Fullers Group

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 Waitemata 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 Whangarei) 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.

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
• Bayswater
• Beach Haven
• Birkenhead
• Northcote
• Stanley Bay
• Half Moon Bay near the eastern suburb of Howick
• Hobsonville Point
• Gulf Harbour

Hauraki Gulf Island destinations of:

• Waiheke Island
• Rotoroa Island
• Tiritiri Matangi Island
• Motutapu Island
• Rangitoto Island
• Motuihe Island

Along with:

• Coromandel Peninsula

Fullers Group owns and operates the Waiheke Bus Company providing public transportation to Waiheke Island.

Fullers also operates tourism packages and tours alongside ferry services at its island destinations.

The Te Kotuku at the Auckland Ferry Terminal

Discovery III

I.V Kekeno

Takahe at Gulf Harbour

The vessels of Fullers360 include:

• Adventurer: catamaran, ex–World Heritage Cruises Tasmania, Built by RDM, Tasmania[3]
• D5: catamaran, ex–Explore Group ferry, painted in Fullers scheme
• D6: catamaran, ex–Explore Group ferry
• D7: catamaran, ex–Explore Group ferry
• Discovery II: catamaran, also known as D2
• Discovery III: catamaran, also known as D3
• Harbour Cat: catamaran, originally named Pakatoa Cat, extended from original length. Oceania Marine
• Ika Kakahi: catamaran, ex-Capricornian Dancer, Auckland to Devonport/Waiheke Island services. Refit Oceania Marine, entered service 2019
• Kea: longitudinally symmetrical catamaran built in 1988 and used on the Auckland CBD – Devonport service
• Kekeno: catamaran, ex-Capricornian Surfer, Auckland to Devonport/Waiheke Island services. Refit Oceania Marine, entered service 2019
• Korora: catamaran built by Q-West, primarily for Auckland–Waiheke service[4]
• Osprey: 22-metre catamaran, particularly used on Bayswater services
• Quickcat: catamaran built in 1987 and runs the Auckland–Waiheke service
• Starflyte: catamaran built in 1999
• Takahē: catamaran, joined fleet in 2014
• Te Kotuku: catamaran built by Q-West, 2014[5]
• Tiger Cat: catamaran homebuilt in 1995 purchased by Fullers in 2002
• Tiri Kat: former QuickCat II, catamaran built in 1993
• Torea: catamaran built by Q-West 2017, primarily Auckland–Waiheke service[6]
• Wanderer: catamaran ex–World Heritage Cruises Tasmania, built 1996 by RDM, Tasmania

Former vessels include:

• Superflyte: Wavemaster International, Henderson built 1995, Parked. Whangarei
• Seaflyte: Wavemaster International, Henderson now in Nelson
• D1: Robertson Boats, Warkworth. Now with Explore Group Northland

In 2009, Fullers Ferries received a Cycle Friendly Award from Cycling Advocates' Network for the best cycle-friendly commitment by a business in New Zealand.[7]

Fullers is also the travel partner for The Partners Life DUAL, a multi event competition helping support the Motutapu and Rangitoto islands conservation efforts.

The New Zealand Department of Conservation also receive free travel to help promote the Pest Free Islands Initiative along with supporting Kiwi Releases on the Rotoroa Island.

• Public transport in Auckland

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fullers Group.

• Fullers Auckland (official company website)
• Fullerswatch—Waiheke Island watchdog site on the Fullers transport monopoly to that island