Larger ships are typically confined to oceanic waters and even smaller ‘expedition ships’ are generally only able to cruise up and down coastal regions.
The TRUE NORTH is able to explore shallow coastal waters and river systems – in the Sepik River for example we venture more than 100 nautical miles from the ocean!
This unique access enables our guests to comfortably engage in activities that cannot be offered on larger ships or, that can only be offered following an arduous journey in a rubber boat!
A classic example is experiencing the King George River’s majestic twin falls. Guest’s on the TRUE NORTH sail up the King George River sipping champagne and listening to classical music on the ship’s sundeck. When the TRUE NORTH arrives at the falls – the master positions the boat under the falls* allowing the guests to have a shower on the bow! After this very unique experience, guests can return to their cabins and change out of their swim wear before either hiking to the top of the falls or flying above the falls in the helicopter. Larger ships can only anchor off the mouth of the river and ferry their guests to the falls in rubber boats. Upon arrival the rubber boats can be driven under the falls but the only remaining guest option is to endure another extended journey back to the ship – this time in wet clothing. The difference is really quite stark!
The convenience of just 36 guests also allows the crew of the TRUE NORTH to offer a much greater range of activities, for example fishing, mud crabbing, collecting oysters and sunset drinks on the beach. The small group also allows our crew greater opportunity to cater for personal preference and specific interests such as birdwatching and photography excursions.
When helicopter excursions are offered – the helicopter generally remains on the TRUE NORTH for the duration of the cruise. This allows helicopter activities to be scheduled for most days of the itinerary and, for personalised excursions such as sunrise and sunset flights.
The TRUE NORTH operates 6 dedicated adventure boats. Our adventure boats are 20’ runabouts. We have deliberately chosen this configuration to provide greater comfort, practicality and safety.
Our boats are much more comfortable than rubber boats. They feature ample seating and when the boat is not under way, it is possible to stand-up and walk around. This is a definite advantage when engaging in activities such as fishing, snorkelling, diving and photography. Our adventure boats are fully surveyed by the Australian maritime authorities which means the wearing of life jackets is not required and we also believe that they are much safer than rubber boats when operating in crocodile country!
And perhaps the greatest adventure-cruise difference is that every day on-board the TRUE NORTH is an activity day! We specifically exclude any extended periods at sea and offer a choice of multiple activities on every day of your itinerary. Our guests tend to spend most of every day away from the TRUE NORTH truly experiencing what the destination has to offer! When comparing – make sure you discover how much opportunity you have to engage in shore-based activities!
We are Australian – it’s in the very fabric of everything we do.
We share a sense of adventure with our guests and together we are fortunate to celebrate some of the world’s most spectacular wilderness.
We strive to be extraordinary – nothing is too hard and above all, we are respectful – we visit only when welcome and, we leave only goodwill.
| Ship specifications | |
|---|---|
| Commissioned | February 2005 |
| Flag | Australian |
| Refit | Annually |
| Configuration | Mono-hull adventure cruise ship |
| Length | 50 metres |
| Tonnage | 740 tonnes |
| Draught | 2.2 metres |
| Beam | 10 metres |
| Crew | 22 |
| Passengers | 36 |
| Cruising Speed | 14 knots |
| Bow Thruster | 100 kW |
| Propulsion | 2 x 786 kW |
| Auxiliary | 2 x 175 kW |
| Range | 2,000 miles |
| Water Making Capacity | 1,500 Its per hour |
| Motion Control | Computer controlled stabilizers |
| Safety | Full compliance under AMSA and IMO standard |
| Fuel | 45,000 Its diesel / 10,000 Its Jet A1 / 3,000 Its ULP |
| Cabin Features | En-suite, in-cabin entertainment and satellite telephone |
| Cabin Power | 240V and 110V (Australian Socket) |
| Adventure Vessels | 6 |
| Helicopter | Eurocopter (6 pax all facing forward, air-conditioned) |
| Day Areas | Sun deck, observation lounge, ship’s lounge, alfresco bar, sport deck, dining room |
Located on the upper deck, Explorer Class staterooms feature a king size bed (that can be converted to singles) and a twin basin en-suite. Cabin size is 18 square metres (193 square feet). Other features include large panoramic windows, amenities fridge, in-cabin entertainment and satellite telephone.
Features:
Located on the main deck, River Class staterooms feature a king size bed (that can be converted to singles) and en-suite. Cabin size is similar to Explorer Class. Other features include large panoramic windows, in-cabin entertainment and satellite telephone.
Features:
Located on the lower deck, Ocean Premium doubles feature a king size bed (that can be converted to singles) and en-suite. Cabin size is approximately 14 square metres (150 square feet). Other features include 2 portholes, in-cabin entertainment and satellite telephone.
Features:
Located on the lower deck, Ocean Class twins feature roomy singles and en-suite. Cabin size is approximately 12 square metres (129 square feet). Other features include 2 portholes, in-cabin entertainment and satellite telephone.
Features:
| Ship specifications | |
|---|---|
| Commissioned | February 1999 |
| Flag | Australian |
| Refit | March 2024 |
| Configuration | Mono-hull adventure cruise ship |
| Length | 35 metres |
| Tonnage | 281 tonnes |
| Draught | 2.25 metres |
| Beam | 9.11 metres |
| Crew | 16 |
| Passengers | 22 |
| Cruising Speed | 14 knots |
| Bow Thruster | 100 kW |
| Propulsion | 2 x MTU 16 cylinder 4 cycle turbocharged diesel engines |
| Auxiliary | 2 x Perkins 6TG24M/Stamford 112.5 kVA generators |
| Range | 2,000 miles |
| Water Making Capacity | 3 x 2.2 kW reverse osmosis freshwater generation system |
| Motion Control | Computer controlled stabilizers |
| Safety | Full compliance under AMSA and IMO standard |
| Fuel | 24,428 lts diesel / 6,000 lts Jet A1 / 1,960 lts ULP |
| Cabin Features | En-suite, in-cabin entertainment and satellite telephone |
| Cabin Power | 240V (Australian Socket) |
| Adventure Vessels | 5 |
| Helicopter | AS350 Squirrel (5 pax all facing forward, air-conditioned) |
| Day Areas | Sun deck, combined dining saloon/lounge, alfresco bar, and sports deck |
Located on the main deck, Explorer Class staterooms feature a walk-around queen
size bed and a twin basin ensuite. Cabin size is 12 square metres (129 square feet). Other features include large panoramic windows and desk space.
Features:
Located on the main deck, River Premium staterooms feature a queen size bed and en-suite. Cabin size 7 square metres (75 square feet). Other features include large panoramic windows and in-cabin entertainment.
Features:
Located on the lower decks, River Class cabins feature a queen size bed and en-suite. Cabin size 7 square metres (75 square feet). Other features include large portholes and in-cabin entertainment. Option for pullman.
Features:
Located on the lower deck, Ocean Class cabins feature bunk configured singles
and en-suite or private bathroom. Cabin size is approximately 5.6 square metres
(60 square feet). Other features include a large porthole.
Features:
Food is always a highlight on a North Star Cruise. Dining is a stylish but casual affair. Seating is not assigned. Modern Australian cuisine is featured.
Hors d’oeuvres in the ship’s lounge is a not to be missed daily event! Keep an eye out for succulent oysters (which you almost certainly helped to collect) and sashimi caught just hours before.
Signature dining includes freshly caught barramundi – a revered sport fish possibly caught with your very own hands, or perhaps aged Angus or delicate Wagyu beef, or exquisite Australian lamb!
Our ‘heli-picnics’ are an unforgettable way to enjoy the quintessential Aussie barbeque featuring a wide variety of seafood including freshly caught reef fish, local king prawns, squid, pearl meat and smoked salmon.
If you’re looking for experienced and knowledgeable fishing instructors look no further than the guides aboard the True North. Regardless of whether you are a beginner or an ‘expert’, you will benefit from our ‘local’ knowledge ensuring unequalled opportunity from the remote Kimberley to untouched West Papua and the rarely fished islands of the Eyre Peninsula.
Our Seven Seas in Seven Seasons calendar presents an array of species to challenge fisherpersons of every calibre. You will be presented with convenient opportunity to do battle with some of the world’s most revered sports-fish. The iconic barramundi, the elusive mangrove jack, finger mark bream, golden snapper, jewfish, pink snapper, delectable whiting and even the mighty sailfish are all on the agenda!
With six expedition vessels (not zodiacs) accompanying the True North, guests have greater opportunity to do “what they want, when they want.” The luxury of so many dedicated expedition boats means that we can always allocate craft to different fishing styles and to varying degrees of experience. Fish in comfort and receive the individual attention that the True North is famous for.
The ship’s helicopter also adds unique dimension to fishing on the True North. Heli-fishing is one of our most popular activities – fly over stunning wilderness in air-conditioned comfort to an otherwise inaccessible location! Who could pass up the opportunity to fish where perhaps no one has fished before?
The True North carries a full complement of high quality fishing equipment on all cruises. Rods, reels and hand lines are provided for your complimentary convenience however keen anglers are welcome to bring their own gear (6-8kg bait casting outfits are recommended). Lures are available on a replace if you lose basis.
Our chef’s love to be a part of the fishing action – when the ‘hunters and gathers’ return to their home away from home, the chefs will delight in preparing a lunch or dinner that truly reaps the rewards of your efforts! Our chefs particularly enjoy mud crabbing – not only will they show you how to prepare unforgettable fare; they will also be right by your side when you battle these cantankerous adversaries!
Who can, you can! From the “never fished” to the “I’ve caught ‘em all”, our guides encourage all onboard to join in the action and multiple expedition boats always allow opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of fishing styles in small groups of equal ability!
Ladies, fishing isn’t just for the men, in fact, on the True North it may just be the other way around! Things might start a little slowly but in our experience, once that first fish is in the esky – there’s no stopping the fairer sex! You may just surprise yourself – one of our most common guest comments is “I’ve never given fishing a thought – now I can’t get enough!”
Everyone on the True North is conscious of the fact that fishing in a wilderness area is a privilege. The True North is fully licensed for fishing and fishing regulations are strictly observed.
We never take more than a ‘taste’ and fishing operations are always conducted with the utmost care and respect. Wherever possible we practice ‘catch & release’ techniques and, we never permit any activity that might degrade fish habitat.
Adding yet another dimension to adventure, most cruise options on the TRUE NORTH also feature an onboard 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! Now it’s not uncommon for our guests to embark with some uncertainty about flying in a helicopter – however it’s always a different story when the time comes for disembarkation.
The ship’s helicopter helps you to climb mountains and volcanoes in air conditioned comfort. Even if you are not as spritely as you once were – the helicopter will deliver you without fuss to even the most inaccessible locations.
See ancient rock art without leaving your seat. Glide over impenetrable jungle and swoop on historic and cultural highlights. Take someone special on a sunrise flight or join the entire guest compliment for an unforgettable heli-picnic.
The ship’s helicopter – another TRUE NORTH icon!
The light, single-engine Eurocopter 130 B4 is the quietest, most spacious helicopter available on the market. The ultra-quiet EC130 B4 integrates the latest technological advances of Eurocopter’s new generation helicopters. It has a maximum gross weight of 2.4tonnes, and offers an enlarged cabin, allowing comfortable accommodation for the pilot and 6 passengers on individual leather seats.
With air-conditioning and large cabin windows, it is perfectly suited for getting those spectacular aerial shots and exploring the many destinations that are on offer with North Star Cruises Australia.
Heli-operations are run by Rob Colbert, Chief Pilot of Skyhook Helicopters Pty Ltd. Rob has been working in and flying around the Kimberley region for over 23 years, and has been working with TRUE NORTH since 1996. He has a keen interest in fishing, local history and culture, and provides entertaining commentary on all flights! Or you may be lucky enough to have Rainor Marshall or Will Stinson as your pilot, both experienced and very knowledgeable in their own right!
Spectacular Eagle Falls Helicopter flight! Explore by sea and air aboard TRUE NORTH!
