A cruise along the Kimberley coast aboard the luxury adventure small-ship TRUE NORTH is on the bucket list for many. Scenes of thundering waterfalls and spectacular gorges greet guests daily. Highlights include Horizontal falls, Mitchell falls, the unique eco-system of Montgomery Reef, Aboriginal rock art and catching huge barramundi.
We speak to Peter Trembath, General Manager, who has been responsible for brand and product at North Star Cruises (owners of TRUE NORTH) since 2001.
Describe TRUE NORTH in 3 words.
Revered adventure-cruise ship
Tell us a little bit about TRUE NORTH and what makes it so unique beyond great food, great wine and a very comfortable place to sleep?
An adventure on the TRUE NORTH is one of Australia’s most desired holidays. Bigger ships cannot go where we go! Extended periods at sea are specifically excluded and daily activities can include scenic walks, fishing, snorkelling, diving, scenic flights in the ship’s helicopter and cultural events. We deploy comfortable expedition boats (not rubber boats) and discover wilderness in small groups. An Australian crew uniquely chaperones every experience.
Fishing for barramundi
How is the TRUE NORTH pushing the boundaries in guest experiences?
By providing unparalleled access to some of the world’s most pristine wilderness and, by providing activity-laden itineraries that provide our guests with maximum opportunity to truly experience the destination.
The luxury small-ship is a base for adventure
What’s a recent (last 6 months) innovation from North Star Cruises?
The introduction of new itineraries in the Kimberley and the scheduling of a Discovery Cruise in the South Pacific.
What activity should guests not miss during their stay on the TRUE NORTH ?
Flying in the ship’s helicopter.
Raft point sunrise by helicopter from the True North
Best dining experience on the TRUE NORTH ?
Catch of the day likely caught with your own hands.
Please describe a typical guest onboard.
Anyone who considers ‘the experience’ to be the true luxury.
Is the TRUE NORTH child friendly? If so what’s a great experience for kids under 10? And for teens?
Where behaviour is guaranteed not to disrupt the enjoyment of fellow guests. The high-speed drift-snorkelling at the stunning Rowley Shoals is great fun.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Beware of imitations and discover for yourself why our guests consistently remark “that’s the best holiday I have ever had!”
Peter Trembath, General Manager, North Star Cruises with his catch of the day
At Alquemie the unique holidays we craft are unparalleled. Our expert team are specialists in designing itineraries for high-net-worth individuals travelling to Australia who demand discretion, precision planning and an authentic and unique experience. We create one-of-a-kind luxury holidays Australia that leave lasting memories through exclusive experiences.
To us, the true luxury is sometimes in the exclusivity of being one of only a few to experience something. For example, Arkaba, a Wild Bush Luxury property in the Flinders Ranges of South Australia is a private wildlife conservancy roughly five times the size of Sydney harbour. This is shared by only ten guests in supreme comfort, with fabulous food and wine, and one of Australia’s most spectacular landscapes. It is this exclusivity that creates the true luxury.
Arkaba is one of Australia’s most exclusive properties
In the Top End of Australia lies Bamurru Plains, another Wild Bush Luxury property where again exclusivity is the true luxury although great food and wine are a given. Guests stay in safari-style bungalows with mesh walls on three sides and expansive views out overlooking flood plains where the wildlife roam free. Activities such as airboat safaris or game drives show off the spectacular wilderness in this exotic part of Australia.
At Bamurru Plains guests can airboat over the Mary River Flood Plains
On the Great Barrier Reef you’ll find that luxury comes in many styles. On Lizard Island you can take your own private dinghy to one of 23 white sand beaches that you are likely to have all to yourself.
SUP board on Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef
For those who prefer the luxury that an urban escape can bring, we call upon our network of guides and experts to show you a side of our cities you wouldn’t find yourself.
Whether it’s our cities, the outback or the coast, there is no end to what Alquemie’s specialists can conjure up. Download our Holiday Planning Guide for more inspiration then allow us to reveal the magic of Australia through a carefully constructed itinerary that will enchant, educate and surprise.
From opulent accommodations to exclusive cultural tours that promise to elevate your guest’s journey and immerse them in the very essence of Australia’s rich heritage and stunning landscapes. Prepare to be inspired.
Meet the faces behind Australia’s conservation effort
Australia is a big country with many conservation challenges. We have the worst mammal extinction rate in the world and another 1,700 animal and plant species are listed as threatened with extinction. It’s sheer scale is daunting – where do you begin? Luckily there are some ecotour champions dedicated to preserving our spectacular biodiversity. They believe, as we do, that education and awareness is the key to making a difference. By inviting tourists to get a deeper understanding of the special work they do, they hope to inspire others. Move over Jane Goodall – here are three dedicated champions of the Australian environment.
Short-nosed Echidna on Kangaroo Island, South Australia
Dr. Peggy Rismiller – Echidnas on Kangaroo Island
During a visit to Kangaroo Island, guests of Alquemie can have the privilege of an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour with Dr. Peggy Rismiller, a world leading expert who has been doing long-term, in-depth studies on the ecology of the short-beaked echidnas on Kangaroo Island for decades. The echidnas are one of three surviving monotremes, a special group of mammals which lay eggs and whose ancestors roamed the earth along with the dinosaurs. Peggy’s conservation work also stretches to goannas, tiger-snakes and little penguins.
Spending a day in the life of this world-renowned wildlife researcher gives guests the chance to observe these shy, spiky creatures up close and learn about their conservation challenges amongst Kangaroo Island’s near-pristine ecosystems. This private tour is particularly rewarding for families.
See sea-birds in their thousands perched on Australia’s highest sea-cliffs
Rob Pennicott – Saving sea-birds in Tasmania
Rob Pennicott has saved over 250,000 sea-birds in Tasmania since 2010. And it doesn’t stop there. His passion for conservation stretches from the sky to the sea and he’s involved in numerous wildlife conservation programs such as marine debris clean-up, saving the Tasmanian Albatross, saving the Tassie Devil and the rescue and rehabilitation of injured and orphaned native animals.
On his private wilderness cruises there’s the chance to encounter dolphins, whales, sea eagles, albatross, shearwaters, seals and other abundant sea birds in their thousands as you skirt some of Australia’s highest cliffs on the specactular coastline of the of the Tasman National Park. Rob’s tours reflect his mission to educate and excite all who visit and to create a legacy of conservation to preserve the places he loves for future generations.
Wildlife safari drive at Arkaba
Brendon Bevan – Arkaba, Flinders Ranges
“I’d do this job even if I didn’t get paid”. Brendon Bevan is a workaholic, but that doesn’t stop him from having a great sense of humour and an inexhaustible desire to show guests just how special Arkaba in the Flinders Ranges is. This private wildlife conservancy and boutique luxury lodge is a showcase of how the flora and fauna can regenerate if given a chance.
His hard work over the past seven years has focussed on feral species eradication and reversing the impacts of 150 years of livestock grazing. It’s paying off. Native animals that had disappeared are now regularly seen and guests can experience African-style game-watching safari drives or a four-day walk to spot our unique mammals and marsupials.
Find out more
Visiting a destination and knowing that you’re contributing something back makes it all the more rewarding. To visit all or any of the above ecotourism champions on your next trip to Australia, get in touch with one of our Alquemists.
The Australia we see today when we travel through it isn’t the Australia it was when white-men first set foot on our sunburnt country. As the Australian Conservation Society so eloquently stated, ‘The centre is a much different, diminished place compared to the landscape that greeted the early European explorers‘.
This had never occurred to me but is so obvious once enlightened. Having grown up in the city, I took for granted that the kilometres of dry, bare land with few gumtrees that I drove by was how it had always been, forgetting that the early-settlers had cleared much of the country for farming.
Arkaba is not what you would expect in the outback
I learnt this firsthand when as part of the Alquemie team, I had the opportunity to visit Arkaba, a private wildlife conservancy in the Flinders Ranges of outback South Australia. Arkaba is a dramatically stunning 60,000 acre property that had been a working sheep station for over 150 years but now caters for small numbers of guests at its five bedroom homestead or on a four day walk. I was privileged to join one of their conservation efforts to return it to the original landscape – searching for signs of return of the endangered yellow-footed rock-wallaby, a gorgeous little creature that had been hunted to near extinction for its beautiful fur.
A yellow-footed rock-wallaby Image credit: Scott-Francey
What’s so special about Arkaba is that you get to see what happens when nature gets a chance to breathe. With the removal of sheep stock, control of non-native invasive plants and active daily efforts to eradicate feral animals such as cats, rabbits and goats, Arkaba is a prime example of how conservation benefits tourism. As the land heals, the habitat regenerates and Australia’s unique wildlife such as the rock-wallabies are now hopping back to this ecologically unique environment, making the tourism experience even more exceptional.
Brendon Bevan – Arkaba Property Manager
Arkaba’s Property Manager Brendon Bevan is as passionate about conservation as they come and it’s easy to see why Arkaba was a 2016 finalist for Conserving the Natural World in the National Geographic World Legacy Awards. His vision and dedication stems from working in his home country of South Africa where he saw first hand how conservation and tourism are intertwined. At Arkaba he’s put together an enthusiastic team of specialists to bring a top-end African wildlife safari experience to Australia, all with the underlying goal of returning the land to its former glory.
Nicki de Preu – an encyclopaedia of plant knowledge
Leading our rock-wallaby search was one of Australia’s most experienced conservation ecologists Nicki De Preu, who can read the bush like a book. Her encyclopaedic knowledge of plants is truly mind blowing and I tried to ingest as much of it as possible. For four days, our small team consisting of Nicki, Brendon and two of Arkaba’s guides Megan and Tim, clambered over rocks looking for firm evidence of two small colonies of rock-wallabies that were believed to be somewhere on the property.
Arkaba is huge – stretching from Wilpena Pound to the Elder Range
Our chances of seeing these well-camouflaged marsupials were slim although they had been spotted not so long ago. Arkaba is big – approximately five times the size of Sydney harbour and stretching from the walls of Wilpena Pound to the face of the Elder Range, so it was like looking for a needle in a haystack but our enthusiasm never waned. In addition to hoping to spot them, we were looking for vegetation that they were known to eat, and protective caves where they might one day return to live.
Megan and Nicki doing survey work
In addition to the rock-wallaby work, Nicki leads many other ecological surveys on the property. I also joined her on a vegetation study where the regeneration of the plants is being recorded. Other projects she runs include monitoring the fresh-water springs where animals come to drink as well as the health of the ancient river red gums that line the dry creek beds.
Whilst we never sighted a rock-wallaby on this occasion, watching kangaroos moving on mass at sunset like the swarm of dinosaurs at the start of Jurassic Park was really special, as was seeing emus criss cross in front of our four-wheel drive. Knowing that less than seven years ago these animals wouldn’t have been in such healthy numbers here clearly shows that the conservation efforts are paying off and this makes seeing them even more rewarding.
Guest feedback from their stay at Arkaba
A stay at Arkaba is immersive. It’s hard not to be affected by its beauty, the passion of the guides and the conservation work being done. Not only is it life-changing for those who visit, it’s life-changing for the native flora and fauna that are coming back to this very special part of Australia. It’s a privilege to finally witness the same landscape as those early explorers.
To find out more about the incorporating Arkaba into your Australian travel plans, speak to one of our Alquemists.
Been there, done that? Maybe not quite… There’s a new type of luxury vacation in Australia and it’ll show a side of our continent that only a few are privileged enough to see.
For the well-travelled, it’s hard to continue to impress. It’s not just about luxury resorts lest destinations become a bit too same-same but different… variations on a similar theme. And in Australia, many people don’t realise that there is so much to see beyond the Sydney Opera House and Ayres Rock.
This is where Alquemie comes into play. Our team of specialists are more closely aligned with event managers than travel agents and our knowledge of Australia is second to none. We craft the most magical of luxury Australian vacations with exclusive experiences that may even be yet-to-be created.
Allow us to inspire you…
Haggerstone Island
Go waterfall exploring by helicopter on Haggerstone Island
Haggerstone Island is all your Robinson Crusoe dreams come alive at once, entwined with a high level of service, comfort and exquisite food and wine. This private island is hosted by ex-crocodile hunter Roy Turner and his wife Anna. It is exclusive rustic luxury with a huge dose of adventure thrown in, and for families with teens it doesn’t get much more fun.
You can have Haggerstone Island all to yourself
Aside from incredible fishing and wonderful snorkelling, activities can range from mud crabbing and oyster grabbing to wake-boarding or exploring waterfalls by helicopter. It certainly is a luxury vacation in Australia of a different kind.
Bamurru Plains
View wildlife on an airboat safari at Bamurru Plains
It’s hard to not rave about Bamurru Plains. For people who love the African experience – luxury tented camps, wildlife safaris, bird-watching and Mother Nature at her best, then Bamurru Plains is a must-do.
Fall asleep to the sounds of the bush on a Tree Top Sleep Out at The Hide at Bamurru Plains
From February to April as the floodwaters of the wet recede, Bamurru Plains near Kakadu National Park in the Top End, is transformed into a fishing lodge, offering anglers the chance to catch and release Australia’s world famous Barramundi in the nearby rivers, creeks and estuaries.
Then from May onwards as the dry season approaches, this Wild Bush Luxury property explodes with wildlife. Guests can fall asleep to the sounds of the bush with the Tree Top Sleep Out experience – a romantic overnight sleep in a luxury swag at The Hide, 6-metres above the ground.
Secret Sydney
Sunset over Sydney Harbour Bridge from a secret beach Image credit: Elisa Bohle
Experience a different side of Sydney where ancient ferns and 250 million year old sandstone lead you down a narrow laneway to one of Sydney’s most spectacular skyline views. Explore its back streets, cafes and parks, suburbs rich with Aboriginal heritage, and hidden beaches that most tourists are not privy to. As with every luxury vacation in Australia that we craft, we immerse each guest in a Sydney tailored to their passions and no two visits are the same.
For more inspiration on just some of the magical experiences that we can arrange in Australia, please click here.
Wondering how to create a great family vacation in Australia with a variety of activities that will have the kids begging for more? We can help. Our Alquemists are masters in the art of weaving together vacations that please the whole family.
We’ll recommend hotels and resorts with the best children’s clubs such as KidsOnly Club at One&Only Hayman Island. This this resort in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef was recently re-opened as a One&Only property after an $80 million dollar refurbishment and will please both parents and children alike. Highly trained staff entertain and educate children while parents get to unwind and enjoy an exhilarating array of resort activities such as bush walks, golf and of course water-sports including diving and snorkelling, sea kayak adventures and much more.
It’s Kids only at One&Only Hayman Island
For something different we can create a mysterious treasure hunt, taking in the sights of an Australian city yet tailored to the interests of the children.
Treasure hunt
For big kids and young ones alike, we can arrange a behind the scenes tour of one of Sydney’s most famous dessert bars to see how gelato gets made, and perhaps even have a turn at creating a flavour for themselves.
Make your own gelato flavour
Australia’s unique wildlife is always a sure hit. Families can spend a day learning about creatures such as the short-beaked echidna with one of the world’s leading experts.
Australia’s short-beaked echidna
Alternatively we can offer many safari style adventures to see kangaroos, emus, koalas and other special creatures like the sea-lion.
Swim with curious sea-lions – Image: Geoff Sholz
And there is so much more, from trips to the zoo or aquarium, surfing lessons or playing in the sand on Australia’s golden beaches. Whatever takes a child’s fancy, we can incorporate it into a very special tailored family vacation in Australia.
Enquire about a family vacation in Australia
Contact us today and allow us to create a magical holiday for your family.
More and more travellers are asking for active options and Australia boasts a great collection of walking tours. Whilst the benefits to the body are obvious, it is the benefits to the mind and soul that are the real balm to a busy life.
The mind benefits twofold, firstly there is the joy of an escape from technology & everyday interruption. More subtly however there is the pleasure of learning and challenging your own perceptions as knowledgeable guides inspire thoughts and discussion of regional history, geology, flora & fauna, conservation and the world around us.
Johanna Beach walkers – Great Ocean Road
For the soul, well it’s the freedom! A few days walking is an opportunity to slow the pace of life, to stop and smell the roses (or in this case the melaleucas), to savour a morning cup of coffee watching the light play on blazing ramparts or the deepest blue ocean, to fall asleep under the Milky Way ….
Outback luxury dining on the Arkaba Walk, Flinders Ranges, South Australia
Ranging from three to five nights, guided walks are available in Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland, and Western & South Australia. Costs range from $500 to $950 per person per night and accommodation varies from huts to tents, homesteads and lodges. Delicious meals are included and are often served with good local wine. Knowledgeable guides lead the walks and it is worth noting that for most of them, it is not just a part-time gig, they do this because they love it … guiding is their career.
Walking in the blue gum forests – the Arkaba walk, Flinders Ranges South Australia
The collective website Great Walks of Australia is a good place to begin your research but to understand the nuances of each, have a chat with one of the Alquemists. For example one beach walk is all soft sand and so much tougher than another beach walk; which walk is best for wildlife spotting; which is best in a particular month … that sort of thing, after all we’re the experts.
A well-earned rest at Haunted Bay on Maria Island
Australia really is the ideal place for walking tours – the subtleties of the Australian bush are best discovered on foot, the sights, the smells and the beautiful light. Additionally most Walks report that about 80% of their travellers are Australian, and for international travellers this presents a great opportunity to spend quality time and make real friendships with like-minded locals.
View over the majestic Flinders Ranges, Arkaba Station, South Australia
Explore North Queensland by air and discover places that many don’t get to see on one of our signature Heli Tours of North Queensland. Each guest is provided with a headset, enabling easy communication between themselves and the pilot. The pilot and guide know this region well and will share stories on the major landmarks throughout the journey.
The fleet can accommodate up to nine passengers on a variety of helicopters:
Robinson R44
Bell 206 Jetranger
Bell 206 Longranger
Bell 407
Bell 205
AS350 (Squirrel)
3 pax
4 pax
6 pax
6 pax
9 pax
6 pax
Below are some suggested day tours however each can be tailored based on the interests of each guest.
Torres Strait Islands private heli tours
Dugong – Image credit: National Geographic
The Torres Strait Islands are a group of over 270 low lying islands located between the tip of continental Australia (Cape York) and Papua New Guinea. Seldom visited by mainstream tourists, the relatively untouched region is rich in natural, historical and cultural beauty with a unique Melanesian indigenous population. The islands’ clear tropical waters have diverse marine ecosystems with dugongs, saltwater crocodiles and many species of turtles seen amongst the colourful reefs. Activities include fishing, swimming, diving, viewing or buying fabulous indigenous artworks, visiting local markets and seeing original colonial architecture. Highlights include: Great Barrier Reef, Prince of Wales Island, Thursday Island, WW11 remnants and Horn Island. These private day tours depart from Horn Island.
World War II history flight: Fly over Prince of Wales Island and spectacular waterfalls. WWII bunkers, shipwrecks, and gun stations are a highlight of this trip. Circle over Green Hill Fort and Thursday Island before landing on Horn Island.
Icons of the North: Fly over the Torres Strait to the very top of Australia, Cape York to stand on the tip of Australia. A scenic flight over Punsand Bay and the Iconic Possession Island are more highlights before landing at Horn Island.
North Queensland Heli fishing adventure
Enjoy a scenic heli tour of North Queensland combined with a spot of fishing! Highlights include: Cairns, Mitchell River, Fishing and the Mt Mulgrave Homestead. This private day tour departs from Cairns.
Flying west from Cairns we intersect the mighty Mitchell River which starts on the Atherton Tablelands and flows 750km north-west across Cape York to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Along the way, it carves through the rugged highlands of the Great Diving Range. Tracking the river, we land at a secret fishing spot where we set up on the banks of the Mitchell, before rigging a couple of fishing lines. The river is teaming with Barramundi, not only a great fish to catch, but also fantastic eating as well. Lunch is served on the banks of the Mitchell. We then take you to Mt Mulgrave Homestead, a working cattle farm and family owned for generations. Experience what it is like to run a remote cattle station that has a similar land mass to some countries. Finally we cross the Great Dividing Range, before making our way back.
For more information about private Heli Tours of North Queensland or to arrange a heli tour elsewhere in Australia, please contact Alquemie.
Amanda here – reporting to you about a fabulous new find in the world of luxury expedition yachts! Her name is Anda and she is a true expedition vessel with luxury accommodation, all the toys and many comforts. Anda is not your typical white-boat, she is a luxury expedition yacht available for private charters into Australia’s wild & beautiful waters. Anda is for exploring, discovering and adventuring.
Currently berthed in Fremantle the Master, Hostess and Chef were happy to show me around the beautifully finished boat. Anda’s owner is a passionate yachtsman and has no fewer than 12 boats in his personal fleet, however only Anda and a 50 ft game fishing launch, The Fortescue, are available for charter.
Some facts about Anda:
Length: 42 mtr | 138 ft
Built: 1965 in Norway, originally as an ice-breaker. Rebuilt from 2010 to 2012
Cruising Speed: 10 knots
Cruise Range:7500 nm
Stabilisers: 2 x quantum stabilisers for smooth sailing in seas over 4 mtr
Guest Suites: 5 including the spacious master suite, 3 x queen suites and 1 x twin suite all with private en suite bathroom
Dining: indoor & outdoor for 10 people
Relaxation: sundeck with outdoor spa, large saloon area
Transport & fun: 2 x semi-inflatable high speed 7 mtr jet tenders, 2 x Seadoo jetskis
Crew: 10 highly experience crew including 2 executive chefs
Price point? Well to give you an idea, Anda is currently from AU$30,000 per day or $150,000 AUD per week plus GST. APA is included (advance provisioning allowance).
Where to? Pretty much wherever you want! Australia has nearly 60,000km of coastline but my recommendations would be the Kimberley Coast, Rowley Shoals, the Cape York Peninsula and the Great Barrier Reef.
So yes I am excited … Anda really offers stylish luxury, a sense of freedom and extraordinary Australian adventures!!
