HELI-CRUISING THE KIMBERLEY

Perth has come a long way from the remote and rustic frontier town it once resembled during the mining boom in the 19^th century. Now obsessed with happy living, healthy eating and the more-than-occasional glass of wine, Perth is all about the ‘good life’. With over 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, the sun-drenched city gets more Vitamin D than any other city in the Australia –making it very easy to fall for its green centres, uncrowded beaches and laid-back atmosphere.

After landing into Perth, potter along the forging Swan River, which runs through the sophisticated centre, making a detour for the sweeping views in Kings Park and Botanic Garden and stopping at Barrack Square to see the glass Bell Tower. If your feet get a bit tired, you can hire a bike, kayak or Segway to speed up the sightseeing or you could head to the mouth of the river at Fremantle to rest amongst the budding coffee-culture. Here you can while the day away sampling the cities delicious blends, as well as discovering its streets loaded with craft and micro-breweries and food markets. The stylish COMO The Treasury, right in the heart of Perth, will be your home for two nights.

Flying into Broome, you’ll stay three nights in the unique and exotic town, well-established as the southern gateway to the Kimberley. Located at the base of Dampier Peninsula, pristine beaches and bays fringed with glistening white sands, red cliffs and the sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean are just some of the wonders of this coastal delight. With its history dominated by the pearl industry, explore Broome by going on a cruise to a local farm to see how pearls are cultured and then pick up a souvenir from the dazzling showrooms in Chinatown, Broome’s centre on the shores of Roebuck Bay. Catch a movie in the open air picture garden at Sun Pictures or mount a camel for a ride along the beautiful Cable Beach. In the evenings, make sure you order your favourite tipple in time to enjoy the superb views of the sun setting over the ocean – best seen from the Sunset Bar at your resort, the Cable Beach Club.

Day 1
You’ll be taken to the True North Cruise in time for embarkation, where you can enjoy welcome cocktails before departing overnight for Yampi Sound.

Day 2
After your first night on board True North, you’ll awake to the majestic Kimberley as you glide past Cockatoo and Koolan Islands, before reaching The Horizontal Falls. Experience the awesome power of the region’s huge tidal range in an exhilarating tender ride, and then climb aboard your air conditioned helicopter for a view of the falls that very few have witnessed. Leadline Creek will be the first opportunity to ‘land a barra’ (that’s go fishing for barramundi in English).

Day 3
Fish the mouth of the Sale River for barramundi and then join the ship’s naturalists as you ‘ride the tide’ on a classic river expedition. Enjoy a swim in your very own billabong before returning to the ultimate comfort of the True North. Next stop is Montgomery Reef, a unique eco-system where 140 square miles of coral reef rises out of the ocean. Water cascades from the reef as the tide falls exposing a privileged glimpse of another world, where turtles, dugong and manta rays consort.

Day 4
Gaze at astounding scenery as the True North graces the majestic Prince Regent River. At Kings Cascades, the boats manoeuvre right under the falls. Go on an ‘adventure in the tender’, offering a chance to stretch the laces on your hiking boots and an opportunity to swim in yet another picture perfect billabong.

Day 5
With red cliffs set behind rainforest and mangroves, the Hunter River is yet another awesome setting for fishing, mud crabbing, bird watching and exploring. Enjoy an exhilarating hike to the hidden Jackson Falls, and delight in a sunset drink on Naturaliste Island before an overnight cruise to Vansittart Bay.

Day 6
Today there will be an opportunity to see the ‘Bradshaws’ – possibly the oldest art known to man, while a heli-picnic at Eagle Falls treats you to a sumptuous picnic lunch amidst breathtaking scenery.

Day 7
Finally, you’ll reach The King George River. As soon as the tide is high enough, you’ll cross the sand bars at the mouth and embark upon a journey upstream to The King George Falls. Anchored at the base of the Twin Falls, climb the picturesque valleys, or take the helicopter to the top of the falls for a cruise highlight. Learn about the bombing of a state-ship during WWII, before taking a peaceful stroll along Tranquil Bay on your last night aboard the True North.

After arriving in early from the cruise, you’ll take a scenic air transfer over the famous Bungle Bungles for a bird’s eye view of the mysterious striped domes to the El Questro Homestead in Kununurra. Cantilevered over the Chamberlain River, the exclusive retreat has sublime panoramic views over the rugged Kimberley landscape, which can be enjoyed from the comfort of your private veranda or on the ‘Big Day Out’ guided tour. If you want to get the most out of your final night, go on a guided 4WD adventure, horse ride through the remote areas and calm rivers or visit the 1,000-year-old Boab Prison Tree, a giant hollow tree (15metres in circumference) reputed to have been used as a lockup for prisons in the 1890s.