Australia and Beyond Holidays | Summary of True North, Over the Top ex Darwin to Cairns

True North, Over the Top ex Darwin to Cairns

Cruise	True North, Over the Top ex Darwin to Cairns
Cruise Line	True North Adventure Cruises
Ship	True North
Destination	Australia
Brief Description	13 Night Cruise sailing from Darwin to Cairns aboard True North.
Type of Cruise	Speciality
Departure Date	07 Dec 2021
Cruise Description	13 Night Cruise sailing from Darwin to Cairns aboard True North. Night One Your ‘welcome aboard’ is in the frontier city of Darwin. Embarkation is 1700 hours – 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 the East Alligator River! Day One This morning the TRUE NORTH’s favourite ‘tender’ will provide some not to be missed opportunities to fly over spectacular wetlands adjacent to the world famous Kakadu National Park. 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, mudcrabbing 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; barramundi are equally respected for their fine eating qualities and our guides are never short of a ‘barra’ story! Join your fellow adventurer for some ‘up close’ sightseeing in one of our comfortable adventure boats and take in the rugged beauty of Australia’s remote top end as we visit Coopers Creek and Minimini Creek. Don’t forget to keep an eye on those pesky crocodiles because you won’t want to miss dinner tonight! A crisp white will be the perfect accompaniment to barra cooked just the way you like! Day Two Wake off the Coburg Peninsular and to another “not to be missed opportunity” in the helicopter! This time we explore the ruins of the ill-fated Victoria Settlement. The outgoing flight also visits Frenzy Creek where sharks, eagle rays, dugong, turtle and crocodiles can all be seen in shallow waters and, on the way back search for banteng cattle – they can only be found in the local wetlands! Join a walk to a nearby wetland – our guides will help you identify some of the 85 species of mangrove found in Australia and the bird watchers will encounter avian fauna of every imaginable colour! Squeeze in some more fishing time and sample mouth-watering oysters direct from the rock – they don’t get any fresher than this! And at days end, the TRUE NORTH’s alfresco bar will be the perfect spot for an ‘outback sunset’ and our evening meal tonight will likely be traditional “Aussie Fare” in honour of the 1838 settlers. Day Three Spend the morning exploring the picturesque Gouldburn Islands. There will be numerous opportunities for reef fishing, bird watching and beachcombing. Then enjoy a leisurely lunchtime voyage back into the coast for some more barra action! There will be also opportunity to visit sites frequented by the Macassans – fishermen from Celebes (Sulawesi) that came in search of prized trepang (sea slugs) long before he arrival of the English settlers. Explore the many mangrove creeks or join the helicopter for an exhilarating view of the coastal vista. Finish the day with a cocktail before yet another unforgettable evening meal! Day Four The barra will be on the bite early this morning and we will see every kind of water bird on scenic flights over the Arafura Swamp – possibly the largest paper-bark swamp in the world! Everyone on deck for ‘action-stations’ as we shoot the Gugari Rip – a spectacular tidal surge that is sure to get the adrenalin pumping! Then some light game fishing for mackerel and other surface predators will keep the tempo up! Fly over the outer reaches of the Wessel Group in the helicopter and then join the crew ashore at Jensen Bay for pre-dinner drinks and aperitif. Day Five This morning is your last chance to land “the biggest one yet” as we prepare to leave Northern Territory waters. Reef fishing, beachcombing and sightseeing opportunities will unfold all day as we explore the Wessel Islands and Cape Wessel area. Perhaps some delectable reef fish will be on the menu tonight before the ‘sometimes outrageous’ goings-on at the “Captains Party”. Day Six Today we are ‘on passage’ across the Gulf of Carpentaria! Time to recharge the batteries, update the travel log, enjoy the onboard activities and of course, indulge in more gastronomic delight! Day Seven This morning join a coach tour of Thursday Island. There will be opportunities to meet the local people, to shop for local art and, to just wander around this idyllic island community! At days end revel in a sunset shore excursion to Cape York – a unique photo opportunity on the northern most tip of Australia! Day Eight Start the day with some trolling and bottom fishing, explore the Macmillan River and then spend the rest of the day on beautiful Forbes Island. Enjoy a picnic lunch, snorkel in crystal clear waters, visit nearby sand cays and ‘have a go’ at the beach activities! Day Nine At Davie Reef the delights of the Great Barrier Reef are just a fin kick away – and in swimming pool like conditions you will be astounded by the colours of corals and fish alike! A day devoted to swimming, snorkelling and diving. Day Ten Down a rainforest fringed coast to Lizard Island – here a hike up to Cook’s Look is a must! There is more world class snorkelling including the giant clam gardens. Beautiful palm lined beaches, rainforest, and breathtaking coral – does it get any better? Yes it does – something very special this afternoon when we visit the famed Cod Hole where everyone gets an opportunity to have close encounters with the giant potato cod! Day Eleven Lizard Island and another day devoted to swimming, snorkelling and diving! There will also be opportunities for scenic flights in the helicopter and reef fishing. Day Twelve Last chance for a swim on the Great Barrier Reef as the TRUE NORTH graces Ribbon Reef #3. Then take a coach tour of Cooktown and the surrounding mountains before spending some free time shopping for gifts and, getting to know the locals! Then it’s back onboard for a farewell dinner to remember and the overnight steam into Cairns. Day Thirteen Our arrival in Cairns is in time for an early morning coach transfer to your accommodation or connecting flights – our crew is already looking forward to the next opportunity to welcome you aboard the TRUE NORTH!

Sailing Dates
19 Nov 2021
07 Dec 2021

Pricing
Please enquire for pricing

Cruise Itinerary

Date	Port	Arrive	Depart
7 Dec 2021	Darwin, NT, Australia
8 Dec 2021	At Sea
9 Dec 2021	At Sea
10 Dec 2021	At Sea
11 Dec 2021	Jensen Bay, Northern Territory, Australia
12 Dec 2021	Wessel Islands, Northern Territory, Australia
13 Dec 2021	At Sea
14 Dec 2021	Thursday Island, Queensland, Australia
14 Dec 2021	Cape York, Qld, Australia
15 Dec 2021	Forbes Island, Queensland, Australia
16 Dec 2021	Great Barrier Reef & Coastal Islands, Qld, Australia
17 Dec 2021	Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia
18 Dec 2021	Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia
19 Dec 2021	Ribbon Reef, Queensland, Australia
20 Dec 2021	Cairns, Qld, Australia

All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.

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