True North’s inaugural General Manager, Peter Trembath shares the catalyst for his love of the Kimberley and it’s unique and incredible wildlife; feathered, furred and scaled.

“When it comes to fauna – the saltwater crocodile is easily the region’s most infamous resident and, even all these years later, I still feel pretty fortunate to have worked so closely with this species. Back in the day it was boots and all! We trapped and even harpooned problem crocs (for relocation) and I have always found them to be fascinating creatures.

But I’m not alone. Most travellers who come to the Kimberley are keen to see a croc.

…It would be remiss not to mention the biggest mammal of all. The humpback whale is not the biggest whale but it is the biggest critter in the Kimberley. Each year they migrate north to give birth and guests on the True North are often treated to seeing mother and calf.”

Because guests on True North spend most of their day immersing in off-ship activities, wildlife encounters are part of every day of every itinerary. True North provides unparalleled access to some of the world’s most pristine wilderness, so guests have the opportunity to dive deeper and truly experience the destination up close and personal. Bottlenose and spinner dolphins are frequently seen, and spotting a snubfin dolphin can be a real highlight. Green turtles can be very common but it’s also possible to see hawksbills and flatbacks.

The sprawling mangroves on the Kimberley coast are a mainstay of fascinating habitats and a bolt-hole to both marine and terrestrial fauna. The mangroves are birdwatching paradise and the ever-present mud is always alive with intriguing creatures such as mudskippers and fiddler crabs. Flying foxes, euros and wallabies, dingoes, bilbies, echidnas, the golden bandicoot and the northern quoll grace the region as well as the iconic boab trees and flowering kurrajong. The ship’s naturalist schedules dedicated wildlife excursions and entertaining natural history presentations.

Explore True North’s Kimberley Cruise itineraries and experience the Kimberley’s unique wildlife for yourself.