Step on Board
Plan your visit to The Matthew
The wind whistling through the sails, a seagull soaring overhead and the gentle rolling of a 15th-century caravel. As you look out to sea, imagine what it must have been like for Giovanni Caboto and his crew, sailing toward the unknown.
You will enter the world of 15th-century Europe and discover the events that led to Caboto’s voyage. You will learn the fundamentals of early navigators, feel the weight of a deep-sea, and take a sighting through an astrolabe.
Our knowledgeable guides are on deck and ready to answer all your questions. Your visit includes a guided tour of the Matthew Replica. This 92-foot-long wooden caravel is a full-scale reproduction of the ship that carried Caboto and his crew from Bristol to the New World in 1497. Hear the story of that voyage and take a peek inside Caboto’s cabin and admire the work of our local shipwright.
Take a peek inside the boat bay – the Matthew’s current home – and explore the challenges of recreating a 15th-century vessel. Climb below deck to catch a glimpse of life at sea. Smell the salty air and oiled wood. Listen and let us spark your imagination with true tales of adventure, discovery, and unexpected rewards.
Complete your visit with a stop at Mattea’s Gift Shop, where you’ll find a wide range of souvenirs, reproductions and local artisan crafts.
Take a thrilling boat tour
The Matthew has teamed up with Bonavista Adventure Puffin and Whale Tours to bring you the ultimate sea adventure. Step aboard the LADY MARGUERITE for a breathtaking adventure along the scenic coastline of Bonavista and Trinity Bay.
During the spring and summer months, we are visited by 10,000-year-old icebergs, Humpback Whales, Fin Whales, Minke Whales, Sperm Whales, endangered North Atlantic Right Whales, and Blue Whales.
Daily tours depart the Matthew Legacy site.
Mattea's Gift Store
Mattea's Gift Shop offers a wide selection of unique local & Canadian-made products, exhibit-inspired gifts, stuffed animals, puzzles, jewellery, books, craft kits, jams & treats, and so much more.
Stop by the shop located on the wharf for a full selection. Whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, you’re sure to find something new and different!
Heritage Minute
Off the coast of Newfoundland, John Cabot and his sailors encounter codfish so thick that they slow the ship (1497).
History Television
A reenactment of the voyage across the Atlantic on the Bonavista replica of The Matthew.