Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands facts for kids
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Travel and Tourism |
| Founded | 1887 |
| Founder | Albert Ernest Fuller |
| Headquarters | , |
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Area served
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Bay of Islands |
| Services | Cruises, land tours, transport |
| Parent | Explore Group |
Fullers GreatSights is a big tourism company in Northland, New Zealand. They offer many fun boat trips and land tours. They are the largest company for marine (sea) tourism in Northland.
Contents
The Story of Fullers GreatSights
How It All Started
The company began in 1887 with a man named Albert Ernest Fuller. He used a sailing ship called "Undine" in the Bay of Islands. His first job was to deliver coal to the islands.
In the early 1900s, a motor was added to the ship. This helped Fuller deliver coal and other important supplies. He could reach communities as far as Cape Brett.
The Famous Cream Trip
In 1927, Fuller bought a special boat service called the "Cream Trip." This boat collected cream from the islands. By the 1960s, a well-known boat called the 'Bay Belle' took over this route.
Today, a modern boat takes the "Cream Trip" route. But the 'Bay Belle' still carries people between Paihia and Russell. It helps both visitors and local people travel.
Growing and Changing
The company grew and became Fullers Corporation. It even expanded to Auckland. In 1989, Fullers Corporation split into two parts. One part stayed in the Bay of Islands. The other part became what is now Fullers Group in Auckland.
In December 2008, Fullers Bay of Islands changed its name. It became Fullers GreatSights. This was to match InterCity Group's main sightseeing brand. Fullers GreatSights offers many cruises and day tours. They also run ferries for people and cars. These ferries connect Paihia with Russell/Opua and Okiato.
In 2019, InterCity Group changed its name to Entrada Travel Group. This helped to show that it was the main company.
New Owners and New Names
In July 2021, Entrada Travel Group sold Fullers GreatSights. The new owner is Explore Group. Explore Group is a marine tourism company from New Zealand. They also run cruises in the Bay of Islands and Auckland. They even operate in Australia.
The company that used to be Fullers GreatSights is still owned by Entrada Travel Group. It was renamed Northland Ferries Limited in August 2021. The boats that Explore Group bought still use the Fullers GreatSights name. Northland Ferries now runs the car ferry services. They also operate the passenger ferry between Paihia and Russell.
Our Fleet of Vessels
Fullers GreatSights uses several boats for its tours. Here are some of them:
- Dolphin Seeker — This boat is 23.4 meters long. It was built in 2001.
- Te Maki — This boat is 23.9 meters long. It was built in 2017.
- Te Papahu — This boat is 17.7 meters long. Its builder and build year are not known.
- Island Adventurer — This boat is 12.6 meters long. It was built by Naiad.
Boats That Used to Be Part of the Fleet
Some boats used to be part of the Fullers GreatSights fleet. They now have different roles or owners.
- Bay Belle II — This boat is 16 meters long. It was built in 2011. It moved to Northland Ferries in August 2021.
- Tangaroa III — This boat is 19.8 meters long. It was built in 1999. It is now called 'Picking Daisies'.
Images for kids
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Dolphin Seeker
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Te Maki
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Te Papahu
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Bay Belle II before August 2021
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Tangaroa III prior to retirement in Late 2017
