West Coast Explorer (10 Nights) Fremantle to Dampier
Kimberley Waterfalls (10 Nights) Broome to Wyndham / Kununurra
Kimberley Ultimate (13 Nights) Kununurra / Wyndham to Broome
Kimberley Explorer (10 Nights) Broome to Wyndham / Kununurra
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surroundings more akin to one of the world’s most exclusive hotels!

Aboard the True North

about our vessel

Surroundings more akin to one of the world’s most exclusive hotels!

The TRUE NORTH allows discerning adventurers to experience wilderness in surroundings more akin to one of the world’s most exclusive hotels! Guests are able to take advantage of a number of lavish vantage points including a sundeck, a forward observation lounge, a lounge and an alfresco bar. The naturalist presents interpretative information on wall-mounted screens in the lounge and, an internet café enables convenient communication with the outside world.

A popular venue on any TRUE NORTH itinerary, the lower deck dining room offers the ultimate in comfort and uninterrupted vista – large panoramic windows ensure that guests never miss any of the action, even when they are enjoying the ‘finest in fine dining. All cabins feature stylish décor, en-suite facilities, in-house entertainment and satellite telephones. The Explorer Class and River Class staterooms offer king-size beds that can be converted to singles and the Ocean Class twins feature roomy single beds.

The purpose-built TRUE NORTH is able to explore the upper reaches of shallow river systems – guests need only step out of their cabins to experience wilderness. But the adventure doesn't stop there! Multiple adventure boats provide guests with greater opportunity to do “what they want, when they want” and, to add yet another dimension to adventure, most itineraries feature an onboard helicopter

The crew of the TRUE NORTH are generally young Australians who create a truly authentic onboard experience. And our crew are very much part of on-board life - you may even feel as though they are having just as much fun as you are! That’s because they are – every day is an adventure for the crew as well and you will not be able to resist their enthusiasm and passion!

Unlike more conventional cruise experiences – crew members on the TRUE NORTH are encouraged to interact with our guests. They will uniquely chaperone your every experience providing assistance, interpretation and genuine company. They will bait your hook and carry your SCUBA tank but they will also join you for dinner and entertain in the ship’s lounge. And not forgetting that they will also prepare fine meals of distinction, maintain your cabins with our renowned degree of attention and safely navigate the ship, boat and helicopter to each destination.

Guests on the TRUE NORTH never fail to recognize the outstanding involvement of the crew - they are one of the reasons that an adventure on the TRUE NORTH is not just another expedition cruise!

Download Deck Plans

The True North Deck Plans & Cabins

deck plans

Explorer Class Staterooms

4 cabins in total - all located on the upper deck

Upper Deck

Explorer Class
  • 1Bradshaw
  • 2Dampier
  • 3Durack
  • 4Parker King

River Class Staterooms

6 cabins in total - all located on the main deck

Main Deck

River Class
  • 5Prince Regent River
  • 6Mitchell River
  • 7Berkeley River
  • 8Drysdale River
  • 9Hunter River
  • 10King George River
Ocean Class
  • 11Camden Harbour
  • 12Lacepede Islands

Ocean Class Cabins

8 cabins in total - 6 located on the lower deck with 2 on the main deck

Lower Deck

Ocean Class
  • 13Koolama Bay
  • 14Montgomery Reef
  • 15Jackson Falls
  • 16King Cascades
  • 17Imperieuse Reef
  • 18Atlantis Bay

The True North Specification

technical specifications
Commissioned2005
FlagAustralian
ConfigurationMono-hull adventure cruise ship
Length50 metres
Tonnage740 tonnes
Draught2.2 metres
Beam10 metres
Crew22
Passengers36
Propulsion2 x 786 kW
Bow Thruster100 kW
Auxiliary2 x 175 kW
Cruising Speed14 knots
Range2,000 miles
Fuel45,000 lts diesel/10,000 lts Jet A1/3,000 Lts ULP
Water Making Capacity1,500 lts per hour
Motion ControlComputer controlled stabilizers
SafetyFull compliance under the International Marine Orders
Cabin FeaturesEn-suite, in-cabin entertainment and satellite telephone
Cabin Power240 V and 110 V (Australian socket)
Day AreasSun deck, observation lounge, ship’s lounge, alfresco bar, sports deck and dining room
Adventure Boats6
HelicopterEurocopter EC 130 (6 pax all facing forward/air conditioned)

 

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latest news & blog

What’s on True North

Mar. 04, 2024 The Complete Guide to the Kimberley’s Waterfalls

The Complete Guide to the Kimberley’s Waterfalls

Explore Kimberley's stunning waterfalls on a True North cruise. Discover ancient landscapes, unique falls, and untouched beauty. Start your adventure!

Read more
Mar. 04, 2024 Why a Horizontal Falls cruise from Broome is a bucket list item

Why a Horizontal Falls cruise from Broome is a bucket list item

Experience the thrill of a lifetime with a Horizontal Falls cruise from Broome. Discover this natural wonder and embark on an unforgettable luxury adventure.

Read more
Feb. 04, 2024 True North Sails Away With Australian And Global Industry Awards

True North Sails Away With Australian And Global Industry Awards

We are thrilled to kick off 2024 with some exciting news - TRUE NORTH has picked up not one, but two industry awards.

Read more
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Experience the adventure

True North Tales

Returning to International

True North’s founding director Craig Howson and managing director Chad Avenell, recently met with local representatives ahead of recommencing Indonesian itineraries in 2023. Watch the video above to discover how True North ensures smooth operation well in advance of departure.

Time to Book Ahead

Hear from someone who truly knows about the value of booking ahead. “Cheggers” has travelled on the TRUE NORTH more than anyone else!

True North Sails into 30 Years

True North Adventure Cruises - has sailed into 30 years of continuous operations. The now revered adventure-cruise operator first cruised Western Australia’s remote Kimberley coast during 1987 when founding director Craig Howson commenced fishing type charters along a coastline that was and still is largely inaccessible from land.

The Helicopter

Adding another dimension to the adventure, most cruise options on the TRUE NORTH feature an on-board helicopter! Carrying guests in air conditioned comfort, the ship’s helicopter provides unique opportunity to witness grandeur; unique opportunity to fish billabongs that have never been fished; unique opportunity to discover your very own wilderness!

Myles Pollard's Fishing Adventure

There is nothing better than a day out on the water, especially when the fish are biting! Fishing on-board the TRUE NORTH is a much-favoured activity both with guests who have never picked up a rod before and, with those who have "caught them all!” Our guides encourage everybody on-board to “give it a go” and the TRUE NORTH’s multiple adventure boats never fail to bring back a swag of ‘fishing tales’! Stories about the ladies who out-fish the boys are pretty common, humorous equipment failures also come to note on a regular basis, then there are the ‘birthday fish’, the ‘monster fish’ and of course, the ones that got away! Our guides have seen and heard it all! Watch the video to find out more about actor Myles Pollard's fishing adventure!

TRUE NORTH Impresses Again

The TRUE NORTH has once again impressed on the world stage coming second in the 2020 Traveller Made Brand Storytelling competition. Traveller Made is Europe’s largest travel consortium and its members represent the very best in luxury travel providers and suppliers. The group’s inaugural Brand Storytelling competition was an opportunity for leading travel brand’s to showcase “the story behind their brand” and, the competition attracted entries from some of the world’s most respected travel brands. In such esteemed company, True North’s marketing team was especially pleased to receive this additional acknowledgement.

Adventure En Plein Air

West Australian artist Jacob 'Shakey' Butler joined the TRUE NORTH earlier this season and discovered the Kimberley's raw beauty. As the artist in residence, Jacob set up his canvas on remote beaches, beside freshwater billabongs and on-deck surrounded by pindan-coloured gorges. Watch the video above to hear Jacob describing how the Kimberley inspires the art of adventure.

Catriona Rowntree Talks With Craig Howson

A commonly asked question is “When is the best time to see the Kimberley?” And the answer is “The Kimberley is always at its best!” However certain times of the year can make it easier to satisfy particular interest. For example, if you would like to see plenty of whale action then departures in August and September are definitely for you! From late July humpback and southern right whales reach the Kimberley after swimming-up the west coast to reach breeding grounds in the north and it’s very common for guests to get great views of whales breaching and basking on the surface.

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