The Absolute Best Time for Whale Watching in Newfoundland
Every summer Newfoundland and Labrador hosts the planet’s largest gathering of humpback whales, nesting puffins, and migratory icebergs. It truly makes for the most memorable and spectacular trip of a lifetime. With a plethora of whale watching tours and other things to do, there’s something here for everyone. So whether you’re coming in for a long weekend, planning to stay a while, or here during the off season, you’ll never run out of people to meet and places to explore.
Whale Watching Season
Summers are a special time in Newfoundland and Labrador. Migratory icebergs travel south from Greenland and the Arctic Ocean to meet migratory whales travelling north for their summer feeding. NL is one of the best places in the world to see both, and April to August conveniently brings them here at the same time.
That being said, May through September is the absolute best time of year for whale watching in Newfoundland and Labrador. Whale tours typically begin around mid-April and last through mid-September. Some outfitters offer tours beginning as soon as March and extending to the end of October. There are slight variations between years depending on the weather and climate. For the 2025 season, tours are scheduled to begin around May and go through September.
Species
Humpbacks
The largest annual migration of humpback whales happens here off the coast of Newfoundland. Around mid-April, humpbacks begin returning from their southern migration. They stay through September, feeding on huge amounts of capelin and krill to build up their blubber stores for winter. Humpbacks are a favorite among whale watchers because they constantly leap and jump out of the water. At 40-50 feet long, it’s truly a spectacular sight to see.
Orcas
Orcas are another popular favorite among whale watchers because they are easy to recognize, even from far away. They can be seen traveling in pods around northern Labrador and down to the southern part of Newfoundland through the summer months. Orcas are curious and social animals that often breach and jump out of the water, much to the delight of onlookers and whale tour groups.
Minke Whales
At around 18 feet long, Minke whales are the smallest whales you will see in Newfoundland. They’re here all year but are most commonly seen during the spring, summer, and fall months.
Sperm Whales
Sperm whales (Moby Dick) are commonly seen through the summer months and into the fall. They’re about 60 feet long and known for their huge, rectangular, block-shaped heads.
Fin Whales
Fin whales are famous for being the second largest whale in the world. They have sleek, slender bodies that reach lengths of well over 60 feet. They don’t jump out of the water the way orcas and humpbacks do, but you can see them gracefully gliding near the surface in the summer months.
Puffins
Puffins are fancy seabirds that live year-round in the waters off Newfoundland and Labrador. Every year between April and August, hundreds of thousands of puffins come ashore to nest. Witless Bay is home to half of the breeding Atlantic puffins in North America. They nest all over the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador though, so if you come in the summer you’re sure to see some of these entertaining birds. If you want to see the largest puffin colony in North America, the Newfoundland Puffin and Whale Watch Cruise is the way to go.
Best Whale Watching Tours + Prices
There are three main places to go whale watching in Newfoundland and Labrador – St. John’s, Trinity and Twillingate. While all are spectacular, St. John’s is the most accessible and offers the best of everything – icebergs, puffins, whales, and tons of food, restaurants, hotels, and of course the airport is right there. Trinity has a consistently top rated whale watch tour if you prefer to be further out away from the city. And Twillingate is a good option if you’re in the area. All of the whale watch tours cost around $80-$100 USD per person, unless you do the combined fishing and whale watch out of St. John’s which costs around $200 USD.
St. John’s
St. John’s has a variety of whale-watching tours to choose from. Catch a tour leaving directly from St. John’s Harbor, or take a catamaran to Witless Bay to see one of the largest puffin nesting areas in the world. In the summertime, the entire area is teeming with seabirds, whales, and visiting icebergs. Plus as the largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, there’s no shortage of lodging, dining, and shopping options to enjoy while you’re in town.
Trinity Bay
If you’re near Trinity Bay, consider the 3-hour whale watch and marine wildlife tour out of Trinity that runs from April 30 – October 31, 2025. You’ll be right on the water alongside humpbacks, minke, finbacks, sperm whales, dolphins, porpoises, and the natural rugged coastline where bald eagles fly through to nest in the spring and summer. Spots fill up fast so it’s recommended to book early.
Twillingate
Twillingate is on the north side of Newfoundland and worth the 5-hour drive from St. John’s if you want see more of the province. It’s right in the heart of Iceberg Alley, which is the path that icebergs travel down from Greenland. There are plenty of whale species and other wildlife to see, including seabirds, cormorants, and bald eagles. The remoteness of it all is the perfect opportunity to unplug and recharge near the wild natural waters of the Labrador Sea.
Getting Here
Fly into St. John’s International Airport (YYT). From there, head into town and get some food, then check into your hotel. Rent ebikes or enjoy a foodie tour of the city. If you’re only planning to stay in St. John’s, you may not need to rent a car. However if you want to explore outside of St. John’s, you can drive across the whole island to St. Anthony in roughly 11 hours.
Iceberg Season
Every spring, massive, awe-inspiring icebergs travel from the Arctic Circle and western Greenland down to Newfoundland and Labrador. When the icebergs come to visit, Newfoundlanders know that spring is in full swing. It’s an exciting time that signals the coming summer.
April through August is the best time to visit Newfoundland to see icebergs. If you’ve never seen one before – no words or pictures can explain what you’re missing. Icebergs are as unique as snowflakes; each with a different size, shape, and color. These enormous giants range from bright white to deep blue-green. If you’re already planning to visit, consider adjusting your trip so you can see some migratory icebergs while you’re here.
And if you’re really into icebergs, then swing by the annual Iceberg Festival held in St. Anthony in June. Never been to an iceberg festival before? This may be your sign. Go get with a bunch of iceberg enthusiasts and celebrate the season! This year the festival runs from June 6-15, 2025.
More Things To Do
There’s plenty to do in Newfoundland and Labrador besides whale watching. Check out the local food scene, take a tour guided by locals, or just walk around on your own. No matter what you get into, visiting this place sets you up for unforgettable memories. Here are some of the top rated things to do in St. John’s:
Whale Watching Map of Newfoundland
Zoom and click the map to see dates and info about different whale watching tours and events.