1 February 2013

Auckland Transport to open two new ferry wharves

Auckland’s newest ferry wharves at Hobsonville Point and Beach Haven will be officially opened on Sunday (3 February), with ferry services starting on Monday morning.

On Sunday, from 11am to 2pm, families can enjoy a range of fun activities at the Hobsonville Point wharf on Hudson Bay Road as part of the opening celebrations, including free biking and kayaking, face painting and musical entertainment. A free shuttle bus will also be operating between the wharf and the Hobsonville Point Farmers’ Market.

A limited free ferry service will operate between Beach Haven and Hobsonville Point between noon and 1pm and again from 2 to 2.30pm.

Mayor Len Brown will be on hand to open Auckland Transport’s new wharves – first unveiling an opening plaque at the $1.2 million Beach Haven facility before sailing across to Hobsonville Point for the official opening ceremony for the new upper harbour terminals.

The $3.2 million Hobsonville wharf has been built by Auckland Transport with a $900,000 funding contribution from the Hobsonville Land Company, which is currently overseeing the development of thousands of new homes and two new schools on the peninsula’s former airbase land.

The wide 70-metre-long wharf is fully covered, with seating out to the new gangway and multi-level board pontoon. The facility has been designed to enable access for people less abled and the pontoon is future-proofed to accommodate larger vessels as Hobsonville Point grows. The wharf also features a viewing platform with an illuminated Virginia King sculpture, as well as side panels depicting historic and modern-day images of the area.

The new ferry service connecting Hobsonville Point, Beach Haven and the Downtown Ferry Terminal will be operated by 360 Discovery Ltd, providing two morning and three afternoon sailings each week day on an 80-seat catamaran. The service from Hobsonville Point to downtown Auckland will take 30 minutes. The service from Beach Haven takes 40 minutes.

Fare and timetable information is available at www.AT.co.nz

Information on sailings and fares:

Morning services will operate from Beach Haven from 6.50am and will end in the evening in Hobsonville at 6.45pm. Adult ticket prices for Hobsonville Point will cost $12 cash fare one way or $9.20 with an AT HOP card. Child fares will cost $7.20 cash fare or $6.48 with an AT HOP card.

Adult ticket prices for Beach Haven to Auckland will cost $8.00 cash fare or $6.40 with an AT HOP card. Child fares will cost $4.80 cash fare or $4.32 with an AT HOP card.

For more information: www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz

ENDS

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