An explosive sunrise greeted early risers as National Geographic Orion steamed towards Australia from the tropical islands to her North, heralding a day to look forward to—of relaxation, conversation, education, and celebration on the high seas. Our wellness specialist Kat drew an enthusiastic crowd of participants to begin this day with her popular stretch class on the upper sun deck.
A delightful open air breakfast followed in the fresh surrounds of the outdoor café, setting the scene for a day of engaging activities, all at an easy and social holiday pace.
After breakfast we gathered in the lounge for the beginning of a wonderfully entertaining complement of presentations from a passionate line-up of expedition naturalists—a great way to enjoy the passage! Steve kicked off the day with his botanical amphibians presentation, untangling many of the mysteries surrounding the unique mangrove ecosystems that we hoped to explore over the coming days, and also giving us a sneak preview of some of the creatures we may encounter along the way. Chris then chimed in with his lively discussion of Kimberley marine mammals, allowing us to learn more about this fabulously remote coast and some of the marine creatures who make their home here, from whales to dugongs to dolphins.
Lively conversation echoed around our scrumptious luncheon under shade from the tropical sun, as we sailed on southwards. After lunch, a little more relaxing, for some a siesta on the sundeck or exploring the well-stocked library for a good read. Our afternoon program opened up some very interesting new areas for discussion, vital to understanding this unique region that we were about to explore in depth. These sea days are certainly a great fortune as they afford this opportunity to get a real feel for the Kimberley and some of the many aspects that enhance a deeper appreciation of its importance and beauty. Pam lifted the lid on indigenous culture with her focus on the modern day management of the land and sea here, so integral to many of the issues affecting the coast today. In her intriguing presentation ‘Healthy Country—Kimberley Traditional Owners’, she shared some of her unique knowledge and experiences, gleaned from much personal time involved with people of the region and drew a host of interesting questions and perspectives from an involved crowd. Marieke followed up with her excellent retelling of the dramatic account of the bombing of the Australian passenger ship Koolama in WW2 and the tale of survival at a most remote site we would visit on the Kimberley Coast. Everyone loves a good story! We spilled out onto the outer decks to enjoy a breathtaking sunset, flowing into evening festivities and some fun conversation as the very welcoming Captain Brian Larcombe invited us all for a welcome cocktail party in the lounge. A lovely Captain’s dinner followed in the restaurant as we sailed ever south, very much looking forward to the morning’s adventures.
