Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands

Fullers GreatSights is a major tourism company based in Northland, New Zealand. Today it is Northland's largest marine tourism operator with a wide range of cruises and land tours.

Fullers GreatSights Bay Of Islands
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryTravel and Tourism
Founded1887
FounderAlbert Ernest Fuller
Defunct31 July 2021 Edit this on Wikidata
Headquarters
Paihia, Bay of Islands
,
New Zealand
Area served
Bay of Islands
ServicesCruises, land tours, transport
ParentExplore Group Ltd
Websitehttps://www.dolphincruises.co.nz

History

In 1887, Albert Ernest Fuller launched the "Undine" sailing ship in the Bay of Islands to deliver coal supplies to the islands within the Bay. With the fitting of a motor in the early 1900s, Fuller was able to deliver the coal and essential supplies to communities as far out as Cape Brett. In 1927 Fuller acquired the "Cream Trip" from Eddie Lane – with the facilities on board to transport cream from the islands, and by the 1960s, the well known ‘Bay Belle’ started this run. Although a modern catamaran now takes this historical route (The Cream Trip), the Bay Belle continues to transport visitors and locals between Paihia and Russell throughout the day. [1]

The company expanded to Auckland and became Fullers Corporation. In 1989 Fullers Corporation split into the Bay of Islands company and the Auckland operations, which were taken over by what is now Fullers Group.[2]

In December 2008 Fullers Bay of Islands was rebranded Fullers GreatSights to bring it in line with InterCity Group's parent sightseeing brand of GreatSights New Zealand. It offers a range of Bay of Islands cruises and day tours around the region and operates passenger and vehicle ferries between Paihia and Russell/Opua and Okiato.

In 2019 InterCity Group rebranded as Entrada Travel Group, to distinguish itself from its individual operators. [3]

In July 2021, Entrada Travel Group sold Fullers GreatSights' operation (i.e. key assets and the Fullers GreatSights brand) to New Zealand based marine tourism operator, Explore Group. Explore Group operates cruises and tours in the Bay of Islands and Auckland and also operates out Hamilton Island in Australia. The company remains owned by Entrada Travel Group and was renamed to Northland Ferries Limited on the 2nd of August 2021. The remaining fleet, now owned by Explore Group, still operates under the Fullers GreatSights brand. The company has been mostly integrated within Explore Group Ltd. [4] Northland Ferries now operates the Opua-Okiato and Rawene/Narrows Car Ferry services, and the Paihia-Russell Passenger service. [5]

Vessels

The Fleet of Fullers Greatsights Includes:

  • Dolphin Seeker — 23.4 metres, Built in 2001 by Q-West Boat Builders of Whanganui for Kings Tours & Cruises.[6]
  • Te Maki — 23.9 metres, Built in 2017 by Challenge Marine of Nelson for Fullers Greatsights.[7]
  • Te Papahu — 17.7 metres, Unknown Builder or Year of Construction
  • Island Adventurer — 12.6 metres, Built by Naiad.

Former Vessels:

  • Bay Belle II — 16 metres, Built in 2011 by Gough Brothers of Invercargill for Fullers Greatsights.[8] Transferred to Northland Ferries in August 2021.
  • Tangaroa III — 19.8 metres, Built in 1999 by Cercia and designed by Teknicraft. And is now called 'Picking Daisies'.[9]


Images of the Vessels
  • Dolphin Seeker, Paihia
    Dolphin Seeker
  • Te Maki, Russell
    Te Maki
  • Te Papahu, Russell
    Te Papahu
  • Bay Belle II, Paihia
    Bay Belle II before August 2021
  • Tangaroa III, Bay of Islands
    Tangaroa III prior to retirement in Late 2017

References
  1. "About Fullers GreatSights". Fullers Greatsights. Fullers Greatsights. Archived from the original on 26 January 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  2. Bond, Georgina (19 January 2005). "Fullers sail into confused waters". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  3. "InterCity Group becomes Entrada Travel Group". Scoop Independent News. Entrada Travel Group. 17 July 2019. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  4. "Explore Group Purchases Fullers Great Sights Bay Of Islands". Scoop Independent News. Explore Group. 1 July 2021. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  5. "Northland Ferries". Northland Ferries. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  6. "Dolphin Seeker Overview". Q-West Boat Builders. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  7. "Incat Crowther 24 - Te Maki". Incat Crowther. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  8. "Bay Belle II Builds on 50 Years of Heritage" (PDF). Professional Skipper NZ. July–August 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 February 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  9. "Internet Archive - Teknicraft Nick De Waal 65 PC – Picking Daisies". Multi Hull Solutions. Archived from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
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