The old Auckland ferry Kestrel made the news recently when she suddenly sunk at her Wynyard Wharf moorings last week.
The Kestrel was the oldest ferry in Auckland, and the only remaining (floating) ferry from the old fleet of wooden double ended Auckland ferries. The Kestrel was used in the past on the Devonport and Birkenhead ferry services, and between 1985-2002 she was mostly used for Harbour Cruises and as a charter boat for tourists. Between 2002-2010 she was used as a floating restaurant in Tauranga City. In 2010 she was bought by the Kestrel Preservation Society. Unfortunately not much happened after that, until she sank on the 8th March.
Now there are only two of the original wooden Auckland ferries left, the Toroa in Henderson and the Ngorio in the Coromandel.
Update: The Kestrel has been refloated, but only the hull has survived. She is now alongside Orams Wharf.
The Kestrel was the oldest ferry in Auckland, and the only remaining (floating) ferry from the old fleet of wooden double ended Auckland ferries. The Kestrel was used in the past on the Devonport and Birkenhead ferry services, and between 1985-2002 she was mostly used for Harbour Cruises and as a charter boat for tourists. Between 2002-2010 she was used as a floating restaurant in Tauranga City. In 2010 she was bought by the Kestrel Preservation Society. Unfortunately not much happened after that, until she sank on the 8th March.
Now there are only two of the original wooden Auckland ferries left, the Toroa in Henderson and the Ngorio in the Coromandel.
Update: The Kestrel has been refloated, but only the hull has survived. She is now alongside Orams Wharf.