Gatherall’s Puffin & Whale Watch is a brilliant way to experience Newfoundland’s wild coastline from the water. Setting out from Bay Bulls, you’ll cruise into the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, one of the province’s standout marine wildlife hotspots, where the ocean can feel busy with life in the summer months.

This is prime feeding territory for whales, with humpbacks the headline act and minke and fin whales also regularly seen. Add in the spectacle of Atlantic puffins by the thousand, and you’ve got non-stop opportunities for photos, watching behaviour at the surface, and simply taking in the scale of it all with the salty air and rugged shoreline as your backdrop.

The catamaran itself is modern and spacious, with both indoor and outdoor viewing areas, so you can stay comfortable while still being right in the action. On board, local guides bring the experience to life with commentary, folklore and a bit of Newfoundland character, helping you spot what you might otherwise miss and adding plenty of context to what you’re seeing.

Puffins are typically around from mid-May to mid-September, while whale sightings peak from mid-June to mid-August (though they’re possible either side of that too). In early season, there’s even the chance of icebergs drifting past, depending on the year. As with any wildlife experience, sightings can’t be guaranteed, but this is one of the best areas in Newfoundland to give yourself a very strong chance.