Although Bay Bulls has the largest concentration of Puffin and Whale Watching boat tour companies that specialize in the Witless Bay Marine Ecological Reserve, they’re not as close to the reserve as Witless Bay and Mobile Bay. Although the largest ships are limited in where they can dock and are therefore limited to Bay Bulls as their embarkment point, smaller companies like Eco Tours and The Molly Bawn are located right in the middle of the Marine Protected Zone and close to where all the action is
Whale Watching in Newfoundland is different than anywhere else. Maybe you’ve had a chance to whale watch in other famous Canadian provinces like New Brunswick,
Thirty-five years ago, a small group of whales were trapped in ice in Springdale harbour. They became known as the Christmas whales, and saving them became a community project.
To put it simply, Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the premier whale watching locations in the world. With 22 species of whales, including minke, sperm, pothead, blue, orca, and the world’s largest population of humpbacks, and a variety of ways to see them, you are sure to be awe-struck, amazed, and inspired by these ocean giants.
Comprised of four small islands, this reserve is one of nature’s greatest wonders anywhere on earth. In summer it is home to millions of seabirds that come to shore to nest and raise their young on the four islands. Whales swim here, especially humpback and minkes. Best seen from a tour boat operating from nearby communities.
This classic route around the Avalon Peninsula clocks in at about 200 miles. Sampling a small piece of it, Lindsey realized she’d probably need a couple days to do it right. “My definition of a good driving tour for photos? Pulling over to the side of the road every five minutes for photos, which I totally did on the Irish Loop,” she says. “There are so many epic photo-ops: winding roads, wildlife, rivers, lakes, mountains, cliffs, islands, lighthouses, kooky souvenir shops—you name it. My advice for fellow photographers doing the loop: Bring a picnic, an extra camera battery, and if you’re traveling with someone else, make sure they’re really patient.”
