Reviews of Gatherall's Puffin & Whale Watch (Travel Agency)

Shaiqa Bushra

The journey was amazing. The best 2 hours of my life!! I had spilt my drink and didn't even realize that, but the captain and crew members were so kind and helpful. They came and helped me with the clean up. I apologise for the inconveniences. Gatheralls is the best!! Saw a lot of whales and birds. A beautiful day indeed

Kevin Xu

Great whale and puffin watching tour! We saw everything that we were expecting and had a great time!

Marilyn Anstey

Beautiful scenery, we saw thousands of puffins, a small whale. Staff was exceptional, friendly, professional, informative. Would recommend to anyone of any age. Definitely would go again!!!

Duncan Matheson

We went out today on a cruise and saw upwards of 30 whales (fin, humpback and Minke) … it was just awesome. Seeing the Gull Island bird sanctuary was icing on the cake … puffins, kittiwakes, terns). The staff added to the overall experience … fun, friendly and knowledgeable. We are planning on going again in a couple of weeks once the whales are well fed … if you never had the experience of having a humpback whale come up to you on a boat and stare you down (literally) … you have to try it … it is amazing. If you are from here or visiting … this is a must do adventure … and Gatheralls-O’Brien’s are excellent operators. Thanks!

Wendy Brohman

A family run business. They have the largest boat on the bay with a fully stocked bar. The crew are very humorous, knowledgeable and experienced. They sang local Celtic songs going out and also back into the harbour. We were serenaded into the dock by an accordion. I would have no problem recommending this tour.

Lisa Leblanc

Comfortable boat, friendly knowledgeable staff and we got to see puffins, humpback and her calf...they extended our time so we could travel a bit further to see her....and also an iceberg in the distance. Excellent experience.

Nora Mclellan

It was a wonderful time! Great tour guides and a wet and wild ride if you choose, or you could stay inside and have a beer. We chose outside!

Daimon Rikuhei

Nice tour operator for puffins. Really informative and well attentive to tourists. Reception staffs were also kind and paid attention to customers for not only check in but also our wearing. In June, it's really cold on the sea. Really honest business. We could have good time owing to them.

Sisi Gee

Great tour with lots of opportunities for bird and whale watching! We were luck to observe whales and multitudes of seabirds including puffins. Bring your cameras! Do bring a jacket as it gets chilly on the open waters. The tour is nicely paced and not rushed. The crew was excellent (I apologize I've forgotten all the names!) and were very helpful to people of my party who became seasick. Covid regulations were observed and there was adequate space to distance without wearing a mask. Hand sanitizers were available.

Zaker Mehrez

Great crew, very knowledgeable and entertaining! You're not guaranteed to see a whale but we were lucky enough to see 2 as well as lots of amazing birds and jellyfish etc. If you want to see whales best time to go is around June but we managed to see a couple in August.

Kerry Smith

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

Anne Romano

Had a wonderful experience on Gatherall's tour. No whales were to be found, but a great puffin experience, a sun fish and a gorgeous day made it all worth it. It was amazing to have crew members from O'Brien's Tours, as they joined forces during covid and made it very communal!

Shelly Snow

I did quite a bit of research before choosing to go puffin watching with Gatherall's. Ultimately their high customer satisfation ratings and speedy, comfortable boat swayed me in their direction and I was not disappointed. It was a gorgeous day out in the bay, so we spent the entire time on the deck (though it was reassuring to have somewhere to retreat to, if needed). I loved the bouncy ride out to the island almost as much as I enjoyed the tour to follow. I guess if you are prone to seasickness you might want to take something for that, but that is not a curse I am forced to endure. My mother found the wind a little cool so make sure you follow their advise and dress warmly. The seats filled up fast so we stood to the forward portside of the boat, which proved to be the perfect spot for what was to come (in my humble opinion). If you plan on getting a refreshment on board from the bar get it early, once you reach the island you won't be able to tear yourself away from the sight of over half a million puffins and other birds flying, roosting and sqwaking. As we rounded the island we spotted a couple humpbacks, who were in the mood to put on a little show, diving and breeching (and there was no way I was leaving that sight for a little beverage, though had the staff circulated with a cooler I definitely would have purchased one!). The staff were all very friendly and approachable. I especially enjoyed their songs and all the interesting information they provided about the birds, whales and local area. Make sure you take a little time to peruse the lovely gift shop on site.

K. William Wells

Excellent job by the skipper and his crew. Amazing sites of the bird colonies and the whales feeding in the waters off Bay Bulls

Siann Gault

We had so much fun on this tour! Con (our guide) was so lovely, funny, and informative. There were so many more puffins than I ever thought I would see (it was amazing!), and the Newfoundland scenery was gorgeous! Two hours on the boat was the perfect length of time - the whole trip was just lovely!

Mark Maizonnasse

Great cruise and very entertaining crew (and good singer). We also had a great beautiful day. Go for it! Lots of puffins!

Matt Perry

We travelled to the Witless Bay islands with the fine folks from Gatheralls Tours. The islands are truly amazing! Teaming with life! Our knowledgeable crew were able to fill us in on the countless facts and figures as it relates to the many bird species that inhabit the islands. It is an incredible journey. If you are lucky you might also see some whales... Gatheralls is a world class adventure tour. It is well worth the time and money invested on your vacation to The Rock.

Amanda Hynes

My family and I had a wonderful time on this boat tour! The crew was friendly, knowledgeable, and should probably drop their own folk song album. My parents jokingly told me they were going to "push me overboard" all day because I was …

Erica Dawe

So amazing! The crew were fantastic and we saw 2 humpback whales! So much fun!

Trevor Paul

Great experience. Tour guides are very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and friendly. We saw lots of whales and puffins.

Sharon Soltesz

Great place to take tour to see Puffins. Mike - the reason for 4 stars and not 5 was the challenge that there were not seats for everyone who wanted one outdoors. The swells were quite high on the day we went out and I gave up my seat outside on the top level for someone who had difficulty standing with the large swells. Like me this person does not feel well sitting indoors in a boat.

Steve Garrett

Great time, the birds on Gull Island exceeded my expectations. Puffins everywhere and huge numbers of other sea birds. Awesome to see the colonies close up. The crew were friendly and fun.

Ronald Guerrero

Amazing tour guides with lots of singing, facts and stories. Make sure to line up early for the boat ride after registering because seating is limited. If not, enjoy a drink before getting on (and while on it). Witnessed a Screech-In ceremony, which was entertaining. The puffins were adorable. Had to get something from the gift shop which had a lot of variety of products after the boat ride

Naro Dulay

Very polite staffs, boat tour is safe and with singing crews. Nice souvenir shop plus a coffee shop. Clean washrooms. Sufficient parking spaces. Booking online is user friendly

Grant Atwood

From the moment we arrived at Gatherall's, there were no line ups and the staff was as friendly as you can expect from any Newfoundlander. We were guided to where the vessel would be taking off and given our tickets. Boarding the boat was excellent and the staff was great. There was a young 13 year old boy who did an excellent job narrating our experience as we were captivated by the sight of Fin whales and puffins. You will see many puffins and if you're quite enough - lots of whales! For tours such as this, do not go anywhere else but Gatherall's!

Veronica Barnes

Amazing staff and tour! Beautiful views of the puffins and other sea birds, even saw some whales on our trip! The kids loved it!

Nadine Robinson

It was an excellent puffin tour. No whales to be seen. Bring binoculars or a zoom lens. Warn your kids that gulls drown then eat puffins.

Dan C

Very professional. Shop, parking lot, restroom, vessel, all clean, modern, well maintained, etc. We could not see the whales (a bit late in season), but it's not because the captain did not try. Around the first island, the captain steered the vessel in such ways to give us the best vantage point to see puffins. A few questions came to mind regarding the oil rig "parked" in the Bay Bulls bay, but these were answered even before I asked them. The added bonus of Bay Bulls history was nice. The last song was interesting too. We had a very good time.

GordandLee Martin

We were just going to walk Witless Bay, but reading suggested (yet another) boat trip would be smarter. Gatherall’s was going out and had spots so we went despite it being a large boat (we tend to the zodiacs). Great decision; great trip. Turned out to be the first day the capelin were running so they just parked us among the whales for a while. Wow. Then off to see the wonderful puffins, murres, pestrels etc. fun crew.

Annette Wilde

We didn't see whales or icebergs, but we saw lots of seabirds and puffins, garnets and muirs. Singing tour guides and lots of humor. It was an entertaining and informative boat tour.

Patient Pilot

Wonderfull trip we had. Saw 2 whales playing right next to the boat. Saw hundreds and hundreds of Puffins and various other birds. The host is very informative and give info over in a funny way! Would definitely recommend them! Me and my family enjoyed the 2 hour trip!

Robert Pippy

I always book my Whale and Puffin Watching trips for family and friends when they visit Newfoundland through Gatherall's Puffin and Whale Watch Tours. Every trip out is always a great trip. The crew of the boat do a great job first of all …

Cassie Braithwaite

Beautiful cruise! All the staff are really friendly and knowledgeable about the birds and the surrounding area. You can get screeched in on the boat (25$) it comes with a free yellow southwester hat and certificate! (No whales on our trip, but we were late in the season so I wasn't expecting any).

Typhra (Typhra)

Charmingly funny staff, drinks and food available on the ship

Daniel Moholia

I've been on whale and puffin boat tours before, but this experience topped them all. Part of it is the prime location, with 500,000 puffins nesting nearby. But what made it extra enjoyable was the witty commentary and live music provided by the crew. It was clear they really cared about our experience. The captain went out of his way to find and get close to breaching whales and make sure that everyone could get a look on all sides of the boat. Fantastic experience and highly recommend it.

Ramakrishnan K

Excellent tour. We were surrounded by 10-15 whales, just a few minutes into the cruise. The crew members were very entertaining while also giving us facts about the whales and puffins and the other wildlife. This tour was totally worth it!

Joey Brothers

The people on the boat know what they're at. Sadly I didnt get any pictures of whales but there were a few jumping or splashing around

Nadya Sywanyk

Thank you so much for another great tour! This was our fifth sailing (we book a tour at least once every time we're home) and each one is fantastic! A trip home wouldn't be the same without one!

Kassi Dick

Phenomenal views of Gull island, fascinating information about the birds and the whales. Bonus, we had a female whale visit us and approach our boat dozens of times. I was right at the back and got a front row view of her fishing behind us. Great crew, friendly and quick. You'll love the maritime humour and the music. Frank puts on a great show! Captain Joe is the salt of the Earth. Our shuttle driver, Noah, noticed I forgot my rings in the bus, got a hold of me that eve and personally returned them to me after his shift. What a hero. Perfect tour 10/10

Tonya Clark

Fantastic guides and a wonderful tour. We ate locals and did this tour last weekend on the spur of the moment, and are planning to come back and do it again with our teenagers soon. The guides make the tour!

Tuhin Akther

It's so beautiful out there. I am never seen like this before. It was such a beautiful two hour journey. The crews are outstanding.

DillanOttawa

In July 2018, my wife and I finally got to go on a honeymoon and we're so glad we chose NL. And a big part of that great experience was our whale watching trip with Gatherall's. Seriously, if you go to St. John's, take in their tour!!! Their shuttle picked us up from our hotel and all the staff and crew were so knowledgeable, friendly, and FUN! Some advice: bring water-resistant insulated jackets and hiking boots -- it gets really cold out on the water! Great times, great value, great company.

Vijaykumar Appadurai

Awesome place, friendly people. Loved the energy of that young tour guide, he was informative and even sang a Newfoundland song. Full applause all around. Few people got sick on board. He was very sympathetic and moved them inside the cabin and provided comfort. I need to mention the shuttle van driver. He was out just to pick us up. He could have simply driven us to the staging area. But, he turned into our impromptu tour guide and pointed out interesting spots along the way. A very fine gentle man. All the employees seems to be happy. Must be very good employers.

Tyler Balanowski

First time going whale watching and not really fond of boats but the boat ride weather and scenery was fantastic and we got to see lots of whales and puffins. All the staff on the boat where super friendly and Lou the tour guide was the man.

Craig Hawkins

Thanks for a most enjoyable day. Even though it was foggy (liquid NL sunshine) still enjoyed learning about the wildlife and really enjoyed seeing the puffins. I was amazed at how close your skipper was able to bring the boat in to shore .... made for some great viewing.

Cristina Todor

The tour was excellent! The whales put on a show, enhanced with great, educative commentary from the crew. Also very interesting was the seeing the immense numbers of puffins and other birds nesting on the islands. Highly recommended for travelers of all ages.

Mariano Koen-Alonso

Really fun experience all around. While you never know if the whales will show up (and they did for us), the puffins and murres at Gull Island are worth the trip, and if that’s not enough the crew will sing traditional Newfoundland songs for you in your way out and back to the harbour. Better come prepare to clap and laugh.

N. Little

Lots of fun! We saw two minke whales, and one humpback that flipped its tail close to the boat. Going to gull Island to see the puffins made it so that even if we hadn't seen whales, we were guaranteed to see something. The crew sang and played instruments for us on our departure and return, and everyone was very helpful and attentive.

Elaine Lethbridge

Went out to Bay Bulls to check out Gatherall's boat tours today and I must say I had an amazing experience. Gatherall's was a great adventure, didn't see any whales but did see lots of puffins which is exactly what I wanted to see. The staff were beyond amazing and made my boat tour adventure so much more enjoyable and I would highly recommend Gatherall's boat tour's to anyone visiting Bay Bulls, NL trust me you won't be disappointed.

Zeeshan Shaikh

We had Phenomenal experince along with an amazing crew on board which made our ride fun, informative and exciting. I definitely recommend these folks. Cheers!! :)

Michael Robbins

We had a great tour! We saw three types of whales (fin, humpback and Minke) plus about a million puffins. What a great Newfoundland experience. Thanks to the whole team at Gatherall's!

Brittnee Blair

Went on a tour with Gatherall’s last week and I can see why this is a 5 star! Awesome experience from the staff, to the knowledge, to puffins!!! Love the bar on board and had an absolute blast with my husband getting screeched in. Can’t thank Luke enough for the wonderful songs and great hosting during the tour!

Zach

Amazing experience! We took a tour last August and it was one of the highlights of our summer! We seen dozens of whales, and hundreds of puffins and other birds! Also, the crew on the boat were friendly, funny and knowledgeable. 10/10 would go again.

Gautam Suri

Want to go whale watching and enjoy your trip, look no further. They know where to take you to watch the whales and tell you all you want to know about the whales. Expect the boat to rock a bit especially when you are getting out to the sea, once there is does get steady and on the way back it is smooth. But it is all worth it for the lovely creatures you witness in their natural habitat. There were two whales that got curious and swam under our boat. It was awesome!

Elizabeth Hale [Staff]

An absolutely amazing experience to get up close with whales and puffins! Also very entertaining tour guides! One of the more memorable experiences on our first trip to Newfoundland!

Goose Canada

We didn't see whales but we saw lot of puffins

michael rourke

Really well run from start to finish. Shuttle picked us up downtown and returned us after the tour. Every person we had contact with was remarkably friendly. The crew was knowledgeable, friendly, and entertaining. You will see whales, and you will see lots of birds. We had a great time!

James Cann

Had an excellent adventure on July 27 2019. Puffins, were wonderful. We saw many whales got some great picture and video. Staff on boat were kind, funny, and knowledgeable. Gift shop was full of great stuff in a wide price range.

Arild Stokkenes

What a nice day with Humpback whales, puffins, gannets and finally getting screeched in. Thanks to the crew for creating a fantastic atmosphere with singing, stories and large engagement and knowledge. Highly recommended!!

T Duong

So fun. Funny guides and cheap alcohol. didn't see any whales but plenty of puffins and birds (and bird poop). Saw some cool sun fish too. Fun trip!

Sharon Pelech

A perfect day provided by a professional team! Love the Covid collaboration between these 2 companies. The tour was fantastic with multiple whales, puffins and more! The music, singing, screeching in were a bonus. Love the commentary- I have been on this tour close to a dozen times and I learn something new each time!

LDH RetiredAndTravelling

An amazing trip with Gatherall's and O'Briens Bird and Whale Watching Tours. Great view of seashore. Trip around Gull Island showed us lots of birds and puffins too. Whales came to us in groups and just entertained us. A fun commentary by Captain Joe and Noah. Check out the blog posts and YouTube videos from RetiredAndTravelling.

Candy Blake

Great tour...saw a couple of whales amd plenty of seabirds!

Sonya and Craig Penney

It was fantastic! We were able to follow whales and see so many birds. The staff was informative and gave us a good time. You won't get sea sick as there is so much to see and concentrate on. Grand touring me. There is also a lovely store with NL crafts and coffee shop.

Vern Toews

Amazing tour, opportunities to see whales, puffins and Icebergs. Crew was knowledgeable friendly and made the adventure a lot of fun!

Leo Frıdley

Boat tours everywhere in North America must get together to ensure they have consistent corny humor and silly tricks to play. But they make me smile every time nonetheless. As a couple of visitors up from New York, this was among our first excursions on our 10 day stay in Newfoundland. We arrived the full 30 minutes early but noticed you could definitely show up 10 min before on the shoulder season. I guess not if everyone does that tho! (You have to register and get your tickets inside.) Another thing: dont worry so much about getting on the boat right away and getting the best seats ever. We noticed this seemed to be a big deal for some groups, but you mostly end up standing anyway. It's a short boat ride and the best views are from the railing. Then on the way back if it's really cold, some people go down below. So in short, don't stress out about the order of the seating and stuff. But even if you have to stand, start on the top deck because they do some visual humor and entertainment at the beginning and you'd miss it on the bottom. Shout out to the kid with the mic, Luke. Very gregarious and not nervous in front of a crowd. Nice operation all around. They've got that Canadian hospitality that we would do well to emulate more often south of the border. ????

Carl Pelletier

Very interesting tour saw lots of birds but unfortunately no whales today but the earlier tour said they saw whales

carol grindrod

What an amazing adventure! The tour was fun and easy. The staff members were polite, courteous and informative. We were able to see several humpback whales, a couple of dolphins, plenty of puffins and other sea birds. It was definitely magical watching the whales put on a show. It's a definite tour to take and to bring our visitors to when they visit. Thanks for a wonderful time!

Jess G

Great tour, we went later in the season and still managed to see some whales in the distance. The puffins, gulls and other birds later in the tour were very numerous and hilarious to watch. The tour guides and captain were great. Loved the live music haha. Hope to go on another tour next time I'm in the province!

mistressdaisi

They boat crew is amazing! Knowledgeable and fun! They are realistic about the tour but definitely did not disappoint! Whales and puffins everywhere! Completely awesome!

Megan Page

had a great time. was entertaining and educational. the added touch of a great crew made the tour.

Jana Smith

What a fantastic experience! Great crew - safe trip and a lot of fun. Saw many whales and puffins. Very knowledgeable guides (including the captain). The young man who was singing should consider it as another career. Just perfect - can highly recommend it!

Graham Wilson

Excellent tour on a nice boat. We felt safe and the crew did a good job. We saw lots of puffins and other seabirds and a humpback whale and some dolphins. Great weather today also helped.

Kim Peddle

What a beautiful day on the water! Puffins whales, music & songs! Crew were amazing & weather couldn't have been better! Nice cold Iceberg beer to top it off! We'll be back for sure!

Amanda Lim

This was a highlight of my trip. I really wanted to see puffins and I was not disappointed. The trip was enjoyable and comfortable and the crew was knowledgeable and hilarious. I was entertained the whole time. Would highly recommend.

Wade Fisher

Truly an amazing experience and had the pleasure to see some whales. The staff were friendly and professional and very knowledgable regarding the surrounding area and wild live.

Wattrans Dispatch

Staff: Excellent, all so friendly and supportive. Our family did not have jackets, and they let us borrow theirs so we would not be cold. The staff has many jokes to tell and facts to give. Experience: Puffins, whales, getting screeched, and more. The staff made sure everyone got to see the puffins and whales. They entertained us with their music, and they made hilarious jokes to accompany with it. We got to see an ice burg and a sleeping whale! Tip: If you would like to get screeched in you should ask about it when you get the tickets and please know you will be drinking some Rum. Make sure that you bring some warm clothes/ Conclusion: This company made us have a fantastic experience, see new things, and made us want to do it again. Thank you, so much for an enlightening experience.

Remy Pinsent

An absolutely incredible experience. We were up-close to Humpback Whales, Puffins and many more seabirds while on the tour. The crew were fun, entertaining and knowledgeable. Captain Al, Liam, Luke, and young Mick Jagger really made the experience.

Keyur Patel (Q)

Has really friendly staff and has amazing atmosphere aboard. Went to see whales but I guess they were already gone by this time of the year. Hopefully I get to come out this way again in the summer. You can also get screeched in on the boat and become an official Newfie!

Vic K

A must see for everyone. Seeing the sea-worn landscape around the coast is worth the price alone. However, there is much more to see. Even though it was very late in the season (Sept 6), we were fortunate to see bald eagles, many tropical sunfish (they are huge) and lots of sea birds. The crew is very informative and entertaining and they work together to help you get the best views of these animals; once the crew spots something (like the sunfish), the captain will maneuver the boat for everyone to get a better look. It it clear that they want you to have the best experience that you can have. The boat is very comfortable and had lots of room for everyone. They have a bar inside where you can buy beer, snacks and other items. They also do a Screeched in ceremony of you'd like. This was well worth the price of admission!

C Squires

Fantastic time! Lots of puffins and whales. The vessel is very clean and the crew are amazing! Can’t wait to go again next summer! This crowd never disappoints!

Julie Héroux

Simply fabulous! Our family of 3 absolutely loved the tour boat. Our 12 y.o. Said it was the highlight of her trip to Newfoundland! We were lucky to see few whales. Thanks for the great tour. Noah was exceptional.

Michelle Hayes

It was soo amazing.

MAry Conroy

Captain Al, Liam, James, Luke and Michael provided an entertaining afternoon. Stories, songs and facts kept us on our toes.

Renee Cormier

My son and I went to NFLD to visit my daughter and we all went on the tour. It was the most incredible experience of my life. They did their very best to make sure we saw the whales and we saw a lot of them and they came right to the boat. I would definitely suggest going on this tour as I know you won't be disappointed!

kayla lynch

I've been on several boat tours in Newfoundland, and the Gatherall's experience was 100% the best I've ever been on! Very entertaining, easy to deal with when planning a work social, very affordable, very clean, credit/debit on the boat to pay for drinks was a bonus, overall fantastic time - they are great at what they do! We had a private fire and BBQ on their beach afterwards, they had the fire lit for us and firewood supplied - couldn't have asked for a better situation. They even arranged the bus to pick us up at work in St.John's, travel to Bay Bulls, and then transport us back again at 10pm. Can't say enough good about this bunch - highly recommend!

Carol King

Had a great trip with great views of whales and birds. Beautiful dock and facilities with entertaining and knowledgeable staff. My granddaughter said it was better than Disney!

Rekha Patel

We went whale watching with Gatherall's last week and it was truly a spectacular experience. We were picked up from our hotel right on time for the tour. During the tour itself, Luke, Mike, Jimmy and the rest of the staff were informative, entertaining and comedic. We saw some amazing hump-backed whales and tonnes of puffins! They serenaded us with beautiful songs and really it was just a great way to spend the day. Thank you!

Jim MacDonald

We loved our puffin and whale watching tour. We saw whales and 1000s of puffin! We appreciated that the captain respected distance and did not crowd the whales. The crew made it fun! Bring a jacket or rain poncho so you can stay outdoors on outside decks. Highly recommend this tour!

Mary O'Rourke

We did the tour today. I gotta say it was a great experience even though we never seen any whales. With this being their last day for the puffin and whale watching tour, we were not expecting to see much because the time of year. Which the lady who took our booking over the phone also informed us of this so we wouldn't be disappointed. However, we did get to see some puffins flying around and sitting in the water. The staff is really friendly, our tour guide sang some Newfoundland songs. Amazing voice by the way and the captain was funny. All of this together made it an amazing experience even with out the whales and cliff side of puffins. Thank you to all. P.s. The bathroom's at dock side was cleaner then most restaurants I have been to. ????????⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ryan Power

Excellent boat tour, staff are incredibly knowledgeable about local species of sea birds, whales and other biology in the area, incredibly humorous adventure for the entire family. There's also a picnic area you can rent on the beach with picnic tables, barbeques and a wonderful firepit. Drop down, you won't be disappointed.

Charmaine Warren

Had an absolutely Awesome tour today with my Mama who's 87 years young! We were blessed with good weather, got to see dolphins, puffins, two female humpback whales who put off a great show for us!!! Many cherished memories were made for us both ❤. I highly recommend taking this tour, the crew were fun and very informative about all the various species that we witnessed. We were even lucky enough to get pooped on by a puffin, that's some good luck I'll gladly take!! Lol Thank you to Capt.Al and all the crew for an unforgettable day, keep up the great work!???????? Cheers!

Calendar Roy Law Offices

Just a fabulous experience! This was our 13th of 14 days in Newfoundland and we had constantly been promised puffins and whales at many other locations but none had materialized until we took a boat tour with Gatheralls. During the tour we …

Lisa Oliver

This tour was absolutely amazing. First of all my 6 year old niece was terrified. She did not want to go and once on the boat she begged to get off. The captain actually came down to talk to her and was very reassuring that she would be …

Cayley Russell

Went with my two best friends and their family last week. I have to say the Gatherall worker's hospitality was unbeatable. They were so friendly and nice. They went above and beyond to accommodate us. My friend's mom is in a wheel chair, and one of the attendants, Anthony, took it upon himself to stay with her the entire time to make sure the chair didn't move and she was safe and comfortable. She was beyond pleased. Not to mention we saw 3 whales and had a great time out on the sea. Highly recommend!!

Sammi

No whales today (a bit late in the season) and the weather was very wet but still a great time. Just being on the water is enough for me. Sun fish were in abundance. Puffins are just too cute. Great staff. Will take the tour again during whale season. Well organized during covid.

Josie Hartlin

We came to see Puffins and the tour delivered! The staff was entertaining and knowledgeable. We also seen a couple of Fin whales too!

David S.

We had a very enjoyable experience on our visit to the Witless Bay sanctuary. The staff at the office were very helpful and courteous in answering our questions and arranging our tickets. The staff on board were amazing, humorous and safety conscious. They were very witty, but made sure to help us identify the birds and their habitat and look for whales. We did see a Minke whale but but no humpbacks on this trip out. The thousands of puffins and other varieties of birds nesting, flying around, and fishing was a mind blowing experience. We even saw an eagle hunting which caused all the various birds to fly around in alarm.

Lizzie I

Great tour and tour guides with really friendly service. All of the staff seem great and the tour itself is very cool. We saw puffins and eagles, no whales due to the time of year but oh well! Would highly reccomend!

Mohamed Zokari

Saw 2 whales on our trip on August 8 at 2:30pm. Tour was organized and on time, the crew was informative and entertaing. The tour is 90 minutes, and you will have more than enough time to see whales and the seabird reserve. No icebergs at this time of the year. Cost is slightly lower than the other tour groups in the area.

Charles Marshall

Amazing experience. The captain, crew and guide were a great bunch. Very informative and full of energy, jokes and overall charm. 10/10 would reccomend this experience. Good luck to Noah and his career in neuro science!

Jennifer Ball

My husband and I had a wonderful time. We've lived in NL our entire lives and this was our first boat tour. All the staff were so friendly . We took our time when we saw whales and puffins Everything was so relaxed and fun. We'll definitely do it again and recommend to anyone interested ????

Patricia Adams

Great tour guides, funny & knowledgeable. Really enjoyed the live music. Amazing puffins and icebergs. Highly recommend this tour.

David Llewelyn

Excellent! A bus will take you from downtown St. John's out to Bull Bays, where the 2 hour boat trip begins and ends. Guaranteed to see puffins and other sea birds, and perhaps whales. We saw bald eagles, a hunting osprey and a leaping blue fin tuna! The crew are entertaining, and the boat seaworthy and professionally crewed. A great experience!

Vanessa Edwards

Amazing times!! We saw at least 5 different whales, all of them very curious and coming right up to the boat to give us a show. We also got screeched in on the boat. Overall a fantastic experience.

Bindi Shaikh

Everything about the tour was fantastic! Had a lovely time! Thank you to all crew members. I highly recommend Gatherall’s Puffin & Whale Watching Tours!

Tracy Lucio

Love love love this tour! We seen Giant Sunfish, lots of Puffins and a Manta Ray at the very front of the boat. Con, the best host ever, was so much fun and very entertaining! Beautiful singing voice to boot. We recommend this tour for sure! The people inside the souvenir shop were warm and friendly, great experience!

Derek Ng

Fantastic crew. They were all very knowledgable, friendly, entertaining. But most of all they were able to get us to where the humpback whales were swimming. Great views of the puffins. These guys ought to win some kind of tourism award. I don't know if there was anything else I did that was more quintessential Newfoundland. This establishment totally represents you guys to the max! And like the other reviewers here, we won't give away too much more details. This is a must-see in Newfoundland!

Philip V

The 2 hour ship ride was full of laughter with Matt, the first mate, entertaining us with local history, bird information and humour. Part way through a Minke whale came around the boat about 6 or 7 times, and kept us company. Witless Bay Ecological Reserve has hundreds of thousands of birds, and the puffins are the stars. They are tinier than I expected, but can swim and fly and dive... quite the performers.

Laurie Florio

This was an amazing experience. The crew were very friendly and informative. I would recommend this trip to everyone I know thank you again and cant wait to go back .

Aysha Habib

I would wholeheartedly recommend Gatherall's Boat Tours to anyone visiting Newfoundland. Not only is their shuttle service from St. John's extremely convenient but this organization defines excellence in customer service. From Scott the shuttle driver, to the lovely lady at the gift shop/reception to all the crew members (sorry I didn't get everyone's name), everyone at Gatherall's is lovely and makes your experience a memorable one. The boat has lots of indoor seating and no issues with crowding on the upper deck for photos. I didn't get to see any whales but that's beyond the company's control, but they made up for it with iceberg sightings and bird watching. They also share lots of information about the different kinds of birds as well as cool facts about icebergs. Extremely friendly staff and wonderfully organized!!

Nikita Hodder

Awesome experience. Seen lots of whales and puffins, and the tour guides were awesome!

Jeanine Button

I couldn't ask for more! We had such a great time. Con and Duncan were absolute gems!!! Had the best time and the most memorable time of had during my 2 week vacation home. Tip: visit Duncan at the bar and have a few Iceberg beer! ????????????

Darin Briskman

We visited the craft shop at this beautiful location. The staff was very friendly and helped us find what we were seeking, but the selection was a bit sparser than we had hoped. Still, we left with a plush puffin, a puffin quilt, and puffin …

Christa Peters

We had the best time in our tour with Gatherall’s. The crew were welcoming, entertaining and knowledgeable, and they literally went the extra mile to ensure we saw some whales. We went way beyond the usual sighting area to spot a couple of humpback whales and actually got to see one breach. It was amazing! We also realized after the tour that we had double booked our tickets and they refunded us without hesitation even though we’d missed the cancellation window. Go with Gatherall’s - they’re fantastic!

Karen Penney

Hi there! I have been taking advantage of Gatheralls' Whale Watching Tour for over 20 years and each year I look forward to it as though it was my first time. :) COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented times for our province and country. It was great to see you and O'Brien's come together to offer tourists an opportunity to see birds at the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. The Atlantic puffin, murre, and many more bird species. While there is not a guarantee that whales will be seen on the tour, I do appreciate the tour operators' efforts in finding them. Today (July 4, 2020) was chilly day on the water with temperatures in low teens, but dressed up in warm winter's coat (and mittens) it felt like a summer's day! LOL! It was nice of the crew to offer blankets. Brrrrrr ..... Tourists must be mindful that going out for whale watching tour on the Atlantic ocean you must wear layers. Thank you once again for your hospitality! Loved the tour today! I was cozy in my winter's coat :)

R D

We had great weather and playful Humpbacks who showed their tails and even breeched. The tour hosts were terrific and made for a great cruise.

Gail Nicholson

We had an amazing tour!! So many whales around the boat. It was fantastic!! I was on the tour with Gatheralls before and we seen whales but not like this time. It seemed to me that we stayed out as long as we could because there was so much activity, before proceeding to see the puffins. I would highly recommend this tour. And the crew was great!! Lots of laughs too, along with information about both the whales and the birds that I did not know!

Ian Torry

Fantastic tour. Saw whales, dolphins, puffins, and eagles on a late season tour. The staff is friendly and funny but maybe save the screech in for George St.

angela healey

The crew handled our screeching in magnificently, and we have the wet feet to prove it! Very good tour...appreciated the knowledge of the birds and sunfish, as well as the music and song. The 90 minutes flew by....pity that we didn't see any whales, but it's not a great time of year for them and the puffins made up for it! The boat was clean and spacious, and the tour was well-managed. We would recommend it to anyone. Oh...and the gift shop is really good. We are not usually shoppers, but managed to come away with a bag full of local arts and crafts. A really good selection.

Cinnamon Earley

Great people. Great experience. So glad we chose this tour. Definitely recommend

Michelle Huntley 131313

We had a fabulous time on our puffin and whale tour. Sooooo many puffins! The staff were so friendly and courteous. The stories, the humor, the scenery, all priceless. An experience we will never forget.

Kris L

The fog and cool breeze was intense, but the main level of the Catamaran offers seating, excellent viewing and a place to warm up. I spent the entire voyage on the upper deck, braving the Arctic breeze. Be sure to dress in layers folks, even if it's warm on shore. Thank you so much for your warm hospitality, entertainment and the great effort put forth to get us onto Minke Whale sightings (3 in total) (We also saw thousands of Seabirds, including the cute and clumsy Puffins). Words cannot express how much fun we had aboard the Catamaran! I'll definitely recommend and be back during our next visit to NL. Thanks again, Kris - London, Ontario

Muskan Verma

Amazing experience! Everything was top notch, everyone in the crew were friendly, ready to answer any questions and also very funny! Thanks guys! Will come again for sure.

Barb Chapman

Wasn't sure what to expect due to fog, but turned out to be a great excursion: whales, murres, puffins, eagles, icebergs. Even saw an iceberg roll!

Christine V

Great value, awesome hosts. Lots of fun! Went in June 2019, saw an iceberg calve and roll, a few minke whales, several puffins, eagles and a variety of sea birds. Unforgettable experience!

Ken Corbett

What more can you say when you have a beautiful day, great boat with friendly, a knowledgeable crew including a beautiful songbird, almost flat seas and many, many whales followed by hundreds if not thousands of birds including wonderful puffins everywhere. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip with Gatherall's and would recommend it to anyone. Many thanks for an amazing look at nature.

Katelyn McGrath

My daughter got sea sick, and they were just amazing! I felt so bad for them cleaning up her puke, but they took such good care of her and checking up on her every so often, it was a great first experience with small kids.

Alina Ma

Charming staff and friendly folks all-around. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see any whales when we went ~late August but saw plenty of puffins and other birds during our boat ride. The top part of the deck is amazing for viewing but do be careful of fickle weather. Our trip started out sunny and warm, and ended in light rain, so just be careful of that. We requested for transportation as well to and from the site, and our driver, Loyola, was also amazing - a safe and very informative ride!

Canda Lee Frazer

Most awesome experience. A must do in Newfoundland. Gatherall's staff made it even better. We were super blessed to see a mother and calf humpback whale this afternoon...right beside our boat. Worth every penny for such a breathtaking …

Canadian One

What a great crew! They were so much fun and funny while commentating the tour. We new seeing a whale in September was not likely but the crew spotted a humpback and the Capt. made sure everyone had the chance to see it. All while still maintaining respect for the feeding whale. Everyone got pics and then on to the puffins. Again ensuring both sides of the boat had their viewing chances. Definitely choose Gatherall’s if you want a great tour with an exceptional crew.

shawn cossar

Awesome tour. Crew were excellent and informative. Crew member doing the singing entertained the passengers. My kids loved finally seeing a whale close up and the birds were amazing. Would definitely do this tour again and would highly recommend it to anyone asking about whale tours in NFLD.

Laurie Wesselby

There were 8 of us from our union USJE and we booked this tour! It was my and most others first ever tour and words cannot describe the experience! Amazing, fantastic and the staff. We’re so much fun and knowledgeable on the history.. pics , laughs, jokes they do it all! The owners furry companion(dog) greeted us when we docked and I will be coming back! The gift shop is full of local artists wares and reasonably priced! The shuttle picked us up and brought us back and is worth the extra cost! Best experience ever!!!

Karyn Torcoletti

We had a great experience with Gatherall's on our whale watching tour this past week. I've been on a few different whale watching tours but I have never experienced so many whales in one place before. The boat is a great size to easily see all around and we were surrounded by whales seeing more than 40 on our tour. The staff was friendly, entertaining and professional and were great with my 2.5 year old son making sure he had the best seat in the house. I would highly recommend Gatherall's tour if you are planning a visit to Newfoundland.

Jan Blackmore

A great day on the water. Staff are very entertaining, the vessel is clean and well-equipped. We were lucky to see multiple whales and sea birds. A great experience.

Wojtek

We had a wonderful experience. The crew was knowledgeable and excited for us to experience what they obviously love about their home. I was able to fulfill one of my father's wishes. To come to Newfoundland and see the whales. Now if anyone has an accordion signed by Harry Hibbs his life would be complete. Loved making memories with my father and your crew. I highly recommend the tour.

Charlotte Shepherd

We had a great experience! I feel the company makes it very clear that whale sightings are not guaranteed, so it was a wonderful surprise when we saw about 50 whales! The tour guide was funny and knowledgeable, and we weren't packed onto the boat like sardines. We were near the end of the line to board the boat, so I was worried we wouldn't be able to see during the tour. It wasn't a problem at all...there is tons of room on the deck, and almost everyone was on their feet the entire time anyway. This left plenty of good seats for folks with mobility issues and parents with young kids. Everyone on board seemed very satisfied. Great value.

C Gates

Well! We didn’t see any whales today but oh my goodness what an amazing time we had!! The fellas were so friendly and sang us a bunch of sailing tunes! The seabirds we saw were very plentiful and we even saw some folks being screeched in. I’ve not had this much fun in years! Thanks for the laughs Gatherall’s and for the fantastic memories! We will be back with our kids!

Kathleen Hogarth

I highly recommend this. It was an awesome tour. The crew was super organized and courteous and they gave us the perfect mix of entertainment and local knowledge and facts about what we were seeing. So many birds to see. And the puffins !!!

Bernie UAI

Hi, My wife and I just had an amazing whale and puffin tour. Weather was great. Saw 4 whales, a few minke whales plus some humpbacks. A bit rare for this time I understand. The highlight for me was the end of my world-wide search for the elusive puffin. I've been to many places around the world in an attempt to find and photograph puffins. They were always "just left" or "not here yet" - making me think they were merely a myth. This week on our Gatherall's tour - we saw them and I was able to capture a few pictures as evidence that they exist. (copies attached). The crew and staff were great, making every attempt to find us the best of everything to see. We'll be back some time and choose Gatherall's again for another amazing adventure.

Abdullatif Alwasel

Great experience, great staff, and great tour. We got to see lots of whales and puffins. It was really amazing and I highly recommend it

Nancy Halliday

The weather was miserable but the tour was great! The seas a little rough but the catamaran made you feel safe and protected. The crew was professional, very knowledgeable, most entertaining and caring.. We learned so much about puffins, auks, razorbills and eagles at the island sanctuary and got a closeup look at an iceberg. Met Rosemary Gatherall, the mother and grandmother of the clan who have provided a wonderful experience for visitors to Newfoundland. The Gatherall’s are one of the nicest families you will ever meet. We highly recommend this adventure.

Nicole Mallett

It was a pretty good experience. The staff were really great, Matt was super fun and informative and kept the crowd going. We did see a minkie, and lots of puffins. Ultimately I was really disappointed that we didn't see any other whales but that is not their fault, but it doesn't make me want to come back either.. we paid a large amount of money for a family of 6..

Debra Petrushchak

We LOVED this tour!!! I haven’t smiled that much in a long time!! Everything was fantastic! The crew, the music, the whales, the puffins, and learning lessons about their migration/reproduction patterns. Highly recommend this tour! Best one we’ve ever been on!! THANKS!

Jennifer Major

Fantastic tour. Great crew and we got so lucky with 8 whale breaches! The birds are really cool too! Highly recommend