Rachel cruises on board true north - march 2006


cruise:

Kimberley Wilderness Two Week Complete. Broome to Wyndham.

I have been to numerous countries and experienced different cultures and types of entertainment, however I have never had a better holiday.  The Kimberley Wilderness cruise is the perfect combination of adventure, luxury, comraderie and escapism!

ocean class: jackson falls - port side

With enough room to move easily between the two twin beds and a surprisingly roomy ensuite this cabin was more than adequate to accommodate two people.  The two portholes can be opened for fresh air if required, however the temperature was always comfortable.  There is more than enough to do each day to keep you busy, but if you want to take a nanna nap and miss an excursion (especially an early morning departure), then the beds are comfy for napping in, reading a book or making use of the DVD player in each ocean class cabin.  One thing you need to remember though when booking cabin type is that the ocean class are fixed twin configuration - great if you are single, but not so great if you are travelling as a couple!

Top 3 sights:

1) Sunrise Over Mt Trafalgar - an early morning heli flight took me up to a lookout over Mt Trafalgar where I watched the stunning sunrise whilst enjoying a glass of bubbly and fruit and cheese platter.  The scenic transfer back to the True North also provided some fantastic opportunites for aerial photographs.

2) King George Twin Falls - I was lucky enough to travel on the first cruise of the season.  The waterfalls were in full flow after the biggest wet season in 56 years.  I travelled in a tender as close to the waterfalls as the torrid spray would allow and then took a scenic flight to the top of the falls.  Majestic!

3) The Buccanneer Archipelago - Such a beautiful tapestry of colour and scenery. Simply gorgeous!

top 3 activities:

1) Heli-Picnics - If you travel on True North, you simply must do the heli-picnic.  You are flown to a remote location complete with gorgeous waterhole and/or waterfall.  The chefs prepare a sumptious bbq - I was lucky enough to have both a seafood and traditional BBQ on different days - and you can either swim, lounge around by the waterfall or go exploring with one of the knowledgeable guides. Lots of fun.

2) Fishing! - There is seriously nothing like fishing in the Kimberleys.  It is virtually impossible to go fishing and not catch anything - even my Dad caught a Barra!

3) Swimming under waterfalls - I did my cruise during the last two weeks of March when the waterfalls were at their fullest and there was a waterfall around every corner.  The True North has six tender vessels and the crew were flexible enough to stop and let you jump out and have an unscheduled swim if needed.  There is nothing quite like being somewhere so beautiful and feeling cascading water pour over your body!  Rejuvenating.

food report:

Okay - so you've heard the food is good? False.  It is FANTASTIC!  From the sumptious catch of the day to the freshly baked bread, the presentation is only beaten by the taste.   If you love your food, then this is the cruise for you.  My only word of advice would be - take clothes with a bit of room in them.... every single person on my cruise put on a few kgs by the end of two weeks.
 

this cruise is ideal for:

People who love to immerse themselves in their environment yet be able to retire at will to airconditioned comfort and luxury.  The size of the boat allows you to mingle or retreat at your discretion. Some level of mobility is required for the activities, although the very helpful crew are always on hand to assist where needed - in fact the True North has the highest crew to passenger ratio!  The helicopter tours really add another dimension to your experience.

Most useful item i packed:

Sunglasses... I recommend taking polarised sunglasses if you can as they will enhance what you can see at Montgomery Reef and an extra pair is always good - just in case you should leave them behind on some remote shore excursion.

value for money:

The True North is not cheap - neither is anything they do.  Everything is done with quality of product and service in mind.   Worth every dollar and more.