about the birds and the whales we saw! Highly recommend it!!

Recommend Them Thoroughly!

Thanks guys. It was an awesome trip. Enjoyed the whales and trillions of birds. Terrific songs and commentary too! Great job!

Awesome Experience

It was an awesome experience and really enjoyed the view and everything the staff  and crew were very informative and funny I got to taste some of the iceberg.

The trip was excellent.  The captain and crew  were fantastic.   Also seeing the first humpbacks of the season.  We will recommended you to friends and family

Enjoyed Every Minute!

Great day, we enjoyed every minute! The staff was helpful and provided good information all through the cruise.

Excellent Trip!

An excellent trip. Although we knew that seeing whales could not be guaranteed the crew did their utmost to make sure we did. 

Highlight Of Our Trip!

Our experience with Gatheralls was by far the highlight of our trip to St. John’s! My 7 year old keeps talking about how amazing the sights were and how funny the tour guides were. We can’t wait to come back and do it again!

Definately Recommend!

Great tour, fun and friendly staff! Very knowledgeable and great sense of humor!  Very helpful and accommodating for my mother who was in a wheelchair. Definitely recommend!

Absolutely Awesome!

Foggy Day but that didn’t dampen the experience. Absolutely awesome

Very Impressed!

We were very impressed with the knowledge of the staff on-board our tour regarding the Puffins, Razorbills and Murres as well as their commitment to conservation. We commend your efforts and thank you for your excellent work and learned a lot too. Absolutely great experience. 

Highly Recommend!

Was absolutely amazing.  Not to be missed experience when visiting St Johns. Highly recommend.

Ready to Start Your Adventure?

Click any book now button to select your date & cruise time or to check availability., for questions please feel free to contact us by phone during business hours, email, or through our social media channels., contact info.

TEL. 709-334-2887

Email  [email protected]

Address  90 Northside Rd., Bay Bulls, NL Canada, A0A 1C0

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Ecotours Zodiac Adventures

Location & Hours

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Lower Loop Road

Witless Bay, NL A0A 4K0

Serving Witless Bay Area

About the Business

Business owner information

We specialize in personal whale and bird watching tours where you will get a front row seat to the best that nature has to offer. …

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This was such an amazing experience and I've never had anything like this before. We saw whales, A LOT OF WHALES, Humpbacks and Minke whales. The tour also included a tour of the birds at a nearby island, and there are a lot of birds there too. We got on a very small zodiac boat that fit around 6 people so it was very personal and had one staff that was very friendly and informative. The experience was very smooth and all the staff we interacted with were very professional and caring. Because we had such a small boat, we were able to follow the whales as they went through the waters. We were also able to move around a lot to wear the whales were and since our boat was so small a lot of whales approached us. The tour was around an hour and a half and every second of it was amazing to the whales and the birds, I learned a lot about that area and got to see some amazing things that most people wouldn't see in their life times.

See all photos from Christopher L. for Ecotours Zodiac Adventures

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What travelers are saying.

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Discovery Sea Adventure Tours

Whale watching in bonavista, newfoundland, whale watching tours.

Watch out for whales, puffins, and icebergs! We most commonly sight humpback whales, fin whales, and minke whales on our trips. Create lasting memories on this tour.

• User All ages
• Hour Glass 2.5 hours

The ocean waters off Newfoundland offer one of the best places in the world for a whale watching tour. We offer the most authentic and exciting experiences on the Atlantic Ocean using our Fast Rescue Craft (FRC), which gives us the ability to cover a vast area. Our vessel is the newest and fastest in the region, letting you spend more time with the whales and on the water. The 24-foot zodiac is fully certified, meeting all Transport Canada specifications. Robert (Bob) Currie is your captain and tour guide. He is fully certified in Small Vessel Operator Proficiency (SVOP), Fast Rescue Craft (FRC), Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boat, Restricted Operators Certificate – Marine Commercial (ROCMC), and MED A1, A2 & B2.

Authentic & Exciting Whale Watching Tours

I booked a tour with Bob and enjoyed it so much, I came back the next morning to do it again. Bob took us out on the water and the whales showed up. He stopped the zodiac with some distance to the whales and let them come, and they did. It was like being on the water with a whale whisperer... Oh and we also saw bald eagles, puffins, the caves and tons of other great stuff. Thank you so much for the experience!

Capt. Bob was friendly, knowledgeable and delivered the best experience ever. The BEST! We floated quietly as pods of Humpback whales including Mothers and Calves surrounded us as they fed on the Capelin. We saw breaching and fins! Then we floated around towering sea stacks in emerald coloured water watching colonies of Puffins. And, if the wasn't enough, we saw more whales on the way back! I've done over 12 tours in Canada and this was truly an experience of a lifetime! Thank you!

This was our second iceberg tour of our NL trip and was definitely the most spectacular.....we saw 2 amazing icebergs, some rugged coastline rocks and caves, plenty of bird life, including a pair of bald eagles and hundreds of black guillemots and to top it off was Bob, our Zodiac captain. He was highly knowledgeable and had a wicked sense of humour. Thanks for a great morning in Bonavista.

My husband and I went our on the zodiac while in Bonavista...it was the experience of a life time...we sawn lots of whales, the scenery is fantastic,, even if we hadn't seen whales the scenery was well worth the trip..We enjoyed it so much we went out the next day with My husband cousin and her husband and even though they grew up in the area they enjoyed it as much as we did...If you are going to . be in this area I highly recommend a whale watching trip on the zodiac.

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Whale Watching and  Puffin  Tour

Ecotours zodiac adventures.

Take a zodiac ride with us and get a front row seat to the best Newfoundland has to offer! Ride with us along the ocean waves to spot the elusive humpbacks and beautiful Atlantic puffins, With tours that are an hour and a half long, we offer numerous daily departures, 7 days a week.

85$ per person

Children 5 and under are free

We offer Group and family discounts as well as private tours. For more information about pricing please call: (709) 330-8687

Call Us Today to Make Your Reservation

1-709-330-8687.

TO ALL OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS!

It is with heavy hearts that we have had to make the difficult decision to remain closed for the 2022 season.

We hope you all have a fun filled and safe 2022 summer!

We look forward to catering to all your whale and puffin needs in 2023!

Best regards,

The Ecotours Zodiac Adventures Team

Getting Here

Turn by turn directions.

Find us with ease and arrive without stress, ready to enjoy your adventure with us.

From Downtown St. John’s

• Take the Harbour Arterial (Route 2) South to Mount Pearl and exit at Route 3 (Mt. Pearl Commonwealth Ave.)
• Turn Left under the underpass proceeding on Route 3 and continue to Bay Bulls (aprox. 22 Km)
• Once in Bay Bulls, turn left on St. John’s Road – go .5km
• Continue right on South Side road – .3 km
• Turn left at Lower Road to O’Brien’s Boat Tours
• Estimated time is 30 Minutes from downtown St. John’s. Please allow extra time if you are unsure about the route.

From St. John’s Airport

• Exiting from the Airport turn left on Portugal Cove Road
• Go through the first set of traffic lights and take the TCH west exit (Route 1)
• Continue west on the TCH to the exit 41B – to Route 2- Mount Pearl and St. John’s (Downtown)
• From Route 2 take the third Mount Pearl Exit -to Route 3- Irish Loop Drive, & Goulds
• Turn right on Route 3 and continue to Bay Bulls (Aprox. 22km)
• Once in Bay Bulls,turn left on St. John’s Road – go .5km

From Trans Canada Highway (Travelling East)

• Take the Witless Bay Line exit 37 (Route 13) and proceed to the intersection of Witless Bay Line and Route 10.
• Turn left on Route 10- Go 1 km and turn right on Southside Road – travel 1km
• Turn right to O’Brien’s Whale and Bird Tours

Shuttle Service

For added convenience hop on our shuttle and leave the driving to us. This is a great option if you wish to enjoy the scenery on the drive from St. John’s to Bay Bulls. Relax with your fellow travellers and know that you’ll arrive safely and on time.

We offer return shuttle service from major hotels and registered B&Bs in the St. John’s area. Our shuttle will pick you up one hour before the scheduled tour time for downtown accommodations, outside of downtown pickup will be 1.5 hours before the tour time. Reservations required.

Adult (Ages 18+) – $35 Youth (Ages 3-17) – $28