Captain Cook Cruises is an Australian cruise operator. As of January 2018, the company operated 21 vessels on Sydney Harbour, providing a range of government-contracted and non-contracted ferry services, sightseeing, dining and charter cruises.
History
Captain Cook Cruises commenced operating on 26 January 1970 on Port Jackson, Sydney with the Captain Cook, a modified 1943 Fairmile B motor launch. The business was founded by Trevor Haworth taking its name from James Cook who led the first European contact with the East Coast of Australia in 1770.Trevor Haworth 1931-2014 Otituary Sydney Morning Herald 10 April 2014
Initially operating charters, on 1 May 1970 regular cruises began operating from Circular Quay to Middle Harbour. In November 1971 a second cruise commenced via the Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers as far as the Gladesville Bridge.
In August 1975, the custom-built Captain Cook II built by Carrington Slipways, Tomago was commissioned. In August 1978, the Lady Geradline was built by Millkraft Shipyards, Brisbane. This was followed by City of Sydney built by Sims Engineering, Port Chalmers in 1981. In 1978 the original Northbridge marina was sold with a new facility purchased in Neutral Bay.In May 1984, the John Cadman Cruising Restaurant business was purchased.
In 1987, Captain Cook Cruises began operating cruises on the Hawkesbury River and Pittwater with the Lady Hawkesbury. In November 1987, the Hegarty Ferries business was purchased from Stannard Bros, primarily to give Captain Cook Cruises exclusive access to wharf 6 at Circular Quay. It operated services to Jeffrey Street, Milsons Point and McMahons Point. In May 1988, the business of Murray River Developments was purchased with the Murray River Queen and Murray Princess on the Murray River and the Brisbane Explorer on the Brisbane River.
In 1991, operations began on the Great Barrier Reef in a joint venture with Qantas.Luxury cruiser for Qld Canberra Times 17 January 1990 page 4 The was ordered, however problems during its construction resulted in the Lady Hawkesbury being transferred from the Hawkesbury River to the Great Barrier Reef as the Reef Escape in July 1992. In turn the Brisbane Explorer was transferred to the Hawkesbury as the Hawkesbury Explorer II. The Reef Endeavour eventually entered service in 1995.
In 1992, the company began operations in Fiji, purchasing Tivua Island, located 18 km off the coast of Port Denarau. Sailing Day Cruises were commenced to the island. Reef Escape was relocated to Fiji from the Great Barrier Reef in 1995 and began accommodated cruises through the Yasawa and Mamanuca Islands .
On 7 January 2003, the former Hegarty routes ceased.Hegarty's ferry service Afloat February 2003 In November 2005 Matilda Cruises was acquired from Amalgamated Holdings Limited, with 11 vessels.Introducing Matilda Cruises Matilda CruisesQuay Cruises Pty Ltd proposed acquisition of assets of Matilda Cruises Pty Ltd Australian Competition & Consumer Commission 3 November 2005 In 2011, Captain Cook Cruises was purchased by the SeaLink Travel Group that was later renamed Kelsian Group.SeaLink buys Capt Cook Cruises ABC News 25 August 2011 Travel Weekly 25 August 2011Prospectus SeaLink Travel Group 2013 In February 2026 the business was sold to Journey Beyond.Divestment of Tourism Portfolio Kelsian Group 24 February 2026Captain Cook Cruises, SeaLink offloaded to PE backed Journey Beyond Australian Financial Review 24 February 2026
Sydney Network
Captain Cook Cruises operate ferry services connecting Sydney Harbour, Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, Circular Quay, Watsons Bay, Manly, the Lane Cove River and White Bay.
The Shark Island and Zoo Express are part of the Hop On Hop Off (HOHO) services which also call at Watsons Bay and Manly. These services will resume during the school holidays on 19 December 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic.Cruise and Ferry Update Captain Cook Cruises
Resumption dates for the City Loop (Darling Harbour/Barangaroo), Luna Park, and Fort Denison services are not yet known. Timetables - Ferries Commuter | Tourist - Hop On Hop Off Ferry Services Captain Cook Cruises Accessed 6 December 2020
City Loop Sydney Aquarium Darling Harbour Luna Park Circular Quay West
Shark Island Circular Quay West Shark Island
Zoo ExpressTaronga Zoo Ferry Timetable Captain Cook Cruises 24 December 2010 Circular Quay West Taronga Zoo
White Bay Only operates on days that there are cruise liners at White Bay. So will not resume until the cruise terminal reopens. Darling Harbour White Bay
Watsons Bay A commuter service between Watsons Bay and Circular Quay commenced on 23 March 2015.Watsons Bay finally gets a commuter ferry as Captain Cook Cruises launches private service Wentworth Courier 27 March 2015
Lane Cove River Circular Quay West Jeffrey Street Kirribilli Birchgrove Greenwich Point Bay Street, Greenwich Northwood Longueville Alexandra Street, Hunters Hill St Ignatius' College, Riverview
Vessels Name Builder Year built NotesCaptain Cook I1943Fairmile B motor launch formerly named Daydream II, sold to Fiji as Stardust IICaptain Cook IICarrington Slipways, Tomago1975Corsairpurchased second hand 1976Lady GeraldineMillkraft Shipyards, Hemmant1978named after Trevor Haworth's wifeCity of SydneySims Engineering, Port Chalmers1981John Cadman1970purchased with John Cadman Cruising Restaurant business May 1984, rebuilt from burnt out hull of Lady Scott built for Sydney Ferries Limited in 1915, sold as Harbour QueenJohn Cadman IICarrington Slipways, Tomago1986Leurapurchased with Hegarty Ferries business November 1987, sold 2003, named after LeuraSeeka Star1940purchased with Hegarty Ferries business November 1987, sold 2003Twin Star1972purchased with Hegarty Ferries business November 1987, sold 2003Lady HawkesburyCarrington Slipways, Tomago1987 transferred from Hawkesbury River to Great Barrier Reef and renamed Reef Escape July 1992Murray River QueenHindmarsh Island1974purchased with Murray River Developments business May 1988, sold 1993Murray PrincessHindmarsh Island1986Princess takes to the water Victor Harbor Times 4 June 1986 page 1purchased with Murray River Developments business May 1988Brisbane Explorerpurchased with Murray River Developments business May 1988, transferred from Brisbane River to Hawkesbury River and renamed Hawkesbury Explorer IIJohn Cadman IIICarrington Slipways, Tomago1989Captain Cook IIIWavemaster, Fremantle1990Reef EndeavourGovernment Shipyard, Suva1995Sydney 2000Austal, Perth1998Sydney 2000 nearly collided with Collaroy on 4 June 2023AliceNorman R Wright & Sons, Bulimba1996purchased with Matilda Cruises business November 2005Vessel Directory Norman R Wright & Sonsput up for sale in July 2023JillianNorman R Wright & Sons, Bulimba1996purchased with Matilda Cruises business November 2005MeganNorman R Wright & Sons, Bulimba1996purchased with Matilda Cruises business November 2005Elizabeth CookRichardson Devine Marine, Hobart2013named after Elizabeth CookRDM059 Elizabeth Cook Richardson Devine MarineMary ReibeyRichardson Devine Marine, Hobart2014named after Mary ReibeyAnother New Generation Vessel Joins Captain Cook Cruises Fleet Sealink Travel Group 28 May 2014Annabelle RankinRichardson Devine Marine, Hobart2014named after Annabelle RankinThird New Generation Vessel Joins Captain Cook Cruises Fleet Sealink Travel Group 8 July 2014Violet McKenzieRichardson Devine Marine, Hobart2015named after Violet McKenzieFourth New-Generation Ferry for Sydney Harbour Incat Crowther 5 February 2015Capricorn SunriseAluminium Boats Australia, Hemmant2011transferred from Gladstone November 2016SeaLink's super ferry for Sydney Harbour ETB Travel 3 November 2016Cockle BayRichardson Devine Marine, Hobart2016named after Cockle BayCaptain Cook Cruises adds two new innovative Catamarans to fleet ETB Travel News 20 January 2017 Leased to RiverCity Ferries together with Blackwattle Bay, White Bay, Pyrmont Bay and Eleanor (the last three not listed here), from November 2020, to operate KittyCat CityHopper and CityFerry services on the Brisbane River.Blackwattle BayRichardson Devine Marine, Hobart2016named after Blackwattle BayNancy WakeAluminium Marine, Thornlands2017named after Nancy WakeCaptain Cook Cruises puts new Sydney catamaran ferry Nancy Wake into service Baird Maritime 15 December 2017
References
External links