Explore Group
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Explore Group Limited is a
ferry A ferry is a boat or ship that transports passengers, and occasionally vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A small passenger ferry with multiple stops, like those in Venice, Italy, is sometimes referred to as a water taxi or water bus ...
and tourism company located in
New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
and
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
. The company operates in the
Bay of Islands The Bay of Islands is an area on the east coast of the Far North District of the North Island of New Zealand. It is one of the most popular fishing, sailing and tourist destinations in the country, and has been renowned internationally for ...
,
Whitsunday Islands The Whitsunday Islands are 74 continental islands of various sizes off the central coast of Queensland, Australia, north of Brisbane. The northernmost of the islands are off the coast by the town of Bowen, while the southernmost islands ar ...
,
Hauraki Gulf The Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana is a coastal feature of the North Island of New Zealand. It has an area of 4000 km2,Waitematā Harbour The Waitematā Harbour is the main access by sea to Auckland, New Zealand. The harbour forms the northern and eastern coasts of the Auckland isthmus and is crossed by the Auckland Harbour Bridge. It is matched on the southern side of the city ...
. Explore operates
sailing Sailing employs the wind—acting on sails, wingsails or kites—to propel a craft on the surface of the ''water'' (sailing ship, sailboat, raft, Windsurfing, windsurfer, or Kitesurfing, kitesurfer), on ''ice'' (iceboat) or on ''land'' (Land sa ...
experiences on former Americas Cup Yachts, excursions and
public transport Public transport (also known as public transit, mass transit, or simply transit) are forms of transport available to the general public. It typically uses a fixed schedule, route and charges a fixed fare. There is no rigid definition of whic ...
ferry A ferry is a boat or ship that transports passengers, and occasionally vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A small passenger ferry with multiple stops, like those in Venice, Italy, is sometimes referred to as a water taxi or water bus ...
services for
Auckland Transport Auckland Transport (AT) is the council-controlled organisation (CCO) of Auckland Council responsible for transport projects and services. It was established by section 38 of the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009, and operates under ...
.


History

In 2014 Explore began an
Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...
to
Waiheke Island Waiheke Island is the second-largest island (after Great Barrier Island) in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand. Its ferry terminal in Matiatia Bay at the western end is from the central-city terminal in Auckland. It is the most populated island ...
service. However, in 2016, plagued by infrastructure and passenger number issues, the company was forced to end the service, leaving
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 ferr ...
the sole passenger ferry company operating services to the island. Explore began expanding in July 2021 by buying
Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands Fullers GreatSights is a major tourism company based in Northland Region, Northland, New Zealand. Today it is Northland's largest marine tourism operator with a wide range of cruises and land tours. History In 1887, Albert Ernest Fuller laun ...
. Following the announcement from
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 ferr ...
that on 1 October 2023, ferry services to
Birkenhead Birkenhead () is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England. The town is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite Liverpool. It lies within the Historic counties of England, historic co ...
, Te Onewa/Northcote Pt and
Bayswater Bayswater is an area in the City of Westminster in West London. It is a built-up district with a population density of 17,500 per square kilometre, and is located between Kensington Gardens to the south, Paddington to the north-east, and ...
would be suspended, Explore Group announced on 15 September 2023 that
Auckland Transport Auckland Transport (AT) is the council-controlled organisation (CCO) of Auckland Council responsible for transport projects and services. It was established by section 38 of the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009, and operates under ...
had contracted them to take over operations of Fuller's cancelled routes - marking Explore's reentry into the public transport industry.


Auckland Vessels


See also

*
Public transport in Auckland Public transport in Auckland, the largest Ranked list of New Zealand urban areas, metropolitan area of New Zealand, consists of three transport mode, modes: bus, heavy rail, train and ferry. Services are coordinated by Auckland Transport (AT ...
*
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 ferr ...
*
Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands Fullers GreatSights is a major tourism company based in Northland Region, Northland, New Zealand. Today it is Northland's largest marine tourism operator with a wide range of cruises and land tours. History In 1887, Albert Ernest Fuller laun ...
*
Auckland Transport Auckland Transport (AT) is the council-controlled organisation (CCO) of Auckland Council responsible for transport projects and services. It was established by section 38 of the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009, and operates under ...


References

Notes Citations


External links

* (official New Zealand website) * {{URL, exploregroup.com.au, Explore Group Australia (official Australian website) Ferry companies of Australia Ferry companies of New Zealand Public transport in Auckland Waiheke Island Hibiscus Coast Bay of Islands Whitsunday Islands Waitematā Harbour Hauraki Gulf