About O'Briens ¤

Catch the O’Brien’s Spirit of Adventure!

You’ll know it the moment you arrive. You are about to experience something special. Something different. It’s there in the warm welcome of a friendly face. And the lively bounce of an Irish jig. It’s the anticipation of an ocean excursion full of sights, stories and surprises. And it’s out there… just minutes offshore… in one of the most spectacular natural showcases on earth…

The O'Brien's History

O'Brien's Whale & Bird Tours is a family owned and operated business that was formed in 1985, after brothers Joe and Loyola O’Brien began to foresee the closing of the fishery. Their love of the ocean and knowledge of the area influenced them to begin conducting tours of the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve and surrounding area aboard their first fishing vessel the Rob and Rand being the first boat touring company to operate out of Bay Bulls they were proudly known as Bird Island Charters.

As the business grew in popularity, the O'Brien's acquired two 46-foot passenger vessels so they could provide their customers with a more comfortable and safe tour. In 1996 the company changed their name to what it is known now, O'Brien's Whale & Bird Tours Inc. In that same year they constructed a 2-story chalet that consists of the gift shop and restaurant. The gift shop occupies the lower level and offers some of the highest quality Newfoundland Wool products, crafts, as well as their own embroidered fleece jackets, t-shirts and sweaters. A fully licensed restaurant occupies the top level of this building and offers Traditional Newfoundland dining. That same year, the boats underwent major renovations allowing the two fibreglass vessels to accommodate 92 passengers each, thus increasing its capacity substantially. The company also began to offer a shuttle service in the summer of that year.

In 1999 the O’Briens built a dockside building known as the O'Brien's Stagehead Pub. This dockside building is currently being used as a Special Events Centre with the capacity to hold 150 people. This Event Centre is ideal for receptions or corporate events with its fantastic view of the scenic Bay Bulls Harbour.

The summer of 2002 was a big year for the O’Briens as they began offering kayak tours and launched their new and exciting Coastal Adventure Tour aboard their Zodiac Coastal Explorer. This vessel, which can accommodate up to 12 people, gives passengers the opportunity to experience breathtaking sea stacks, waterfalls, the geyser, as well as seabirds, eagles and whales.

In the summer of 2004, the O’Briens decided to capitalize on the incredible view offered by the Event Centre and introduce a Cocktail Cruise and Dinner Theatre. The dinner theatre is new to the O’Briens, however coupled with the expertise and experience of Spirit of Newfoundland Productions they look forward to entertaining their guests through lively song and dance with a twist!

In the spring of 2005 O’Brien’s continued to expand their business by opening a second store in St. John’s. Located at 126 Duckworth Street, O’Brien’s Boutique offers a variety of Newfoundland crafts and giftware. O’Brien’s Boutique is also an place where you can obtain information on all tours and purchase your tickets.

Also in the spring of 2005, O’Brien’s became “Narrows Minded” and began a new tour in St. John’s. The Harbour Excursion allowed you to jump aboard our vessel, The Kingfisher, and journey through the Narrows for a customized adventure like no other.

O'Brien's Whale & Bird Tours has grown and developed substantially as a company over the years. The company that started providing one tour product from a single fishing vessel now offers a variety of tour products for nature enthusiasts. Little did they know in 1985 that their company would become one of the most well-known and respected businesses in the tourism industry! The success and growth of the company can be partially attributed to the growth of the Tourism industry in Newfoundland. Newfoundland has become one of the most popular tourist destinations due to extensive advertising campaigns by the Newfoundland Government and the tourism sector. The success of the tourism industry in Newfoundland is also a result of the government recognizing it as a potential sector and as a result is beginning to market it more extensively.

The O’Briens continue to grow and improve annually, so keep checking to see what new and exciting services we have to offer!