Fullers Group Limited, trading as Fullers360, is a ferry and tourism company in Auckland, New Zealand.[1] It operates in the Hauraki Gulf and Waitematā Harbour. Fullers Group is the latest in a long line of almost continuous harbour and gulf ferry operations based in Auckland since the 1870s.
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Ferry & tourism company |
| Founder | George Hudson |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Auckland |
Key people | Mike Horne, CEO |
| Brands | Fullers360 |
| Services | Auckland Commuter and tourist ferry services |
| Owner | InMotion Group |
| Website | www.fullers.co.nz |
History
George Hudson, and his son, Douglas, conceived an idea for an improved ferry operator to replace the neglected Auckland ferry services during a sailing trip on Waitematā Harbour in 1981. By the end of that year, the Hudson family acquired North Shore Ferries (from Leo Dromgoole), another ferry company in Auckland and renaming it the Devonport Steam Ferry Group (which Gulf Ferries Ltd was a part of) (To celebrate the name of the company founded by Ewen W.Allison nearly 100 years before). However, the difficulties and hardships of rejuvenating a failing fleet became apparent almost immediately, as within six weeks of the takeover, every vessel was out of service, except for the Glen Rosa, a small Launch (boat).
The transition to a modern operation began in 1987 with the arrival of the Quickcat, Gulf Ferries' first catamaran, creating a faster, more efficient ferry service to Waiheke Island and other destinations. This was continued with the Kea (Built by WECO in Whangārei) being introduced in 1988 to operate the Auckland City to Devonport service. For the tourism services, two new catamaran ferries from World Heritage Cruises, Adventurer and Wanderer, were purchased in 2006 and 2007 for NZ$3 million and NZ$2 million respectively. These vessels will also assist on the company's main ferry routes during peak hours.[1]
In 1988, South Pacific Travel Holdings Ltd became shareholders before the publicly listed Fullers Corporation Ltd went into receivership. Recognizing the value of the "Fullers" brand, the company amalgamated its operations and changed its name to Fullers Group Limited. Stagecoach New Zealand became the major shareholder of Fullers Group Limited but kept George Hudson as chairman until 2007 where his son, Douglas Hudson became the CEO until 2017 when Mike Horne took over the position. In 2009, Brian Souter acquired the company as well as another ferry company, 360 Discovery Limited.[2] Both are now part of the InMotion Group.
In 2018 Fullers and 360 Discovery decided to merge brands to become a more cohesive and consumer-friendly ferry operator creating Fullers360.
Services
Fullers Group runs ferries from the Auckland Ferry Terminal in Quay Street, Downtown Auckland under the Fullers360 branding. Fullers360 operates to:
Auckland suburbs of:
- Devonport
- Beach Haven
- Half Moon Bay near the eastern suburb of Howick
- Hobsonville Point
- Gulf Harbour
Hauraki Gulf Island destinations of:
Fullers360 previously operated services to:
- Bayswater[3]
- Birkenhead[3]
- Northcote[3]
- Motutapu Island
- Rotoroa Island[4]
- Coromandel Peninsula[4]
- Great Barrier Island[5]
Fullers Group owns and operates the Waiheke Bus Company providing public transportation on Waiheke Island.
Fullers360 also operates tourism packages and tours alongside ferry services at its island destinations.
Vessels
| Key: | Out of service | Sold or Scrapped |
|---|
| Name | Image | Shipyard | Launched | Capacity | Length | Class/type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Future hybrid vessel |  Q-West, Whanganui[6] | 2025 planned[7] | 300 28 bikes[7] | 32m[8] | IC19214[8] | ||
| Future electric vessel | Seachange, Auckland[9] | 2024 planned[10] | 10 0 bikes[9] | 8m[9] | F8[9] | ||
| Kororā | .jpg) | Q-West, Whanganui[11] | 2017[11] 7 years ago | 420[12] 20 bikes | 34.9m[13] | IC15128[14] | |
| Tōrea | .jpg) | Q-West, Whanganui[15] | 2017[15] 7 years ago | 420[16] 20 bikes | 34.9m[13] | IC15128[14] | |
| Te Maki |  | Challenge Marine, Nelson[17] | 2017 7 years ago | 174[18] 10 bikes | 23.9m[13] | IC15062[19] | |
| Discovery VII (D7) | .jpg) |  Aluminium Marine, Brisbane[20] | 2015[21] 9 years ago | 134[18][22] 6 bikes | 19m[13] | IC14202[21] | |
| Discovery VI (D6) | .jpg) | Aluminium Marine, Brisbane[23] | 2015[23] 9 years ago | 249[13] 6 bikes | 24.96m[13] | ICO13078[24] | |
| Te Kōtuku |  | Q-West, Whanganui[25] | 2014[25] 10 years ago | 329[18][26] 20 bikes | 34m[13] | ||
| Ika Kākahi |  | Aluminium Boats, Brisbane[27] | 2011[28] 13 years ago | 400[28] 20 bikes | 37m[13] | EnviroCat[29] | Built as a crew-transfer vessel for Gladstone LNG, known as Capricornian Dancer before joining Fullers in 2019[28] |
| Kekeno |  | Aluminium Boats, Brisbane[30] | 2011[28] 13 years ago | 400[28] 20 bikes | 37m[13] | EnviroCat[29] | Built as a crew-transfer vessel for Gladstone LNG, known as Capricornian Surfer before joining Fullers in 2017[28] |
| Takahē |  | Aluminium Marine, Brisbane[31] | 2011[32] 13 years ago | 194[32] 10 bikes | 23.9m[13] | IC11022[33] | |
| Adventurer | .jpg) | RDM, Tasmania[34] | 1996 28 years ago | 246[32] 12 bikes | 29m[13] | ||
| Discovery III (D3) |  | Robertson Boats, Warkworth[35] | 1996[32] 28 years ago | 150[18] 6 bikes | 18m[13] | ||
| Tiger Cat | .jpg) | | 1996[32] 28 years ago | 140[18] 15 bikes | 18m[13] | ||
| Harbour Cat | .jpg) | | 1995[36] 29 years ago | 108[18] 15 bikes | 20m[13] | ||
| Discovery II (D2) | .jpg) | Robertson Boats, Warkworth[35] | 1995[37] 29 years ago | 78[18] 4 bikes | 15m[13] | ||
| Osprey | .jpg) | homebuilt in Whangārei[38] | 1994[39] 30 years ago | 152[18] 10 bikes | 19.5m[13] | Withdrawn from service in 2023[3]. Not wheelchair accessible[40]. | |
| Discovery I (D1) | .png) | Robertson Boats, Warkworth[35] | 1993[41] 31 years ago | 151[18] | 20m[13] | ||
| Superflyte |  | Wavemaster, Perth | 1996[32] 28 years ago | 650[32] 30 bikes | 41m[13] | Withdrawn from service in 2019[42], scrapped in 2023[43] | |
| Seaflyte | .jpg) | Wavemaster, Perth[44] | 1994[45] 30 years ago | 208[32] 20 bikes | 21.48m[13] | Renamed Milford Explorer, now operates in Milford Sound[46] | |
| Jet Raider |  | Wavemaster, Perth[47] | 1990 34 years ago | 400[48] | 37m[13] | Sold to Tonga in 2017 and renamed to MV Māui[5] | |
| Kea |  | WECO, Whangārei | 1988[49] 36 years ago | 450[13] 30 bikes | 27.06m[13] | Withdrawn from service in 2020[50], scrapped in 2023[51][52] | |
| Quickcat | _(2).jpg) | SBF Engineering, Perth[53] | 1986 38 years ago | 650[54] 30 bikes | 33.38m[13] | Parked at Silo Marina[55] still in service but is only a backup vessel for Fullers360 |
See also
References
External links
- Fullers Auckland (official company website)
- Fullerswatch—Waiheke Island watchdog site on the Fullers transport monopoly to that island