The story
In 1887, Albert Ernest Fuller launched the "Undine" sailing ship in the Bay of Islands to deliver coal supplies to the islands within the Bay. With the fitting of a motor in the early 1900s, Fuller was able to deliver the coal and essential supplies to communities as far out as Cape Brett. In 1927 Fuller acquired the "Cream Trip" from Eddie Lane – with the facilities on board to transport cream from the islands, and by the 1960s, the well known ‘Bay Belle’ started this run. Although a modern catamaran now takes this historical route (The Cream Trip), the Bay Belle continues to transport visitors and locals between Paihia and Russell throughout the day.
The company expanded to Auckland and became Fullers Corporation. In 1989 Fullers Corporation split into the Bay of Islands company and the Auckland operations, which were taken over by what is now Fullers360.
In December 2008 Fullers Bay of Islands was rebranded Fullers GreatSights to bring it in line with InterCity Group's parent sightseeing brand of GreatSights New Zealand. It offers a range of Bay of Islands cruises and day tours around the region and operates passenger and vehicle ferries between Paihia and Russell/Opua and Okiato.
In 2019 InterCity Group rebranded as Entrada Travel Group, to distinguish itself from its individual operators.
In July 2021, Entrada Travel Group sold Fullers GreatSights' operation (i.e. key assets and the Fullers GreatSights brand) to New Zealand-based marine tourism operator, Explore Group. Explore Group operates cruises and tours in the Bay of Islands and Auckland and also operates out Hamilton Island in Australia. The company remains owned by Entrada Travel Group and was renamed to Northland Ferries Limited on the 2nd of August 2021. The remaining fleet, now owned by Explore Group, still operates under the Fullers GreatSights brand. The company has been mostly integrated within Explore Group Ltd. Northland Ferries now operates the Opua-Okiato and Rawene/Narrows Car Ferry services, and the Paihia-Russell Passenger service.
From Wikipedia’s article on Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4