Without doubt the Kimberley region is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Few people get to see it from the Indian Ocean ... even fewer from the comforts of the True North in the company of such amazing staff. This was a holiday that was much more - an education, a revelation, a privilege and - an opportunity to engage with unbelievably professional staff and wonderfully interesting fellow travellers. There aren't too many places left which truly feel untouched ... with no footprints, where one does not want to leave a trace. Cathedral rocks, freshwater pools, mangrove mazes and pitch black catacombs welcomed us just as they did the amazing artists who mysteriously painted the ancient rock art into the landscape tens of thousands of years ago. Jo-Lee at the bar remembered everyone's favorite drinks, Tegan as cruise co-ordinator was fantastic in ensuring our specific needs were attended to always, Pete Hall (hallie) taught me more about catching Barra in 10 mins than I'd ever learnt in my whole life. Mick taught me how to throw a cast net in one easy lesson and Nat gave me the confidence to hold a slithering snake without fear. Georgia impressed everyone with her magnificent hand drawn graphics and Sean and Kei were brilliant tender skippers. My first hand picked/fresh shucked oyster was delicious and the experience of pulling mud crabs in the mangroves was awesome. Ben the skipper was magnificent in allowing the whales (5 humpbacks) to sidle right up to the True North (I'm talking 5 metres away) ... they came to us. The ship itself had 6 tenders .. aluminium dinghys for excursions - giving a level of comfort and safety (in crocodile waters) not afforded from a blow up zodiac type. I would personally not like to be sitting on the gunnel of a zodiac in the Kimberely. Evenings on board consisted of the evening meal (chef addresses each table) ... a run down of the days activities and what's on tomorrow... followed by drinks at the bar, usually recorded music (although with 2 house guitars on board we were lucky enough to have a couple of musos play live on a couple of nights). The crew organised a fun quiz night and also a dress up party night for everyone ... both great fun. I cannot speak highly enough of every aspect of our time on the True North. Much more than just a holiday ... my wife calls it a spiritual experience. Our footprints may have washed away ... however we carry memories to last a lifetime. The bonus for me? ... I was inspired to finish writing a song I'd been working on for some time. Thank you True North. Read Less

This extraordinary experience of the majestic Kimberley region provided me with wonderful memories for a lifetime. The crew were amazing and went out of their way to facilitate an unforgettable cruise. I had a vague idea of what to expect to see but this trip takes in some of the most breathtaking locations of the Kimberley including; Montgomery Reef, Horizontal Falls, King George River, Mitchell Falls, Hunter River..the list goes on. Take the helicopter package it really does provide the most amazing perspective of the grandeur and size of each location. The food was of exceptional quality and variety. Unfortunately I will need to lose a few kilos post holiday. The cabins were well appointed and very clean, no complaints. Highly recommend this cruise to anyone who is keen to be amazed by our beautiful country, its remote wilderness and its heritage. I will be travelling True North again and looking forward to a new adventure. Read Less

Wow, wow, wow. Our week on True North was by far the best holiday we have ever had. The Kimberley region is a spectacular location for a holiday but being able to see it with True North was what really made it. All of the staff on board were friendly, easy going and professional. They took the time to get to know guests and provided an exceptional service. The food prepared by the chefs was ample and delicious. The chefs were accommodating to specific requests and also happy to share recipes for favourite meals. Housekeeping was done promptly and discreetly and the rooms were very comfortable. Jo-Lee in the bar made excellent cocktails and was familiar with guests usual drinks. There were always loads of great activities on offer and the staff had an immense knowledge and passion for the region and it’s history which was incredibly contagious. I am so, so glad we got to experience True North and would not hesitate to explore with her again. Read Less

For many years we have heard of the wonderful experiences people have had on True North and it has been on our bucket list for some time. We went on the Kimberley Waterfall Cruise departing from Broome in April 2019. We were collected from our accommodation in Broome and taken to the ship at the Port. Here we were met by the friendly young crew of True North and given name badges (very useful) and a welcome drink. After some mingling with the other passengers and crew we were taken to our cabin by one of the crew and shown through the various facilities (daily laundry service was included - how fantastic). After a chef prepared dinner (every meal was simply sensational) we were given details of where we would be travelling to over night and the options of activities available the next day (a process that occurred each evening). The choices always covered peoples capabilities and interests. During the course of our 10 night cruise, I fished (and I had very limited previous experience and the staff were always patient and helpful - and with a sense of humour) and caught fish, I climbed up rock paths to water holes and water pools, visited the most amazing rock art sites, stood on the bow of the ship under a waterfall, had heli picnics (such an incredible experience flying in to an isolated water fall to see a tarp, chairs and BBQ set up), leaned much about the area and its history from the onboard naturalist, saw crocodiles and beautiful sunrises and sunsets. The list goes on. After a day out in the sunshine experiencing the wonderful Kimberley Coast you returned to an airconditioned boat for evening cocktails, a beautifully cleaned room (every cabin has its own bathroom) and the most delightful staff who are always friendly and upbeat. The trip is expensive (as you would expect) but certainly was worth every penny. I am definitely planning to travel with them again in a few years. Read Less

Did the 10 night "Kimberley Waterfalls" trip with 34 other passengers from Broome, WA to Wyndam. Everything on the boat from the cabin, to the food, to the service was first class. The 21 crew members were young, energetic, friendly and very helpful. The activities which are tightly scheduled included fishing, walks, helicopter flights, swimming, picnics and naturalist led excisions. Some of these take a moderate level of fitness so if you are a couch potato this probably isn't the trip for you. Also, there is no nightly entertainment and on many mornings breakfast was at six dependent on the tides.On our voyage there were five Americans and the rest of the passengers were Australians. Everyone was most cordial and mixed well. The cabin size was comparable to what we'd experienced on much larger ships and the bathroom was larger. There is plenty of storage. Dress is totally casual. Bare foot, shorts and tops. The food was excellent and often included fish caught that day by passengers. There are no meal choices except at breakfast but this was never a problem because everything served was delicious. Read Less

I had seen the promotional videos of TrueNorth and met some of the crew when TrueNorth was in Sydney in 2018 and I thought at the time - wow, I would love to do this. I was fortunate that an opportunity landed at my door, I needed to be in Broome and it happened for me. I had the most amazing time, I did not envisage that it was going to be as good as it was. Someone had said to me 'it is difficult to put into words what a trip on the TrueNorth is like, you just have to experience it'. They are correct! A TrueNorth adventure is an experience that you will not get anywhere else. It is a combination of experienced and professional staff, incredible beautiful and remote places in the Kimberley, a boat/ship that is purpose built to take you places to enjoy and immerse yourself in adventures that are wonders of the world. Each day I thought, if the trip stopped now, I have seen/experienced and done things I have not previously done - I would die happy. I am planning on going on another cruise, there are so many adventures that TrueNorth do that would rock my boat - my next one I think will be the Rowley Shoals. If you only get the chance to do one adventure in your life, do one of the TrueNorth cruises, they are worth every penny! Read Less

We had been on a similar cruise with True North before with excellent results We were not disappointed- the service is spectacular, the staff wonderful, and everything about the ship is 6 star The Kimberleys is an outstanding wilderness area and the on board helicopter gave us an all over view. Montgomery Reef is the standout place but all the area, with its waterfalls, red rocks, blue ocean, crocodiles and rivers are amazing. The fishing was great, and we landed many fish including Barrumundi. Swimming in the many waterholes was a treat and the helicopter picnic was a favourite with the staff taking everything up by helicopter and cooking us a BBQ on top of the waterfall. The sunset drinks on the beach was such fun, especially the crabs cooked and eaten that we had caught that day Also the oyster morning, were we shucked our own oysters and had them with champayne for breakfast is a great memory Read Less

My wife and I traveled on True North which was our first time on it. It was fabulous. I felt the best attribute of the ship was the staff - their genuine warmth, engagement, fun and hospitality. It is impossible to force these traits and for them to shine as genuine characteristics is to their credit. The coast is rugged, remote and spectacular. I can see why our Dutch friends in the seventeenth century didn't think much of the land for settlement. Of course their real problem was they weren't travelling in the lap of luxury with a helicopter to ferry them hither and thither. I also liked that there were only about 15 cabins on the boat and that the guests were quite interesting. We will definitely catch up with a few. The ship fostered a genuine sense of camaraderie with humor added for good measure. One of the guests wrote a song about our adventures and we had a singalong which was quite amusing. The food was always interesting, fresh and often involved the catch of the day. I might have retired to the bar once or twice which always generated much laughter and the sense of ridiculous. The hosts with the most were Jo-Lee and Coco We will be going on the ship again Bravo True North! Read Less

True North takes us to remote places that we would never otherwise see.It is most known for its Kimberley trips and they are a must . After travelling to so many ancient places in the world in search of history ,the Kimberley just blew me away as it's all there . We have traveled with True North before - this was our sixth trip on board ! Southern Safari Adventure Cruise was just incredible landscape from Adelaide to Ceduna. On and off Kangaroo Island ,snorkeling with sea lions at Hopkins Island was the highlight for me - just one of the most beautiful experiences in my life . Fishing for King George Whiting , Snapper and Groper or dropping the crab pots - 60 blue swimmer crabs in less than half a day .The chefs Luke and Gavin do such amazing things with all this FRESH food that has just come out of the ocean.Small group of 25 guests who you get to know well and feel like firm friends by the end of your trip. Lots of laughs had by all. I snorkeled with blue finned tuna , went down in a shark cage too - wow so many memories. My husband fished in the mornings and fished in the afternoons - he caught them while I looked in awe and played with them - both very happy travelers . True North Adventure Cruises are not like a big ship cruise at all - everything is very much showing the landscape that larger boats /ships cannot get to . If you like to fish there's fishing tenders [not rubber duckies] ,if you want to go to that island and have a walk or swim - they will take you. There is a naturalist on board who will point out the wildlife - fantastic .With so much to do through the day - that's really entertaining . Life is for living - on True North you really LIVE your life !! Read Less

We went to swim and snorkel with the whale sharks and that indeed was fabulous. They are beautiful calm fish and we got up close to them. Be warned though, it is a somewhat artificial experience. The fishermen on the bagans are paid to feed them for the tourists. Also, to get the most out of the experience one needs to be able to free dive if not scuba dive. Snorkelling on the surface is third best. That would have been good to know before departure. The staff were polite, friendly and helpful. One rescued me when I drifted away in a strong current while looking at the whale sharks and another gave me helpful lessons on free diving. I didn’t nail it, but that’s no criticism of the instruction. The food was just okay. It’s basically pub food trying to be gourmet and very meaty, which was surprising on a cruise costing this much. In contrast we went to the Kimberley on Great Escape a few years ago and the food was fresh, varied and top restaurant quality. My main criticism is of the helicopter rides. They are provided by Air Bali and are a complete rip off. We paid $750 per person for an hour long trip during which I had to sit facing away from the direction we were flying (and so could see little without turning my head 90 degrees) and the commentary could have been written on half a page. Further, it was barely comprehensible. We didn’t meet the pilot and I didn’t get a safety briefing. I’ve done helicopter rides in the Kimberley and in Africa and loved them all. This one was awful. I gave the cruise director my feedback and she merely said she would pass it on to the head office. Read Less

We have just returned from our second trip on True North. On both trips we have had the dubious pleasure of having Craig Howson, managing director and part owner of True North on board. On the first trip, we did to the Sepik river, Craig was with some fishing buddies and they were an awkward presence but fairly easily avoidable. They drank a lot but kept pretty much to themselves. The trip to the Sepik was fascinating and very enjoyable. In addition to seeing the Sepik river there was some great snorkeling and fishing on offer and the other passengers were all very pleasant. Our most recent trip was to Raja Ampat. Again it was very beautiful with lots of great Snorkeling. The scenery was spectacular and the sea life and corals were some of the best we have ever seen. Craig was again on board but this time accompanied by his wife and 3 of his children, together with some friends and their children. In all there were 8 adults and 7 children in the group. In general they didn’t make any effort to engage with the rest of the passengers. The children we were told ranged in age from 13 to 6 years, but in truth there was one 13 year old and the other 6 ranged between 9 and 6 years. 3 boys shared a cabin but all the other slept on the floor in their parents cabins. Fortunately 3 of the other passengers were on their own otherwise a ship meant to be carrying 36 passengers would have actually had 41 on board. As it was there were 38 passengers on board. This group got special treatment all the time and the rest of the passengers were made to feel that they were just being tolerated on someone else’s holiday. Cruise critic says that you are unlikely to have children on board but this is clearly not the case. Our understanding was that the managing director was on board at least 12 times a year and his children traveled at least three times a year with him. Trying to avoid school holidays and asking before you book may mean that you can avoid children but there is clearly no guarantee. Most of the children were fairly good but 2 were absolutely feral and I think that once you get 7 fairly young children together, especially with 2 amazingly rude and naughty ones, on a fairly small ship with very little outside space, you are going to get a lot of noise and disruption to the other passengers. All of the other passengers were very unhappy about the situation and almost all had to complain at some point about the children’s behaviour. Part of the problem was that the parents of most of those children were busy drinking and oblivious to where their children were and what they were doing. You can be unlucky with any group on such a small ship but the fact that they were in a group with the company’s managing director made it very awkward. What was most concerning though was that Managing Director of True North would take a group of 15 people out on a tender together. This was despite a tender only really being designed to maybe carry 8 people at most and that he would definitely not have had a zero alcohol reading which legally he should have. There was then more drinking and smoking on the tender. Not a good example of the company’s regard for safety or for the staff. It’s hard to say if the crews attitudes were also affected by this. On both trips we felt that while the staff were all very pleasant the cruise was being run more for their benefit than that of the paying passengers. Often crew were put on tenders for snorkeling expeditions while passengers were told to wait. There were a couple of occasions where there were virtually no crew on board because they were off water skiing or wake boarding. The final helicopter flight for passengers had to be cancelled because management had sent the crew up on flights which put the pilot over time so he couldn’t fly for 24 hours. One crew member who was meant to be driving a tender and keeping watch to make sure everyone was alright would get in and snorkel himself and pull the tender along as he went. He couldn’t have seen if anyone was in trouble because he was head down snorkeling. He actually hit a couple of passengers with the tender while he doing this and his poor attitude for safety meant that a number of passengers requested that they not be put in his tender. Safety in general didn’t seem to be a high priority. The cabins are comfortable but not particularly luxurious. The ship is small and there isn’t a lot of comfortable outdoor space. It is well kept but the furnishings are getting close to needing a refresh. One of the steps down to the back where you got on the tenders broke and had to be patched up so it seemed like the ship was probably becoming due for a fairly major overhaul. The food was fine but not what you would call fine dining. The serves were really too large. In the first few days lots of things were crumbed and deep fried. It was as if the food was being catered for the children’s taste. I think that after some passengers raised concerns it changed but while it was less fried it was very meaty. On our last day we were shown videos of a number of recent True North cruises and to our amazement almost all had some children on board. Admittedly you could be lucky and the children could be well behaved and there were certainly never as many as the ones on our trip but it’s just too much of a risk and too disappointing for the money involved. For something that is very expensive and which is meant to be a luxury experience you would think that there should be an age limit for children, that they should have to have their own cabins and there should be a limit to the maximum number on board. The crew also need to be reminded that they are there to look after all of the guests not just a special few and that they are not on holiday themselves. I don’t think that anyone really objects to them joining in on activities but guests and their enjoyment should come first. All this for over $25,000AUD per person for a 10 day trip. It was definitely not value for money and we will certainly never travel on True North again. Read Less

My mother in law recommended we go on this cruise. I loved that it was only small (approx 32 passengers & 25 staff) True North could go into areas & gorges that no other boat can enter. The crew members are absolutely fantastic who pay attention to every detail. They are always happy & willing to lend a hand. I always felt safe & extremely well looked after. They were also very encouraging & able to get everyone involved. Our cabin was fantastic, very comfortable beds, all the amenities provided eg, hairdryer, shampoo, conditioner & body wash plus body cream etc. The food was delicious every time & very healthy. I never felt hungry and enjoyed every meal. My favourite place was eagle Falls where we helicoptered there & back & had a bbq which was so upmarket for outside. No expense is ever spared. The clear water holes were fantastic to spend time in where we sat in the water drinking champagne. The most amazing sight was sitting on the very top rock/cave with rock above our heads, rock art behind our heads & a view of waterholes. I felt like I was the only person there. Absolutely spectacular. I can only highly recommend going on this cruise & I would love to go on another True North Cruise perhaps to Papua New Guinea next time. Read Less

True North Kimberley Snapshot 7 night cruise from Broome to Wyndham was the trip of a lifetime. A small ship specifically built to only draw 2 metres thus able to cruise up the many rivers and waterways along the Western Australian coast. 5 Star service with gourmet dining. Young enthusiastic staff selected for their personalities and abilities then trained to operate the very efficient "True North" systems, provided such a well organised, professional yet friendly/relaxing service. There were many activities - walks, climbs, outboard motor boat trips, fishing and of course a huge bonus having a helicopter on board to see the varying expansive sights from the air. Not only the voyage itself but extra activities, accommodation and flights were managed by the True North Travel Agency. Thank you TN team - this trip topped the lot and what a wonderful way to see the magnificence and magic of Australia. Read Less

This was our third cruise on True North and we already have three further cruises booked. We absolutely love the intimacy of the small ship. The young, enthusiastic staff are friendly, personable and nothing is any trouble. We all met in Darwin the night before the cruise began. We were taken by a charter plane to an island in Indonesia and swiftly embarked the beautiful True North. Everything was how I remembered it from the year before on our Kimberley cruise. True North always looks pristine with no sign whatsoever of wear and tear. We sailed around the Raja region and about eight of the 32 passengers scuba dived in pristine, exotic locations. The highlight was diving with the whale sharks in Cenderawasih Bay for two glorious days. I also snorkelled with the whale sharks as well and got very up close with these magnificent creatures. There was also hiking, sightseeing, beach picnics, fishing and lots to learn from the onboard Marine Biologist. The food was amazing and I cannot wait to cruise on true North again in a few months. Read Less

This was my husband and my first toe in the water to cruising - what a way to start. The true north was a luxury home away from home. The crew, the boat and most of all the Kimberley's were remarkable, it rates in our top three holidays. From the moment we were picked up from the hotel in Broome and taken to the beach where tender boats awaited to take us to the True north we knew it would be special. The experience is very much understated luxury - if you are looking for pampering and pretension this cruise may not be for you - the boat has a no shoes policy so from the moment you arrive everyone relaxes and all egos it seems are left at the door. Every day was a new feast for the eyes and adventure. It is a very active 7 days with 2-3 tender trips each day and opportunities to climb to hidden waterfalls, stroll along beaches and discover ancient caves and rock art, or fish along rivers and ocean. The helicopter trips are well worth doing as they take you to places that very few can access or visit. The food - was great. Portions were more than adequate and we did not feel like we had too much food. The staff - young, accommodating and enthusiastic - most where local to the area and had a lot of knowledge to share. The on board marine biologist was very informative and gave great previews and insight to what we were seeing each day. Improvement suggestion - hard to think of one - perhaps including a house wine with meals as part of package rather than having to buy all drinks. Read Less

We chose this cruise for my husband's 70th birthday as he is a very keen salt water fly fisherman, and I am a keen photographer, plus we enjoy a bit of luxury and fine dining. Firstly the fact that one had find their own way from the airport to the Cruise office we though was a bit average, considering some people had to wait 30 minutes in the heat for a taxi. In Amsterdam, for a cruise of much less cost, we were met at the Airport. Next, the food. We considered, as did a number of other guests that we spoke with, that the food was very ordinary. In fact, had I been in a 3 star hotel, i would have sent a number of meals back. Tasteless, boring and uniteresting are but 3 words we would use to describe, and not beautifully presented as shown in their brochure. Pork belly was tough and burnt, sous vide steak not seared properly, so quite wet and sloppy. I requested a cheese tomate and onion omelette one morning as I don't eat grain. What i received was the worse example of an omelette ever, with nothing in it, and a bit of cheese grated over the top. Some people thought the food was wonderful, and this just leads me to believe even more that some people just do not know what fine dining and good food is. To claim you will experience excellent modern australian cuisine is just folly to my mind. Only one night on the entire cruise was any entertainment offered after dinner. I wrote a letter as requested about the food, but the response was, to summarize, that they don't see there was any issue. This is in direct contrast to what the sales manager told me 2 weeks lafter the cruise when she phoned me. She advised on the phone that they had received a number of complaints, and that right at that time, the directors were at the ship dealing with the matter and attempting to get some structure into menus (or words along those lines) As I pointed out, if you have pub cooks (at best) and not 5 star chef's, why bother. The response letter I received claims that they had only 3 negative responses about the food. That may be because we (and perhaps others) didn't bother to put in a form so that makes at least 4. Out of 18 cabins, that is about 22% of guests who thought the food rated a low to mid range score. For a small ship, that is getting up there. One night there were mud crabs served on the front deck (not cracked properly). The wind was howling and mustard and crab was flying everywhere. Could someone not have thought to move the event to the back of the ship away from the howling wind? The director in his letter did state that "Normally this activity is a ‘big hit’ with our guests however crew have confirmed that unfortunately, on this occasion, windy conditions did detract from the experience" (well that is an understatement if ever I heard one) Perhaps True North need to have more than just all young crew without a lot of life experience. The young crew were great and lots of fun, however, for the price True North charges, I would expect to have at least one mature, seasoned, quality control officer on board, keeping an eye on every aspect. Not someone who is hands on with activity, but a person who can observe and improve. Had such a person been present at the dinner table, they would have heard many a complaint. The company was not prepared to acknowledge anything wrong though, so why bother. I will look elsewhere for our next Kimberley experience. Certainly not good value for money. The claim about their cuisine, in our opinion, was not true. What you see on their web site under Modern Australian Cuisine....I could only WISH we had seen and tasted some of what they show and talk about there. If they cannot even spell sous-vide correctly on their web site (sous-veined??) how can you possibly expect them to actually carry it out. Very disappointing and even moreso was the response. Read Less

This was our first time in the Kimberley Region of Northern Australia. Our trip with True North - Ultimate 1 was fabulous, the "ultimate" and beyond expectations . The ship was immaculate, Captain Chad and the staff were some of the best crew we have experienced on any ship we have cruised on, very personable but very professional. The food was very good. The day to day activities were very well organised, exploring, fishing, swimming, picnics and helicopter flights. Each day was as busy or relaxed as you wished. Unlike other cruises where you have to book side trips before you embark on True North the next days activities are explained each evening and you are then given the opportunity to sign up if you wish at no extra cost! Our experience was enhanced by the wonderful destinations throughout the Kimberley's. This would have to be the best cruise we have been on. Thank you to all the staff. This cruise would have to rate as six star from our perspective. Read Less

From the moment of embarking the whole experience exceeded my hopes and expectations. It was my first cruise, I was on my own, 77 and I was anxious as I had not been a good sailor in the past. From the beginning I felt completely safe, looked after and cosseted. The crew were what made it and they were part of the whole careful and caring planning. The boat is beautiful, the other passengers delightful, food tops. The daily adventures, and this is not a passive holiday, were varied and fun with plenty of choice for different interests. The Kimberley Coast of NW Western Australia is a beautiful and still remote part of the world. I have run out of superlatives, suffice to say while still on board I signed up for another trip on this boat next year. By the way there is a maximum of 36 passengers (we had 35) and 18 to 20 crew including an on board helicopter with a calm, cheerful pilot to encourage the fearful. Read Less