Newfoundland Wildlife Viewing

Newfoundland Travel Guide

Newfoundland
Wildlife Viewing

Whales, puffins, gannets, icebergs, moose, and caribou where to find them all.

Newfoundland is one of the finest wildlife viewing destinations in North America. The province has over 500,000 Atlantic puffins, rich North Atlantic whale feeding grounds, 30,000 nesting gannets, and one of the highest moose densities of any region in Canada.

Wildlife Viewing by Species

SpeciesBest LocationBest TimeCost
Humpback WhaleBay Bulls / Witless Bay boat tour, St. Vincent’s Beach (free)June to AugustTour $65-80; shore free
Atlantic PuffinElliston (free shore), Witless Bay boat tourLate May to early SeptFree to $65-80
Northern GannetCape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve (free)May to SeptemberFree
IcebergsTwillingate, Bonavista, Avalon coastLate April to JulyFree (shore) to $40-60 (tour)
Bald EagleTerra Nova NP Coastal Trail, Newman SoundYear-roundParks Canada entry
MooseEverywhere all roads, especially at dawn/duskYear-roundFree drive carefully
CaribouGros Morne highland plateau, Terra Nova backcountryYear-roundParks Canada entry
Black BearForest edges, berry areas Gros Morne, Terra NovaLate spring to fallParks Canada entry
Sea Stars and UrchinsTerra Nova NP intertidal zone, Newman SoundYear-round (low tide)Parks Canada entry
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The Triple Play June Opportunity

The rare combination of icebergs, humpback whales, and Atlantic puffins all visible on the same day is possible in Newfoundland in June. The first two weeks of June represent the optimal window target Twillingate or the Bonavista Peninsula for the best chance of all three in the same outing.

Best Free Wildlife Experiences

The most spectacular wildlife experiences in Newfoundland require no tour and no entry fee: Elliston Puffin Viewing Site (The Neck, Elliston, NL A0C 1N0 free), St. Vincent’s Beach shore whale watching (free, 2 hours from St. John’s), Cape St. Mary’s gannet colony (free), Long Point Lighthouse iceberg viewing in Twillingate (free), and moose sightings from any rural road (constant but be careful at dawn/dusk).

Frequently Asked Questions

Humpback, minke, and fin whales, Atlantic puffins (500,000+ in NL), Northern Gannets at Cape St. Mary’s, icebergs, moose, caribou, black bears, bald eagles, sea stars and marine life in Terra Nova.
June is optimal for the triple play. July-August peak for whales and puffins. May best for icebergs. Fall brings moose, caribou, and migrating seabirds.
Witless Bay (boat tour, largest puffin colony), Elliston (free puffins), Cape St. Mary’s (free gannets), St. Vincent’s Beach (free shore whale watching), Terra Nova NP (eagles, marine life, moose).

Planning Wildlife Viewing in Newfoundland?

Book rental car early. Many of the best sites require driving 2-4 hours from St. John’s.

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