SeaLink New Zealand facts for kids
SeaLink New Zealand, often called SeaLink NZ, is a company that runs ferries for cars, people, and goods. They operate in the Hauraki Gulf near Auckland, New Zealand. This company used to be part of a bigger group called SeaLink Travel Group.
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How SeaLink NZ Started
SeaLink NZ began in Auckland in 1960. It was started by the Subritzky family. Back then, it had different names like Subritzky Shipping. The Subritzky family company was the first to use a special ferry called the Port Kennedy to carry cars to Waiheke Island.
Before the company was sold, the SubritzkyLine fleet included these ferries:
- Port Kennedy - A bowloader ferry
- HA Subritzky - A bowloader ferry
- MN Subritzky - A bowloader ferry
- BK Subritzky - A bowloader ferry built in 2001, used only for freight
- SeaLink - A sternloader ferry that went to Great Barrier Island
- Seaway II - A catamaran built in 1996
- Seacat - A catamaran built in 2004
In September 2004, an Australian company called SeaLink Kangaroo Island bought SubritzkyLine. They bought four of the ferries. SeaLink also brought their own ferry, the Island Navigator, to help with services to Great Barrier Island. In December 2005, the company started using the SeaLink name.
Later, in 2011, SeaLink NZ became owned by a New Zealand company again, called Lyncroft Properties. In 2014, SeaLink bought Pine Harbour ferries. This added three fast passenger ferries to their group. Soon after, they bought another ferry, the Clipper V. This gave Pine Harbour a total of four passenger ferries for people traveling from Pine Harbour to Auckland City.
SeaLink NZ Ferries
Here are some of the ferries SeaLink NZ uses:
- Seamaster (used to be MN Subritzky) - Built in 1983
- Seaway II - A catamaran built in 1996
- Seacat - A catamaran built in 2004
- Island Navigator - Built in 1988
- Seabridge - Built in 2013
- Clipper II – Built in 2006
- Clipper III – Built in 2008
- Clipper IV – Built in 2011
- Clipper V – Built in 2015
Ferry Services
Waiheke Island Services
SeaLink offers many trips each day from Half Moon Bay in East Auckland to Kennedy Point on Waiheke Island. The Seacat ferry does most of these trips. The Seaway II helps with morning and evening trips for people who travel to work. The Seamaster ferry mainly carries freight and large trucks from Half Moon Bay.
During the summer, on Friday evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays, the Seaway II also runs trips from Wynyard Quarter in Downtown Auckland to Kennedy Point, Waiheke.
Great Barrier Island Services
SeaLink is the only company that offers car and freight ferry services to Great Barrier Island all year round. They use the Island Navigator ferry for these trips. The ferries leave from Hamer Street, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland, and arrive at Tryphena on Great Barrier Island. You can also arrange special trips to other places on the island like Port Fitzroy or Whangaparapara.
