The Magic of Whale Watching in Newwoundland

 One of the things that makes Newfoundland such a special place to visit is its wildlife. Along with puffins, moose, and icebergs, whales are one of the biggest reasons people travel to the province every summer.

This time around, we didn't have much luck.

Other than spotting a couple of minke whales off in the distance the whales just weren't cooperating while we were there. That's wildlife for you - you can plan your trip around it, but Mother Nature always has the final say.

That said, I certainly can't complain because we've been lucky enough to see some incredible whale activity on previous trips to Newfoundland.

One of my favourite memories is from Twillingate. We would drive up to Long Point Lighthouse, find a spot overlooking the ocean, and simply sit and watch. Below us, humpback whales were feeding in the water. Every few minutes another one would surface, its enormous back breaking through the water before disappearing beneath the waves again.

There was something almost surreal about watching these gentle giants feeding below the cliffs. It was peaceful, exciting, and we sat there watching them much longer than we'd planned.

Humpbacks rolling on their side to get the capelin.

In this photo you can see the capelin

Newfoundland is one of the best places in the world for whale watching. More than 20 species of whales can be found in its waters throughout the year, but the stars of the show are usually humpback whales. They migrate to Newfoundland each spring and summer to feed on the enormous schools of capelin that gather along the coast.

The best time to see whales is generally from June through August, although the season can start a little earlier or last into September depending on the weather and when the capelin arrive.

Some of the best places for whale watching include Twillingate, St. John's, Bonavista, Trinity, and the Irish Loop. You can book a whale watching boat tour, but honestly, you don't always need to. If the timing is right, you can often see whales from shore, from hiking trails, or even while driving along the coast.

One place that's especially well known is St. Vincent's Beach on the southern Avalon Peninsula.

Every summer, the beach becomes a gathering place for people hoping to watch humpback whales feeding just offshore. The water there drops off quickly close to the beach, allowing the whales to come surprisingly close to land as they chase schools of capelin. On a good day, you can sit on the beach and watch humpbacks breaching, tail slapping, and feeding without ever setting foot on a boat.

Photo by Thomas Kelley on Unsplash

It's one of the few places where you have such a good chance of seeing whales from shore, making it well worth a stop if you're exploring the Irish Loop.

Although we didn't get the whale sightings we were hoping for on this trip, I wasn't disappointed. We still caught a glimpse of a couple of minke whales, and we were lucky enough to experience the incredible icebergs that had brought us to Twillingate in the first place.

And those memories of watching humpbacks feeding below Long Point Lighthouse? Those are something I'll never forget.