Every expedition has a unique story today to tell. And for this expedition exploring Australia’s wild northwest Kimberley region, the story begins at sea with the National Geographic Orion crossing the Timor Sea to the island of Timor. 

Days at sea are surprisingly busy, especially for our first full day on board. An informative introductory briefing by our expedition leader, Adam Crop, set the stage for the days to come. An introduction to digital photography helped us learn more about our cameras. Hands on sessions followed with the Lindblad-National Geographic photo team who challenged each of us to tell our own story about the expedition. A hearty deck lunch was served in the outdoor café as the ship effortlessly cut through waves and long swells.  

The afternoon was spent relaxing and getting to know each other. National Geographic photographer Michael Melford treated us to a presentation of his spectacular images from assignments around the world. Afternoon tea was our next optional eating opportunity, followed by a fascinating talk by Harry Christensen about the aboriginal Wandjina Rock Art of the Kimberley region. 

After the first of many delicious dinners, our heads hit the pillow filled with great anticipation for the adventures to follow.