You'll know it the moment you arrive at the Adventure Centre. You are about to experience something special. Something unlike anything you've experienced before. It's there in the warm welcome of a friendly face. In the lively melody of an Irish jig. It's out there… just minutes offshore… in one of the most spectacular natural showcases on earth… an ocean excursion full of sights, sounds (humpback whales, puffins, seabirds, icebergs) stories and surprises.
Our founders, brothers Joe and Loyola O'Brien, made their living in the fishery until the mid-1980s. They foresaw the looming closure of the cod fishery, and began to look for other ways to make a living from the sea. Their love of the ocean and their knowledge of the natural surroundings led them, in 1985, to offer guided tours of the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve aboard their refurbished fishing vessel the Rob and Rand. Operating under the name Bird Island Charters, theirs was the first boat-touring company to operate out of Bay Bulls.
Their great service, their emphasis on safety, and their unique brand of entertainment and knowledge, quickly attracted a growing number of visitors to the O'Brien's tours. Joe and Loyola soon added two 46-foot passenger vessels, Atlantic Puffin and Atlantic Whaler, to give visitors an even more comfortable tour. Both the Atlantic Puffin and Atlantic Whaler accommodate approximately 83 passengers each.
In 1996 our family-owned company changed its name to O'Brien's Whale & Bird Tours Inc. That year we also constructed a chalet, which serves as the Adventure Centre and we added a shuttle service between St. John's and the O'Brien's chalet. We also conducted a major refit of the two touring vessels with improvements to safety and passenger service.
In 2002 we launched the Coastal Adventure Tour. Aboard the Zodiac Coastal Explorer and Kingfisher you can go whale watching, bird watching and view all of natures wonders up close. You will feel the mist on your face from breathtaking waterfalls as you drift among the towering sea stacks.
In 2004, we introduced a Cocktail Cruise and Dinner Theatre. In 2005 we opened a second store in St. John's. Located at 126 Duckworth Street, O'Brien's Boutique offers a variety of Newfoundland crafts and giftware. It is also a great place to get information on all our tours and to buy your tickets.
O'Brien's Whale & Bird Tours capture the heart and soul of Newfoundland, Canada... with a one-of-a-kind combination of natural wonder and rollicking
good times.