What to do

On the island of Runde, you are limited to certain options listed below by common sense:

• Bird watching
  • On land/from the cliffs
    • Puffin evening returns on Runde Island are one of the island’s biggest attractions. Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) during the nesting season, adults leave burrows early in the morning to forage and spend most of the day fishing at sea, and return to their nesting burrows in the cliffs in the evening, often carrying sand eels or small fish for their chicks. This creates a spectacular “rush hour” of birds flying in, landing, and heading to burrows, sometimes with beaks full of fish. They may stay on land for a couple of hours before settling for the night.
    • General window:
      From around 7 PM onward, with activity often peaking 7:30–9 PM or later (depending on light and weather). Many visitors recommend arriving at the viewpoint by 7–8 PM to secure a good spot; numbers build as the evening progresses.
    • Hike to the Lundeura viewpoint or main bird cliffs (about 45–60 minutes from parking/Goksøyr area).
    • Camera gear:
      • Telephoto lens: 300–500mm+ (or 100–400mm/70–200mm
        with teleconverter) for distant birds and flight shots.
        Shorter focal lengths (e.g., 200mm) work for closer subjects.
      • Fast lens (f/2.8–f/5.6) for low light and subject isolation.
      • Stabilization: Tripod/monopod helpful but not always essential;
        handheld with good VR/IS works for many.
    • Camera Settings:
      • Prioritize fast shutter speeds to freeze wing action and flight.
      • Shutter priority or Manual: 1/1000s or faster (1/2000+ for flight). Many shots at 1/1000–1/5000s.
      • Aperture: Wide open (f/2.8–f/5.6) for light and bokeh; stop down to f/8+ if needed for more depth of field on perched birds.
      • ISO: Auto with upper limit (e.g., 3200–6400); modern noise reduction handles high ISO well.
      • Burst mode (high FPS) + Eye/Animal AF for tracking moving heads or flight.
      • White balance: Auto or Cloudy for evening light.
      • Exposure: Slight underexposure in bright conditions; check histogram for black/white plumage.
  • By boat
    • Aquila bird watching boat tour (Johan Moltu)
• Hiking
  • Uphill on the mountain
    • All Alltrail tours on Runde island:
      • Alltrails.com – Goksøyr – Runde Lighthouse
      • Alltrails.com – Kaldekloven – Lundeura (to see the PUFFINS!)
      • Alltrails.com – Runde Lighthouse Loop
      • Alltrails.com – Runde Loop
      • Alltrails.com – Runde – Runde Lighthouse – Goksøyr
      • Rundebranden (294 meters above sea level)
      • Kaldekloven
  • By road (end to end)
    Bring your camera(s) to photograph or film while you walk.
    You will get a lot of photos and videos on a simple walk along the road at Runde.
    Birds often sit on rocks along the shoreline below the road.
    • From the stone quarry in the west to the end at Goksøyr is approximately 6 kilometers.
    • Goksøyr end (north) – Goksøyr camping: 650 meters (approx).
    • Goksøyr camping – Tunnel: 570 meters (approx).
    • Tunnel itself: 160 meters (approx).
    • Tunnel – Christineborg guesthouse: 890 meters (approx).
    • Christineborg guesthouse – Runde Environmental Center: 630 meters (approx).
    • Runde Environmental Center – Causeway: 2100 meters (approx).
    • Causeway – Stone quarry: 1110 meters (approx).
• Fishing
  • Rent a boat or join a fishing charter.
• Photographing/videofilming
  • Always keep your camera(s) with you or on you at all times!
    Remember extra memory cards, batteries, and a charger.
    A tripod is also good to bring, especially when filming.
• Cooking and eating local food
  • Go to a local grocery store or a local cafe/restaurant/diner and buy the typical food a Norwegian would eat and eat it! You can buy ready-to-heat dinner dishes from Fjordland at most grocery stores.