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Night
1 - Your “welcome aboard” the luxurious
True North is in the frontier city of
Darwin. Embarkation is at 1700 – time
for a cocktail with your fellow adventurers
before departure at approximately 1800.
Dinner is served shortly after leaving
port and then it’s an overnight steam
to Bathurst Island.
Day
1 - We start our cruise activities
with an introduction to the unique culture
of the Tiwi Island people - participate
in a ‘smoke ceremony’ and view rarely
seen local art. Then relax on-board
as we cruise through the Clarence Strait.
Take in the rugged beauty of Australia’s
remote top end, enjoy sumptuous fine
dining in True North’s spacious dining
saloon, try your hand at light game
fishing from the convenience of our
sports deck or, join the more adventurous
for some up-close sightseeing in one
of our expedition boats. Our on-board
helicopter will provide unique opportunity
to view coastal areas, wetlands and
the vast grazing plains of the “top
end”. Then, at the end of the day, True
North’s open-deck bar will be the perfect
spot for an ‘outback sunset’.
Day
2 - This morning the True North’s
favourite tender will provide “not to
be missed” opportunities to visit spectacular
wetlands adjacent to the world-famous
Kakadu National Park. The intrepid ‘heliexplorers’
will also join a guided tour of local
rock-art sites! Back on the water there
will be some hot fishing action in our
“other tenders” for both the novice
and experienced angler alike – reef
fishing, mud crabbing and, of course,
barramundi fishing are all on the agenda!
If you’ve never heard of the elusive
barramundi before – you’ll soon know
everything there is to know about this
revered sport fish! A hard-hitting tenacious
fighter prone to leaping from the water,
the barramundi is equally respected
for its fine eating qualities, and,
you’ll find that our fishing guides
are never short of barramundi stories!
Just ask them! Don’t forget to keep
an eye out for those pesky saltwater
crocodiles because you won’t want to
miss dinner tonight! A crisp white from
True North’s very own label will be
the perfect accompaniment to barramundi
cooked just the way you like it!
Day
3 - Today we wake off the Coburg
Peninsular and the helicopter presents
yet another “not to be missed” opportunity
– this time we explore the ruins of
the ill-fated Victoria Settlement. The
outgoing flight also visits “Frenzy
Creek” where sharks, eagle rays, dugong,
turtles and crocodiles can all be seen
in shallow waters and, on the way back
we search for banteng cattle – they
can only be found in the local wetlands!
Our shore parties will also visit the
remote Black Point ranger station and
interpretation centre. Join a walk to
the nearby wetland - our guides will
help you to identify some of the 85
species of mangrove found in Australia
and bird watchers will encounter species
of every imaginable colour. Squeeze
in some more fishing time and sample
mouth-watering oysters straight from
the rock – they don’t get any fresher
than this! Oh yeah mate! Our evening
meal tonight will be traditional ‘Aussie
Fare’ in honour of the settlers!
Day
4 - Spend the morning exploring
the picturesque Goulburn Islands. There
will be numerous opportunities for reef
fishing, bird watching and beachcombing
on your very own island! Then enjoy
a leisurely lunchtime cruise as we move
the True North back to the coast for
some more hot barramundi action! Visit
sites frequented by the Macassans –
fisherman from Celebes (Sulawesi) that
came in search of prized trepang (sea
slugs) long before the arrival of English
settlers, explore the many mangrove
creeks in the area or join the helicopter
for an exhilarating view of a spectacular
coastline. Finish the day with a cocktail
and a sunset cruise before yet another
unforgettable evening meal!
Day
5 - The barra will be “on the bite”
early this morning and there will also
be opportunities for a scenic flight
to the nearby aboriginal communities
of Milingimbi and Ramingini – here you
will be able to view unusual ‘totem
art’ and there might also be an opportunity
to meet with local ‘movie star’ David
Gulpilil! Lunchtime will herald another
leisurely cruise - this time to the
Crocodile Islands. The afternoon is
set aside for exploring this remote
island group and, for more epic battles
with the areas abundant reef fish!
Day
6 - Everyone on-deck for “action
stations” as we navigate the True North
through the “Hole in the Wall” – a spectacular
tidal surge that’s sure to get the adrenalin
pumping! Then some light game fishing
for mackerel and other surface predators
will keep the tempo up! Join the crew
ashore for an island picnic and explore
the outer reaches of the Wessel Group
in the helicopter. Perhaps the highly
prized ‘red emperor’ will be on the
menu tonight and then join in the fun
at the infamous Captain's Party”!
Day
7 - This morning we go ashore
at Wigram Island to meet Arnhem Land’s
most colourful character – local elder
Terry Yumbululu. Enjoy morning tea with
Terry and his wife Clely in the garden
surrounds of their beach house “in the
middle of nowhere”.This morning is also
your last chance to catch “the biggest
one so far” before we leave the sparkling
waters of the Northern Territory. Our
helicopter expedition today will take
in the spectacular English Company Islands
and Nhulunbuy – including the vast infrastructure
associated with the Nhulunbuy bauxite
mine.
Now it’s time for an ocean
cruise - across the Gulf of Carpentaria!
Day
8 - Today we are on passage across
the Gulf. Time to recharge the batteries,
update the travel log, enjoy on-board
activities and of course, indulge in
some more gastronomical delights!
Day
9 - We arrive early at Thursday
Island and join a coach tour of the
island. There will be opportunities
to meet the local people and to shop
for Aboriginal artifacts and, to just
‘wander around’ this idyllic island
community! Then it’s back on-board for
an afternoon cruise and sunset shore
excursion to Cape York - a not to be
missed photo opportunity on the northern
most tip of the Australian mainland!
Day
10 - This morning we wake off Forbes
Island and spend the whole day relaxing
on this beautiful and pristine coral
atoll. Enjoy a picnic lunch, snorkel
in crystal clear waters, visit nearby
sand cays and join-in the beach activities.
Day
11 - Our next stop is Flinders Island
– here we go ashore to see aboriginal
paintings and by now everyone will also
want to spend as much time in the water
as possible! The delights of the Great
Barrier Reef are just a ‘fin kick’ off
the beach and in swimming pool like
conditions you will be astounded by
the colour of corals and fish alike!
Day
12 - Down the rainforest-fringed
coast to Lizard Island – here a hike
up to Cook’s Look is a must! There’s
also more world-class snorkeling including
the ‘giant clam gardens’. Beautiful
palm fringed beaches, rainforest, breathtaking
coral gardens – does it get any better!
Yes it does – something very special
this afternoon - we visit the famous
“Cod Hole” and everyone gets an opportunity
to hand feed giant potato cod! Then
we’ll swim and fish our way around Direction
Island before sunset drinks on the beach
and an overnight cruise to Cooktown.
Day
13 - Tour this historic frontier
town and the surrounding mountains in
our coach before spending some free
time shopping for gifts and getting
to know the locals, then it’s back on-board
for a farewell dinner and the overnight
steam to Cairns.
Day
14 - Early morning arrival in Cairns
and disembark at 0800 hours. Transfer
to the airport or your accommodation
– a voyage on the True North need only
be the start of your Aussie Adventure!
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