The cruise is open to families and persons of all ages. Use of an infant carrier / snuggly recommended if traveling with infants. For the safety of guests, we cannot accommodate scooters / motorized chairs (manual wheelchair available on request). Washrooms are conveniently located on the main deck.
Safety is our foremost priority. Vessels are equipped with required life saving equipment including life jackets, inflatable life rafts, fire fighting systems, etc. and is inspected annually by Transport Canada. Vessel crew certified in accordance with Transport Canada requirements and trained in Marine Emergency Duties and First Aid. AED’s are maintained both on board and in our reception area.
Gatherall’s cat features a cabin large enough so that all guests can be sheltered inside in the event of rain. There are two washrooms onboard as well as a simple canteen / bar facility. Your safety & comfort are top priorities.
Book Gatherall’s Puffin & Whale Watch tickets directly on Gatherall’s site. Best rates and most flexible booking conditions are available directly through Gatherall’s. Our booking app is secure with all transactions completed through a verified merchant service provider for your safety. We do not store your credit card info on our computers. Booking confirmation is provided in real time plus direct bookings get the best cancellation options.
A canteen service is available during the tour and you are welcome to bring your own snacks & beverages (non-alcoholic).
Dogs are not permitted on board in accordance with the Ecological Reserves Act under which we operate (excepting bonafide service dogs – copies of official papers required at check in). We appreciate that your dogs are a part of your family, however, many dogs are not comfortable with vessel motions and often find it somewhat distressful. For your dog’s safety and comfort we recommend scheduling a sitter for your pet during your visit.
The Gatherall Story is a continuation of the history of an iconic Newfoundland family from the outports Bay Bulls & Bauline whose ancestors emigrated to Newfoundland in the early 1700’s. These hardy seafarers departed their lovely hometown of Bouley Bay in the Chanel Islands to participate in the lucrative in-shore cod fishery of the “new founde land“. Our Gatherall forefathers gathered the bounty of the seas for three centuries until the cod fishery collapse in the 1980’s. It was in the dying days of this fishery that our family – Mike, Rosemary, Al & Michael – began to really appreciate the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve as an economic generator. A need for safe and reliable transportation to and from that magical place began to emerge.
Our family decided to embrace our collective skills; seized the opportunity; launched our enterprise; and went fishing – not for cod this time – but for a new and under utilized species. We knew we could and would succeed. Geographically, we were well positioned.
We had LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION!
We were embodied with a strong attachment to the sea along with a profound sense of place. The family, individually and collectively, had so many attributes necessary for success including a strong work ethic. We are ambitious and industrious, creative and innovative, strategic and efficient. We had our grandparents’ reputation – a tv reporter referred to the Gatherall’s as “a family to whom hospitality comes naturally“.
We believe that the overriding factor leading to our success is the fact that we are well-grounded, realistic optimists.
For almost forty years, we have drawn upon our many capabilities.
We relied on Mike’s knowledge & respect for the sea as well as his great carpentry skills. Rosemary drew upon her knowledge and experience gleaned from her Masters Degree in Administration. Apart from his nautical skills and knowledge, Captain Al’s creativity is our inspiration. For a company which has always built its own vessels, Michael’s education as a Naval Architect has been invaluable.
To use a genuine Newfoundland colloquialism, Al & Michael can “put an arse in a cat“. The ultimate cat being the Gaffer VI – a modern, custom designed and constructed catamaran passenger vessel.
The family realized very quickly that it was cruicial to be known in the international travel trade market to create an awareness of Newfoundland as a destination of note. We then charted our course to successfully navigate the currents and tides to land our catch. Almost forty years further on, it is generally agreed that Gatherall’s has – and continues to – playa significant role in the development and growth of the Newfoundland Tourism Industry.
Truely, we sometimes get a little overwhelmed on occassion when we stop and think that a small company perched on the rocky cliffs of the northside of Bay Bulls has and continues to be so incredibly well received by so many explorers be reside locally, nationally or internationally.
Over the years we have had many wonderful experiences and have so very thoroughly enjoyed sharing our hospitality, our family’s seafaring heritage, our love of nature along with our humour, stories and songs with so many wonderful guests & friends.
Yes, at times we have had to navigate stormy seas and rocky shoals – the collapse of the fishery, several recessions, fall out from tragic, world shaking disruptions such as 9-11, SARS, and of course COVID are but a few.
On occasion our resilience has been tested but never has it been broken.
We’ve also enjoyed many incredible and joyous events – most especially the opportunity to raise our families in the same safe, secure and rich heritage – as well as the opportunity to work and share our passion with so many incredible, spirited individuals with whom we’ve had the pleasure of working with throughout the years.
Our family believes it is a fitting tribute to our forefathers that we continue to operate our business on the exact same site as earlier generations of our family fished from. And we, like them, “as sure as the seas ….” will rise again through our children Jack, Luke, Claire, Bridget & Jane Gatherall.
The Gatherall Story would not be complete without a chapter (or several) about the many incredible, knowledgable, hospitable, entertaining, engaging, professional, caring folks who have been a part of our team for almost forty years! We owe ever so much of our success to their efforts.
From construction of our vessels and facilities, to selecting and arranging our special mix of crafts and souviners, to ensuring guests are checked in and attended to, ensuring the safety of our vessels’s passengers, and of course, providing the high standard of interpretation and entertainment to guests on each and every tour, we cannot thank these fabulous people enough.
TEL. 709-334-2887
Email info@gatheralls.com
Address 90 Northside Rd., Bay Bulls, NL Canada, A0A 1C0
No car! No worry. You can add return transportation to your booking (additional fees apply – limited availability) on select tours. Additional times may be available to bookings of 4 or more persons. Please feel free to reach out to our staff if you have questions or need any other info.
For the best place to see whales in Newfoundland, look no further than Gatherall’s Puffin and Whale Watch! Our guided boat tours take you to the heart of the action in Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, a hotspot for magnificent whale sightings. From humpbacks to minke whales, witness these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. Our experienced guides ensure a safe and informative journey, making it an unforgettable adventure. Book your whale watching excursion with Gatherall’s today and create memories to cherish forever!”
Whales in the wild have a vast ocean in which to roam, feed, play and hide in. If you see a whale jump while on a tour with Gatherall’s, it’s doing exactly what it wants to do. We’re not going to blow whistles or try to feed it. You’re welcome to wave though! We recommend that you always watch the ocean and not your smart phone …. the whales are not going to buzz, text, tweet, snapchat before they surface. Relax and put your device away for a bit. Watch, listen and smell – that’s how we find them!
Whale sightings cannot be guaranteed. Please note seasonal guidance regarding wildlife – be sure to check the “Best Times”
The waters of Newfoundland are home to and or visited by upwards of 22 different species of whales. The most common whales in our area include humpbacks, fin, minke, orca and white sided dolphins.
Each summer upwards of 10,000+ Humpback Whales make their way to the coast of Newfoundland to feed. One of their best feeding grounds are located in the waters surrounding the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. The abundance of food (capelin) draws hundreds of whales close to our shores to feed. This is what makes the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve among the best places in the world to watch and experience whales in their natural environment.
A tour with Gatherall’s is more than simply “seeing” a whale.
A big part of our tour is providing context and interpretation. Our aim is to educate and provide insight into the nuances of the whales’ activities as they carry on with their natural life processes. Getting a great picture is important but we want you to leave with a better understanding of these incredible creatures.
The peak of the feeding season runs from mid-June through to mid-August each year which ensures that Gatherall’s Puffin & Whale Watch has such a consistent record of sightings. Please remember though that whales are wild creatures in an enormous ocean. They have lots of room to feed, play and occasionally hide. As with most everything else in nature, whales in Newfoundland are more numerous during certain times of the year and in select locations.
The Humpback Whale is the most frequently encountered species of whale observed in the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve and the waters around Bay Bulls. While several other species are commonly seen, the Humpback is regarded as the star of the show. Widely regarded as the most social and acrobatic of all of the whales, Humpbacks are also among the most curious and inquisitive.
Each and every encounter is different and our crew are just as excited as you to see them – it never gets old! It’s a big ocean and we must remind ourselves just how lucky we are to be located in such a great place to see them. Some trips they come close to the boat and sometimes they don’t – it’s up to the whales to determine the extent of the encounter – something our crew is always mindful of. Watching whales is generally 90% patience and 10% luck. If you’re in the right place at the right time it greatly increases your chances of seeing them.
Whales in the wild have a vast ocean in which to roam, feed, play and hide in. If you see a whale jump while on a tour with Gatherall’s, it’s doing exactly what it wants to do. We’re not going to blow whistles or try to feed it. You’re welcome to wave though! We recommend that you always watch the ocean and not your smart phone …. the whales are not going to buzz, text, tweet, snapchat before they surface. Relax and put your device away for a bit. Watch, listen and smell – that’s how we find them!
For those of you who want to be “guaranteed” to see a whale – go to a Marine Theme Park where they’re caged in – you’ll be guaranteed to see a whale but it’s really not the same.
There is more to an iceberg than meets the eye. These incredible mountains of ice meander past the shores of Newfoundland and Labrador each season. Gatherall’s Puffin & Whale Watch (only minutes from St. John’s) is one of many places in that provides iceberg tours in Newfoundland. Our season for icebergs, like elsewhere in Newfoundland, can and does vary greatly from year to year. We encourage you to contact us directly by telephone or email or follow us via social media for updates throughout the season.
While beautiful and striking to look at, these massive mountains of ice are intertwined in our rich natural and cultural heritage. Gatherall’s crew is very knowledgable about the many facets of an iceberg and take great delight in sharing their knowledge with our guests. We encourage you to join us to learn more about the life of an iceberg.
Located near the end of Iceberg Alley, Gatherall’s Puffin & Whale Watch tours captures many of these incredible sculptures at their most magnificent. The sea, sun and rocky shoals have been carving these massive sculptures for up to four years as they make their way from Greenland to the end of their journey in the warm waters of the Gulf Stream off the southern coast of Newfoundland. Regarding the number of bergs spotted, each season is different, we never know what the year will bring.
The best time in this area is from April through to mid June. Time is fleeting for them at this point so be sure to see them before they fade away.
Each and every season is different. Some years there are loads of bergs close to shore and other years there are very few. Depending on size, shape, ocean currents and weather patterns they may stay for a long time or quickly pass through on their journey south.
Visiting during the start of the season is your best best if you absolutely have to experience an iceberg. That means May – late June in our area, If you happen to be travelling later in the season when our bergs have moved on, we will be happy to offer suggestions as to other potential spots to find them.
Be sure to check out Icebergfinder.com – a shared platform for iceberg seekers to post the latest sightings.
