# Fullers Group

Fullers Group Limited, trading as Fullers360, is a ferry and tourism company in Auckland, New Zealand. 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.

## 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.
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. 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:
* Waiheke Island
* Rangitoto Island
Fullers360 previously operated services to:
* Bayswater
* Birkenhead
* Northcote
* Motutapu Island
* Rotoroa Island
* Coromandel Peninsula
* Great Barrier Island
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 | Shipyard | Launched | Capacity | Length | Class/type | Notes |
| Future hybrid vessel | Q-West, Whanganui | 2025 planned | 300 28 bikes | 32m | IC19214 | |
| yet to be named | Vessev, Auckland | 2024 0 years ago | 10 0 bikes | 8.9m | VS-9 | Touted as “the world's first electric hydrofoil ferry”. However, it will not be used for commuter ferry services |
| Kororā | Q-West, Whanganui | 2017 7 years ago | 420 20 bikes | 34.9m | IC15128 | |
| Tōrea | Q-West, Whanganui | 2017 7 years ago | 420 20 bikes | 34.9m | IC15128 | |
| Te Maki | Challenge Marine, Nelson | 2017 7 years ago | 174 10 bikes | 23.9m | IC15062 | |
| Discovery VII (D7) | Aluminium Marine, Brisbane | 2015 9 years ago | 134 6 bikes | 19m | IC14202 | |
| Discovery VI (D6) | Aluminium Marine, Brisbane | 2015 9 years ago | 249 6 bikes | 24.96m | ICO13078 | |
| Te Kōtuku | Q-West, Whanganui | 2014 10 years ago | 329 20 bikes | 34m | | |
| Ika Kākahi | Aluminium Boats, Brisbane | 2011 13 years ago | 400 20 bikes | 37m | EnviroCat | Built as a crew-transfer vessel for Gladstone LNG, known as Capricornian Dancer before joining Fullers in 2019 |
| Kekeno | Aluminium Boats, Brisbane | 2011 13 years ago | 400 20 bikes | 37m | EnviroCat | Built as a crew-transfer vessel for Gladstone LNG, known as Capricornian Surfer before joining Fullers in 2017 |
| Takahē | Aluminium Marine, Brisbane | 2011 13 years ago | 194 10 bikes | 23.9m | IC11022 | |
| Adventurer | RDM, Tasmania | 1996 28 years ago | 246 12 bikes | 29m | | |
| Discovery III (D3) | Robertson Boats, Warkworth | 1996 28 years ago | 150 6 bikes | 18m | | |
| Tiger Cat | | 1996 28 years ago | 140 15 bikes | 18m | | |
| Harbour Cat | | 1995 29 years ago | 108 15 bikes | 20m | | |
| Discovery II (D2) | Robertson Boats, Warkworth | 1995$^{:44}$ 29 years ago | 78 4 bikes | 15m | | |
| Osprey | homebuilt in Whangārei | 1994 30 years ago | 152 10 bikes | 19.5m | | Withdrawn from service in 2023. Not wheelchair accessible. |
| Discovery I (D1) | Robertson Boats, Warkworth | 1993 31 years ago | 151 | 20m | | |
| Superflyte | Wavemaster, Perth | 1996 28 years ago | 650 30 bikes | 41m | | Withdrawn from service in 2019, scrapped in 2023 |
| Seaflyte | Wavemaster, Perth | 1994 30 years ago | 208 20 bikes | 21.48m | | Renamed Milford Explorer, now operates in Milford Sound |
| Jet Raider | Wavemaster, Perth | 1990 34 years ago | 400 | 37m | | Sold to Tonga in 2017 and renamed to MV Māui |
| Kea | WECO, Whangārei | 1988 36 years ago | 450 30 bikes | 27.06m | | Withdrawn from service in 2020, scrapped in 2023 |
| Quickcat | SBF Engineering, Perth | 1986$^{:44}$ 38 years ago | 650 30 bikes | 33.38m | | Parked at Silo Marina still in service but is only a backup vessel for Fullers360 |