Birkenhead, Northcote and Bayswater ferry services are ending as of 1 October!

John Gillon from

This is terrible news for the North Shore. The Birkenhead, Northcote and Bayswater ferry services are ending as of 1 October, after Fullers decided not to renew the contracts, while the Gulf Harbour and Half-Moon Bay ferry services will only operate in peak times. There are no changes to other ferry services.

Auckland Transport are currently in discussions with an alternative provider, so there is a glimmer hope that the services will continue beyond 1 October, however they would likley be in a reduced form. If AT can't find an alternative operator, we will be without any service to those wharves for around 14-18 months. The first time we haven't had a Birkenhead service in over 100 years!
The only positive in this, is that Fullers have decided to end the contracts in order invest time in training up new skippers. Auckland is short some 13 skippers and 12 deck hands compared to pre-COVID, and it takes over a year for a new skipper to qualify. So after this period, the ferry services across Auckland should be in a more reliable state.

NZ Herald article: www.nzherald.co.nz...

In the meantime, users of the Birkenhead and Northcote ferries will need to travel by bus or car to get to the city. There is no direct bus route from Birkenhead Point, so bus users will need to transfer in Highbury. And with more cars likley to be on the road, we can expect to see added pressure on Onewa Road. There is no alternative route to the city for bikes, unless cyclists can get to the Beach Haven ferry.

Birkenhead to Downtown:
Route 917 from Birkenhead Wharf connects to the high frequency bus routes at Highbury shops which travel to Downtown via Onewa Rd.
Te Onewa Northcote Point to Downtown:
Route 928 connects to the high frequency bus routes on Onewa Rd.
Bayswater to Downtown:
Route 802 direct to Midtown (Peak only, Monday to Friday), or Route 801 to Akoranga Station where high frequency buses go to Downtown, Midtown and Ponsonby/Newmarket.