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Post by Balfour on Nov 19, 2018 15:11:52 GMT -8
Just one for now. This is the MV Okiato as featured on #FerryFriday last week. She is one of two Kwuna style vessels providing 15 minute frequency on the short route between the small towns of Okiato and Opua. This provides the shortest vehicle link between Russell and Paihia, the two largest towns in the Bay of Islands in New Zealand's Far North Region.  MV Okiato by Jordan Whiteside, on Flickr |
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Post by Balfour on Mar 13, 2019 16:10:04 GMT -8
**Photo Heavy**Just before New Years, I took the Ferry from Wellington on the North Island, to Picton on the South Island. It's a lovely 3.5 hour crossing through the Wellington Harbour, the open Cook Strait, which can be one of the world's most dangerous patches of ocean, and finally into the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. All featured on Live Ferry Day! There are two Companies operating this crossing. I was on Interislander, which is owned by the Government of New Zealand and operated under KiwiRail's "Great Journeys of New Zealand" banner. The other is Bluebridge Ferries which is a private operator. I caught the 7:00pm Sailing from Wellington aboard the MV Kaitaki. She was built in 1995 for Irish Ferries and was originally named the Pride of Innisfree. after being chartered by P & O and Stena Lines, in 2005 she was chartered by the New Zealand Government. By this time she had been renamed to MV Challenger. In 2007, The New Zealand government renamed her to the Maori translation of Challengerwhich is Kaitaki. The New Zealand Government Purchased her outright in 2017.  MV Kaitaki by Jordan Whiteside, on Flickr There are four Car Decks on this Behemoth of a ferry. Loading is only single ramp and only through the bow on this ship.  20181228_174931 by Jordan Whiteside, on Flickr I ended up being parked on the highest car deck on the entire ship.  20181228_175149 by Jordan Whiteside, on Flickr During the crossing, we passed by the DEV Aratere. She is a unique ferry because she has the ability to carry rail cars and passenger vehicles. She uses a special berth at each terminal that is double ramped much like at our major terminals back in BC. The difference is that Rail Cars are loaded on the lower deck, and the upper deck takes vehicle traffic including large commercial vehicles. She was built 1998 in Spain and stretched in 2011 in Singapore.  DEV Aratere by Jordan Whiteside, on Flickr  DEV Aratere by Jordan Whiteside, on Flickr After passing the Aratere We entered the Marlborough Sounds through a passage even narrower than the entrance to Active Pass!  20181228_210421 by Jordan Whiteside, on Flickr The Scenery in here is amazing!  20181228_210341 by Jordan Whiteside, on Flickr  20181228_211248 by Jordan Whiteside, on Flickr In terms of Amenities, The Kaitaki comes equipped with three licensed restaurants, a premium Lounge, Gift shop, and movie theatre located on the tween deck. Drinking in public is legal in New Zealand as long as there is no sign indicated a "Liquor Ban Area," which the ferry had no such signage. Being able to walk around the ship with an open beer gave this summer evening sailing a very social pub like atmosphere on the outside decks and the weather was mint too. I'll be crossing the Cook Strait again in late April when it's deep into Autumn down here. Perhaps it'll be stormy? Stay tuned!
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Neil
Voyager 
Posts: 7,175
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Post by Neil on Mar 13, 2019 18:18:06 GMT -8
Love seeing photos and hearing accounts on ferries in other parts of the world. Not bad looking vessels, either. Know what really stuck out, though, Jordan? You said, "the weather was mint". Are young people saying 'mint' again? That's like, 1965 slang. Next thing you know, people will start using the term 'square' for describing those who are out of the loop. Like me.  |
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Post by northwesterner on Mar 13, 2019 21:59:28 GMT -8
**Photo Heavy**Just before New Years, I took the Ferry from Wellington on the North Island, to Picton on the South Island. It's a lovely 3.5 hour crossing through the Wellington Harbour, the open Cook Strait, which can be one of the world's most dangerous patches of ocean, and finally into the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. All featured on Live Ferry Day! There are two Companies operating this crossing. I was on Interislander, which is owned by the Government of New Zealand and operated under KiwiRail's "Great Journeys of New Zealand" banner. The other is Bluebridge Ferries which is a private operator. I caught the 7:00pm Sailing from Wellington aboard the MV Kaitaki. She was built in 1995 for Irish Ferries originally named the Pride of Innisfree. She was chartered by the New Zealand Government in 2005,after she had been chartered by P & O and Stena Lines. By this time she had been renamed to MV Challenger. In 2007, The New Zealand government renamed her to the Maori translation of Challengerwhich is Kaitaki. The New Zealand Government Purchased her outright in 2017. I've kind of been waiting ... for months really, for you to ride a ferry and post a trip report  . Thanks for doing so. This is a beautiful trip. When I was in NZ in Dec 2013, I sailed on the MV Arahura, which is now retired. At the time, I believe the Aratere was anchored in Wellington having dropped a propeller and was waiting for a new one to be fabricated and shipped to Singapore where she would be drydocked. How was the outdoor deck space on this vessel? I lucked into a day/time combo where the Arahura was operating an amenable schedule as she appeared to have the most outdoor space in the fleet. I wasn't disappointed. My trip report is here: ferriesbc.proboards.com/post/167948 |
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Post by Balfour on Mar 14, 2019 0:56:18 GMT -8
**Photo Heavy**Just before New Years, I took the Ferry from Wellington on the North Island, to Picton on the South Island. It's a lovely 3.5 hour crossing through the Wellington Harbour, the open Cook Strait, which can be one of the world's most dangerous patches of ocean, and finally into the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. All featured on Live Ferry Day! There are two Companies operating this crossing. I was on Interislander, which is owned by the Government of New Zealand and operated under KiwiRail's "Great Journeys of New Zealand" banner. The other is Bluebridge Ferries which is a private operator. I caught the 7:00pm Sailing from Wellington aboard the MV Kaitaki. She was built in 1995 for Irish Ferries originally named the Pride of Innisfree. She was chartered by the New Zealand Government in 2005,after she had been chartered by P & O and Stena Lines. By this time she had been renamed to MV Challenger. In 2007, The New Zealand government renamed her to the Maori translation of Challengerwhich is Kaitaki. The New Zealand Government Purchased her outright in 2017. I've kind of been waiting ... for months really, for you to ride a ferry and post a trip report . Thanks for doing so. This is a beautiful trip. When I was in NZ in Dec 2013, I sailed on the MV Arahura, which is now retired. At the time, I believe the Aratere was anchored in Wellington having dropped a propeller and was waiting for a new one to be fabricated and shipped to Singapore where she would be drydocked. How was the outdoor deck space on this vessel? I lucked into a day/time combo where the Arahura was operating an amenable schedule as she appeared to have the most outdoor space in the fleet. I wasn't disappointed. My trip report is here: ferriesbc.proboards.com/post/167948It only took me 2 months to post this trip report There was no outer deck that offered a view forward however outdoor deck space aboard the Kaitaki is plentiful with both open and covered space. I was quite pleased I'd say it's the most beautiful ferry ride that I've taken outside of BC |
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Post by Balfour on Apr 7, 2019 14:35:00 GMT -8
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Post by Starsteward on Apr 7, 2019 15:28:04 GMT -8
What! No coffee bar? Good on the chap that did what had to be done in tough circumstances! |
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Post by Balfour on Jan 21, 2020 0:58:42 GMT -8
More Cook Strait Awesomeness that's long overdue. I took these in May 2019 while in Picton and then while travelling aboard the MV Aratere (featured on our Instagram account on #liveferryday) This was taken while driving the beautiful and windy Queen Charlotte Drive between Havelock and Picton. When I rounded a corner, there was a lovely viewpoint overlooking the ferry terminals  Picton, NZ by Jordan Whiteside, on Flickr This Picture shows the Bluebridge's MV Strait Feronia departing for Wellington.  MV Straitsman by Jordan Whiteside, on Flickr And Here is Insterislander's MV Kaitaki following her.  MV Kaitaki & MV Straitsma by Jordan Whiteside, on Flickr After a night spent camping in Picton in my campervan, I had reserved a spot on the 10:45am sailing aboard the Interislander's Aratere. This vessel is unique among the ferries plying the waters of the Marlborough Sounds and the Cook Strait because she holds Rail cars on her lower deck and all road vehicles, including large semis, are loaded onto the upper deck via a transfer ramp much like the ones we see at the major terminals with BC Ferries. Here is one of my favourite shots. This one was featured on our Instagram account and Interislander's too.  Marlborough Sounds by Jordan Whiteside, on Flickr At this point we had just passed the Kaitaki MV Kaitaki by Jordan Whiteside, on Flickr Once in Wellington I got this picture of the MV Kaiarahi resting. May is late Autumn in New Zealand so only a two boat service is needed at this time of year.  MV Kaiarahi by Jordan Whiteside, on Flickr |
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Nov 9, 2020 22:12:43 GMT -8
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jan 14, 2021 21:55:37 GMT -8
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Dec 12, 2023 23:35:16 GMT -8
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