Getting Ready for the Season!

Spring has finally arrived in Newfoundland! Yesterday we spotted an iceberg off Trinity, and there have been regular reports of whales around the peninsula, always a sure sign the season is turning. The weather has only just warmed enough over the past few days to tackle outdoor work. Now there’s a real buzz of activity around Trinity as everyone prepares to open for the season.

For anyone planning a trip, this is the beginning of whale watching season in Newfoundland and one of the most exciting times to visit the Bonavista peninsula!

Getting Ready for Whale & Iceberg Season in Trinity

As always, spring brings plenty of maintenance. The wooden clapboard buildings and fences may be charming and picturesque, but they certainly keep us busy! Our booking office had blown-in insulation installed yesterday, the driveway is being resealed today, and we’ve got new windows on order. The shop roof will also be redone before opening. On top of that, the fence between us and the neighbours needs replacing, so we’ve been hard at work sanding and painting what feels like an endless number of pickets. It’s all part of getting ready for another busy whale watching season in Newfoundland!

Captain Kris has just headed off to retrieve the first of the boats from winter storage and begin getting it ready for the season. After months indoors, they’re always a bit dusty and need a thorough cleaning and polishing before being stocked with safety equipment.

We typically open for whale watching tours in Trinity starting May 15th, with earlier trips possible depending on conditions.

Icebergs in Newfoundland

Iceberg season is shaping up nicely, with plenty already being spotted throughout Iceberg Alley and many more drifting south from the north. Iceberg Alley in Newfoundland is one of the best places in the world to see icebergs up close during the spring and early summer months. Icebergs are endlessly fascinating to watch as they drift, melt, and transform during their time here. Environment Canada’s iceberg map gives a great overview of where they’re concentrated. Each block represents one degree of latitude and longitude, so quite a large area. You can check out the latest iceberg map here.

Often accompanying the icebergs is Arctic pack ice. Pack ice is frozen seawater that isn’t attached to land and is broken into floating pieces. When it moves close to shore, it can bring not only icebergs but occasionally even polar bears along with it! Pack ice can also be quite destructive. Crab and lobster fishermen already have their pots set for the season, and drifting ice can drag them away, never to be seen again. It can also damage boats left in the water and even wharves. To help reduce the risk, we use a floating dock. This year, we’re holding off on putting ours in until the threat from pack ice has passed.

You can keep track of ice conditions through Environment Canada’s ice maps. We’re closest to the green section marked with the letter J, which isn’t considered especially heavy ice, but just above that area, you can see thicker sections making their way south.

New Merchandise for 2026!

Next week, we’ll be turning our attention to getting the shop cleaned and stocked with merchandise. With a bit of luck, we’ll also be able to install the floating docks if conditions improve. After that, Transport Canada will be by for our annual inspection. Then we’ll be ready to go!

We can’t wait to get back out on the water and welcome both familiar faces and new ones. See you all soon! We’re looking forward to another incredible whale watching season in Trinity Bay!