6 Eco Tours in Newfoundland That You Shouldn't Miss

Experience whales, puffins and icebergs in Newfoundland with the Gatherall family and crew. Gatherall's original cruise has been finely tuned over three decades to provide you with an incredible experience. This 90 minute tour features the islands of the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve and the surrounding waters and headlands. For your comfort and safety, service is provided on our large modern catamaran. Relax and enjoy the sights while our professional, knowledgeable and personable guides provide a live interpretation of the fascinating sights above, below and around us. Sightings of wildlife varies by season.

You'll never look at the ocean the same way again. We offer marine eco-tours (boat tours) in Holyrood, Newfoundland. OUR TOURS Creature Quest - 2 hrs Have you ever wondered what happens below the surface of the big blue ocean? Come out on our Creature Quest Tour, and be a marine biologist for the day as you learn about the wonders of the sea! Our small group sizes allow you to get up close and personal with the ocean and the creatures that call it home. We use a special net to collect plankton and look at it up close under a microscope on board. Get your hands wet while helping haul up baited pots in search of ocean animals, and become friends with sea stars, urchins and more! Sit back and relax while we cruise the stunning coastline of Holyrood and Conception Bay in search of the abundant local wildlife. You could see whales, dolphins, bald eagles, blue fin tuna, cormorants, and more! Contact us today to book your unforgettable ocean experience! Cod Fishing - 3 hrs Come out and catch your supper! Come cod jigging with Captain Jan and Coastal Connections and keep what you catch. Captain Jan’s fishing career started long ago, not only as a life long avid saltwater fisherman, but also professionally as a commercial fisherman and then as Chair of Harvesting Programs in the School of Fisheries at the Marine Institute of Memorial University for 20 years. We provide everything you need for fishing and once back on the dock we clean, fillet and bag the fish while showing you the biology and lifecycle of the cod. Beginners and experienced fishers alike will be sure to enjoy the scenic Conception Bay and Captain Jan shares is expertise. Participate in a citizen science project; we collect information from all of the fish caught to help Fisheries and Oceans Canada monitor the returning cod stocks. Its fun for the whole family! Contact us today to book your fishing adventure before it is too late, dates are limited. Shark Encounters - Day long adventures Get up close and personal with the Blue Sharks of Conception Bay. Our shark encounters are part of our shark conservation project, tag and release all of the sharks caught. Everyone on board has a job to do to help our highly trained crew measure, de-hook and tag the sharks. It is certainly a hands-on experience you won’t forget! Tagging sharks is essential to better understand their behaviors and migrations patters. What we do contributes to research based out of the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Halifax and scientists at Fisheries and Oceans Canada in Newfoundland. We handle the sharks with extreme care to ensure their safety and also that of our guests. Space is limited; contact us today for more information and to book an experience of a lifetime! Contact us today to book your trip of a lifetime! Space and dates are limited. OUR VALUES Fostering Love for the Ocean The ocean is deep and full of mystery. When you look past the surface, it’s teeming with sea-life large and small. Each creature has a story – and at Coastal Connections, we share these stories to foster a lifelong love of the ocean. Sustainability We respect our waterways and the creatures that inhabit them so we strive to leave no footprint on our environment. Our Coastal Connections tours incorporate real-world conservation research inspiring awe and understanding about this wild and wonderful web of life.

Puffin Hikes is a nature based eco-hiking venture located in Bonavista on the Island of Newfoundland - puffins are one of the main attractions. The business is operated by Jonathan Joy, a local biologist and educator whose goal is to provide a safe, enjoyable and educational experience for people interested in the natural history of coastal Newfoundland.

Enjoy fishing from a traditional Newfoundland dory in the beautiful Bay of Islands and Cox's Cove. Come and catch a fresh cod during the recreation season and have it fillet for your supper! Tours often include whale watching and visits to bald eagle and osprey nest sites. Other wildlife such as moose, caribou, seals, arctic terns, fox and black bear have also being spotted on tours. Enjoy a delicious lobster, crab and/or mussels boil up.A bald eagle photo shoot is a great way to spend the day on the water up close and personal with the eagles !Fresh mussels and snow crab boil up at seaside cabin upon request ! Don't forget to bring your camera!