Bay Belle retires
Hundreds of local well wishers turned out the other day in Russell to farewell the historic ferry Bay Belle, which has completed her last Paihia to Russell crossing after more than 50
years of service. During her time in the Bay, the vessel carried 5.3 million passengers and travelled 1.13 million kilometres. The Bay Belle began operations in the Bay of Islands in late 1961 on the famous Cream Trip cruise, but made way in 1973 for a faster more modern vessel, instead operating as the main passenger ferry vessel between the two main Bay of Islands townships, with up to 15 return trips per day. Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands is replacing the Bay Belle with a modern aluminum vessel, the 100-seat Bay Belle II.
