ORC’s regional planning and transport general manager, Anita Dawe, stated that the ferry contract for Lake Wakatipu was awarded to the new owners, Watersports Ltd, in July. This change has allowed for the enhancement of services and the introduction of new water travel options.
The initial improvements, which began on July 4, included a late-night service available every night of the week, resulting in a 9% increase in patronage for that month. As of yesterday, the services have expanded further, with ferries now running every hour between 8.15am and 9.45pm.
Iraj Barabi, the co-owner of Watersports Ltd, expressed his commitment to providing a top-notch transportation experience by investing in improvements and resources. The goal is to offer better timeliness, expanded services, and increased customer satisfaction.
Despite a 4% decrease in patronage for the 2024-2025 financial year compared to the previous year, there has been a recent improvement in passenger numbers. Between January and July, patronage increased by 4% compared to the same period the year before.
Ferry pricing remains the same at $10 per person per trip with a Bee Card, or $14 with a bank card, while children under 5 travel for free. The ferry service, which began in January 2020 as a trial overseen by ORC and RealNZ, is now contracted to Watersports Ltd permanently.
Overall, the expanded timetable is expected to drive higher passenger numbers for the rest of the year, providing locals and visitors with improved water transport options in Queenstown.
— ALLIED MEDIA
