Cairns and reconcile cost/benefit

15/9/2016 Qld Cairns. (Landed 6.30am 11/9/2016) Flight was uneventful with the standard level of economy class discomfort. It was a no-frills Jetstar flight that was cost-effective and on time. I medicated my cold and slept for the next 24 hours.

By the 14/9/2016 I had sorted the images I had collected and reconciled the bills accrued, so I could evaluate my expenses. At $167 per day for the 14 days travelling, including airfares and coach/scenic-flight,boat trips,  my costs were what I anticipated. Interestingly this was about the same as the daily costs for my 2015 European Study tour.

15/9/2016 Sent off the "Dissertation" chapters that I had been working on. Double-checked/edited the blog and did some serious library work re 3D printing. I may have to go to Townsville campus of JCU for practical advice.

Back-story of the Dissertation chapters was that the external hard-drive I took with me as a back-up, would not read (it had died) when I got home but I assumed the computer copy was OK. However, I found that Word defaulted to the last version saved, which was the back-up version. For the whole trip I had actually been working on the external hard-drive not the computer. I "begged" the IT techs at JCU to try to salvage my files from the dead hard-drive and got most of the data back. They found it was a software "re-write" glitch rather than hardware malfunction. I had to reformat the text and re-write whole "missing" sections of the first two chapters but at least the gist of my manuscript was still there. A case of two steps forward and one back.

At the same time as I discovered the corrupted hard-drive I found that my smart-phone had reprogrammed itself while rolling around in my day-pack. At one stage I thought that it too had died but patient "maze-running"got me through the menu system and the phone functional again. The final blow was as I was rewriting my document, the wide-screen, graphics-enabled HD monitor "blew" with a loud pop and the classic disappearing screen image down to a central dot. Dell explained that monitors are "throw-away" (they prefer the term "uneconomic to repair"), mine was no longer in warranty, and advised that I should buy an up-to-date replacement. I used my smaller, older, non-graphics monitor instead.

WA Perth -travel Cairns

10/9/2016 WA - Perth-transfer Airport-Cairns. Up early to put my laundry through, grab a shower and an early breakfast. All sheets towels etc down to hamper, room cleared by 10.00 am, key deposit returned, then wait in "Internet Room" working on computer. Stay close with no tours planned on a "travel" day. I got caught getting from Rome to the airport, when I tried to travel by train to Rome on the day I was to fly. A unexpected wildcat transport strike nearly cost me the flight out.

On a walk around the local area I found the Number 40 bus stop to get me to T3 terminal for my JetStar flight tonight. Looked up the airport lounges and there is a Qantas Club in the T3 terminal so I should be "centrally located". Weather is overcast but not raining. My Cold is still with me but the "night/day" Codral keeps me functioning. I must remember to take my Pseudo-fed prior to the flight tonight or I may get eustachian tube "squeeze" with the air-pressure changes.

Worked on blog and journal in YHA but time dragged. Plane does not leave until 11.50pm so it was a choice of waiting at the YHA or waiting at the Airport for hours. I think they will let me into the Qantas Club after about 5pm but not all day. I will hang out till 3.30 - 4pm at the YHA then walk to the Number 40 bus stop andcatch the bus through to T3. The Number 40 busses leave on the half hour and take about 30min. Given 30 min to get my boarding pass and luggage checked then it should be just about right. Only problem is that sometimes they will not take luggage until 2 hours prior to a flight, which will be difficult.

In the event it was difficult. Local bus got me to the airport by 5.00pm as planned and I got to the Jetstar boarding gate but as I feared, Perth Jetstar does not board until 2 hours prior to the allotted flight, so not until 10.00pm.

Now my negotiation skills were really needed. I managed to "talk" my big bag through security and I carried it up to the Qantas Club [which was closed but I was redirected to the Qantas Business Lounge]. I was told to take my bag back downstairs at 10pm and have it checked through then when the gate was open. Not bad, I managed to get into the Qantas Lounge on my invoice and QC card, without the magic boarding pass. Ate what was effectively a full meal then sat back watched Qantas television and updated my blog.

WA Perth -Swann Valley Winery/Chocolate

9/9/2016 WA Perth-Guildford - winery tour

Booked half-day wine and chocolate tour for the afternoon. (Includes lunch). Sorted my "stuff" for the return to Cairns and worked on Computer until 11.30. Made my way to the railway station to catch a local train to Guildford station, the designated pick-up point for the tour. Filled in time wandering around the historic Guildford then caught-up with the tour. Three wineries a lunch and a chocolate factory then dropped off in Perth at the same coach stand as Integrity used. Easy navigation back to YHA and a self-catered dinner. Checked on the booking-out/store luggage deal with YHA reception and printed off the Jetstar ticket info for tomorrow.

WA-Perth/Rotnest

8/9/2016 WA -Perth -Rotnest Is.

Up early to light breakfast and a walk to the pick-up point for the transfer bus to the Ferry. All went well despite the cold, overcast weather. Seamless transfer to the Ferry with a bumpy ride across to Rotnest. Again a seamless transfer to the Island tour bus. Said goodbye to the bike-riders who looked decidedly chilly. Surprisingly diverse coastline/seascape. Much like Shark Bay where there was low sandy beaches but also rocky reefs and ocean coastline. Waves were spectacular at West Point. Back in Perth by 7.30pm and had a quick self-catered dinner.

Essentially I have now completed the Tropical/Sub-tropical retracement of Baudin’s Voyage (as per my project proposal). The weather has been cold (and wet on occasion) but has not hampered the trip in any way.

Checked with reception re a possible tour for tomorrow but too late to book, try again in morning.

WA Perth

6/9/2016 WA Transfer Monkey Mia to Perth.

Pick-up at 6.30pm at reception and dropped off at Overlander Roadhouse at 8.30pm. Integrity Bus arrived 9.30pm and we set off for Perth arriving at 6.15am next morning. Little to no sleep.

7/9/2016 WA Perth.  Walked from bus drop-off to Train station in light rain and found a café that was open. Light breakfast and a cup of coffee, waiting for a break in the weather. 7.00am walked to YHA hostel and booked in. Changed the YHA booking from 2 nights to 3 nights (? why the booking email I sent screwed up I do not understand). Found my room and investigated the amenities. Then used WiFi to book my Jetstar flight back to Cairns on the 10/9/2016. I got a $189 special that cost about $240 after I added luggage. Not sure of the booking/charge process, it seems to add costs randomly.

Went to investigate the Rotnest tours and found a ferry/bus or a ferry/bike for around the $100 which seems fine. It depends on the rain. There is also a short wine tour that looks interesting. I will try to book Rotnest for tomorrow.

5/9/2016 WA Monkey Mia/Shark Bay

4/9/2016 WA Monkey Mia. Extensive walk through the bottom end of Francis Peron National Park and along its southern shoreline. Booked a 25min scenic flight over the opposite coast of Francis Peron National park with views of the Dirk Hartog Island coast across Western arm of Shark Bay. It was not possible to “cruise” the entire bay because of its massive size. Overflight was the only practical solution. 

Overflight took about 30min and flew the coastline of the Francis Peron National Park both east and west coast. Fauve Island and extensive seagrass beds, and a variety of low coastal formations from cliffs to sandy beaches.

5/9/2016 WA Monkey Mia. Extensive walks along foreshore north and south of the Resort. Laundry and packing for travel back to Perth tomorrow.

4/9/2016_WA_Monkey Mia

Bus arrived - got to Overlander Roadhouse at 21.00 pm (9oc) to be picked up by "Mike" the shuttle operator and got to Monkey Mia after midnight. No front-office staff so they had stuck an envelope with the room key and a map of the Resort onto the door of the Reception office for me. It actually worked; after a long trip and a bit of maze running I found my room, with the help of the map (essential).

Next morning (3/9/2016), I formally signed in with Reception and was directed to the wharf to book/pay for my Aristocat 2 nature cruise. 

This cruised for 5 hours within the Eastern arm of the Shark Bay Marine Park, with long stretches along the coast of Francis Peron National Park. Pearling barge tour, dugong and dolphin sightings, and I got a view of the near-shore sea-grass beds.

4/9/2016 WA Monkey Mia. Extensive walk through the bottom end of Francis Peron National Park and along its shoreline. Booked a 25min scenic flight over the opposite coast of Francis Peron National park with views of the Dirk Hartog Island coast across Western arm of Shark Bay. It was not possible to “cruise” the entire bay because of its massive size. Overflight was the only practical solution.  

WA Coral Bay transfer to Monkey Mia

1/9/2016 Coral Bay Ningaloo WA. Comprehensive self-directed walking tour of the foreshore both to the South and North of Coral Bay township. Last laundry completed and I worked solidly on my Dissertation, completing the two chapters I owe to my academic supervisors for this year. I am ahead of my schedule but need to complete more art works. 

I received an invitation to dinner at a local resident’s (Julie and Bill) house for tonight. Excellent food and I took a six-pack of Mercury cider. They had a bottle of Vas Felix white, which was superb, but they also own an apple orchard so the cider was appropriate.

2/9/2016 Coral Bay Ningaloo WA. Last day, mainly travel oriented. Cleaned room, returned all my cutlery, packed and put my big bag in the luggage store then worked on my computer (Journal and Thesis chapters). Check-out was 9.30. Bus is due at 2.45-3.15 according to my ticket so I planned an early lunch then a wait.   Printed out my booking sheets for Bus and Monkey Mia accommodation. 4 days at Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort and the bus booked back to Perth on the 6/9/2016. I will book tourist boat trip when I get there and confirm my return shuttle to the Overlander Roadhouse. 

Coral Bay last day of booking

1/9/2016. Coral Bay

Last nights 4x4 tour was excellent, taking a new track and getting a better/different view of the coastline. The line of breakers on the reef with only a relatively narrow navigable strip between the reef and the shoreline is remarkable. Ningaloo does not have the extensive reef flat and inner reef of the GBR but would pose similar challenges to wooden hulled sailing boats.

This morning I walked the tide-line south and north of Coral Bay and was struck by the very flat coastal plane that lies behind the shoreline. Reef is relatively close (compared to the GBR) and there is very little to appeal to Voyages sailing along coast. No major sources of fresh water nor of large stands of timber.

I met up with the Murdoch Students who were staying at the Ningaloo Club and confirmed that they only had their lecturer with them. Not a name that I recognised, unfortunately.  

Coral Bay - Murdoch Uni Research Station (Manta Ray)

31/08/2016. Coral Bay Ningaloo WA. The task for today was to locate the Coral Bay Marine Research Station of Murdoch University. I had done a Visiting Fellowship with the Freemantle Campus of Murdoch in 2004 (working with their fisheries population modelling group). Through those contacts I had an informal introduction to the Station Manager, who had apparently worked at CSIRO at around the same time that I did (?).

In the event I located the Research Station and called in. There was about 20 students ready to go out on a research cruise but no station manager. As luck would have it he had been called away to Perth “for a few days”. Also no obvious presence of AIMS at the station (but I had heard that they had been “cut” as a funding/savings measure). So my second-string for a possible reef trip was not useful. Luckily my commercial “Nature Cruise” had been spectacularly successful so I had gained 90-95% of what I needed for the Ningaloo region.

I arranged to tag along on another foreshore 4x4 drive for this evening with a staff member of the Ningaloo Club. That will be further south than Coral Bay and dovetails into the Northern cruise I did by boat. While not the full extent of their Voyage I have seen a fair slice of this northern coastline that was reported and drawn by the French in 1801-04.

For the rest of the day I walked to the foreshore for some local photographs of both the foreshore and the proximity of the coral reef. I also took the opportunity for “Housekeeping” tasks and ran my laundry through the laundromat, while I worked on my MA Thesis, Introduction chapter, to be submitted in October. 

WA Coral Bay

29/8/2016 10.30 am, finally arrived and checked in to the Ningaloo Club OK but found I was too far from the boat Tour company I had booked, so re-booked with a local group. A failure to understand  my needs/plans or from me to communicate, but ultimately solvable. Lots of stuffing around on the Internet.

The lady at the front-desk helped mightly and I spent a little more money than planned. Still within budget. I will get to Monkey Mia (300km away) on the return journey and use the local tourist-flight to get the coverage of Shark Bay.

Before dinner I went with the desk-lady and her friend to feed some feral goats trapped on a nearby cliff edge. High-tides will ultimately subside but until then they are being fed by volunteers. It gave me a perfect chance to take photos of the Coral Bay coastline. The cliff was immediately opposite major navigation markers. I took my small camera for lightness/ease of use while scrambling around on sea-cliffs but it does not have a built-in GPS. Excellent shots of seascapes the French would have seen from the sea. I will be able to compare this when I take the local "Nature tour tomorrow".

Next day I am off at 9.00 for a "Nature tour"

29&30/8/2016. Still fighting the cold I got from the flight over from Cairns, so I was not going to risk "respiratory problems" and will be an observer not a snorkeler on the Nature Cruise.

9.15 am we were loaded onto a small bus and transported to the wharf where we were loaded onto an oversized launch. Just enough room for the 22 people if you sat up front on the bow. However over the next 5 hours I got exactly the view point of the coastline I wanted, matching the "landscapes/seascapes" on the edge of the French charts (drawn from the 1801-04 paintings by Petit). Almost certainly this tour was a retracement of this part of their Voyage.

Extras were Manta ray sightings and a close encounter with a migrating Humpback whale, which also would have been apparent to the 1801 sailors. The coastline in this region is low almost flat with no really major rivers. From an early explorers point of view it would have been very unpromising. Of equal importance was the presence of a hazardous barrier reef. I photographed both the landform and the extensive reef from "deck height" but an aerial view would be the only way the true magnitude of the danger could have been assessed.
  

WA Coral Bay

  

WA Retracement -start

Flew out of Cairns at 8.00 pm, 27/8/2016, to land in Perth WA at 11.30 pm their time, about 5 hours flying time across two time zones. It was raining when I arrived and I got soaked running across the tarmac. I caught a Taxi (no mean feat at midnight on a Saturday in a strange city) and got to an " IBIS Budget" hotel after 12pm. No front desk staff so had to "do battle" with a computer console to book in. Thankfully a load of passengers from a Bali flight arrived so we rang the emergency number and got the night-watchman to book us all in. (When I checked out there seemed to be none of the info that I had given when doing the original booking over the phone! This would explain why I had trouble with the computer; possibly the fact that I was booked for the night of the 27th but had not arrived until very early on the morning of the 28th meant that I had been scrubbed. I think I was lucky to find a bed for the night.)

Sunday 28/8/2016. Simple hotel breakfast and off to town-centre by local bus. Priority was to locate the Coach station to meet the Integrity Tour bus which will take me up the coast from Perth to the Shark Bay/Coral Coast. This bus leaves Perth at 7.30 pm, continues through the night and has at least one bus change (but the schedule is subject to change). I also found the Art Gallery of WA and tried to find artistic depictions of the WA coastline (as this is the longest coast in Australia). Surprisingly little artwork on this subject given its geographic importance. [Almost turning their back on the sea?]

I also located and confirmed my booking with the YHA for my return from the Coral Coast. Weather permitting

Retracement of Baudins 1801-03 voyage along the WA "Coral coast"

Shark Bay was visited by the French explorers:
 26 June & 16 July 1801
 16 March 1803

While Northwest Cape (?Exmouth and North)
22 July 1801

This part of the French voyage can be retraced via a "road trip" using the modern Coastal highways/roads from Broome to Perth, via a  "hop-on hop-off" bus tour. In the event a simple Perth to "Coral coast"bus trip got me to Ningaloo Club at Ningaloo  (close to Denham on the accompanying map) and I linked-up with the "Perfect Nature cruise" around the Francis Peron National Park. Peron was a scientist onboard the original Baudin Voyage.
                                                             Shark Bay

The itinerary was to fly Cairns Perth 27/8/2016 spend one night in Perth then catch the Integrity Bus "Perth to Coral coast"on the 28th. Booked into the Nigaloo Club from 29/ 8/2016 to 2/9/2016. Francis Peron Park tour/cruise booked 30/8/2016. Itegrity bus back to Perth 2/9/2016 and booked into Perth YHA 3/9/2016 until 6/9/2016 with a cruise/tour of Rottenest Is to be booked ad hoc. Depending on availability a train/bus trip to Albany via Bunbury is possible, to complete the "Geographie Bay"component of the original Baudin voyage.
 

Retracing the Baudin voyage along the WA coast, initial stages

In planning the retracement I chose a land-based journey, visiting the landings points and viewing the coastline from the sea where possible. Note from the Map that the "Coral coast" from Broome to Shark Bay was closely investigated by the Geographie (red arrows). During this part of the Voyage the tropical fish species drawn and painted by Lesueur would have been collected. 

This is a timeline of significant events during Baudin's voyage of exploration around Australia. 

Source: The Baudin Legacy Project © 2002-16 The University of Sydney.

 http://sydney.edu.au/arts/research/baudin/project/index.shtm. Last updated: 28 February 2012

ABN: 15 211 513 464. CRICOS number: 00026A. Phone: +61 2 9351 2222.

Authorised by: Arts eResearch.

19 October 1800	The Géographe and the Naturaliste leave the port of Le Havre, in Normandy
2 November 1800	The two ships drop anchor in the harbour of Santa Cruz, Tenerife, in the Canary Islands
14 November 1800	Departure from Tenerife
3 February 1801	The two ships sight the Cape of Good Hope
16 March 1801	The Géographe and the Naturaliste anchor in Port North-West (now Port Louis) on the Ile de France (Mauritius)
	Western Australia.
25 April 1801	Departure from the Ile de France (Mauritius)
27 May 1801	Cape Leeuwin sighted, at half past seven in the morning
30 May 1801	Discovery of Geographe Bay followed next day by first shore party
4 June 1801	First encounter with an Australian Aborigine, of the Wardandie tribe, in Geographe Bay
8 June 1801	Timothée Vasse, assistant-helmsman on the Naturaliste, drowns in the surf at Geographe Bay
10 June 1801	The Géographe and the Naturaliste are separated following a storm
14 June 1801	The Naturaliste anchors east-north-east of Rottnest Island (rendezvous point) where it will spend two weeks surveying the Swan River and the various off-shore islands, including Rottnest Island itself
20 June 1801	The Géographe leaves Geographe Bay and heads north to Shark Bay, having missed the Naturaliste
26 June 1801	The Géographe anchors in Shark Bay, off the northern tip of Bernier Island
28 June 1801	The Naturaliste leaves Rottnest Island and sets sail for Shark Bay
14 July 1801	The Géographe leaves Shark Bay to make for North-West Cape
16 July 1801	The Naturaliste drops anchor east of the northern tip of Dirk Hartog Island, opposite the middle entrance to Shark Bay
22 July 1801	The Géographe sights North-West Cape then proceeds to survey the coast north-east from there
19 August 1801	With supplies dwindling, Baudin breaks off his survey of the north-west coast and heads for Timor
22 August 1801	The Géographe anchors in Kupang Bay, Timor
5 September 1801	The Naturaliste leaves Shark Bay, where it has conducted extensive surveys
	Leaves Western Australia
21 September 1801	The Naturaliste arrives in Kupang Bay, Timor, where it is reunited with the Géographe
13 November 1801	The Géographe and the Naturaliste leave Timor bound for Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), having lost six men to dysentery in the Dutch colony, including the gardener Riedlé (21 October); several men on both ships are still suffering from dysentery and fever on departure from the island
23 December 1801	The zoologist Stanislas Levillain dies at sea from fever contracted at Timor
13 January 1802	The Géographe and the Naturaliste sail into D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Van Diemen's Land, and anchor in Great Taylor Bay (Bruny Island)
14 January 1802	First encounter with the Aborigines of Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania)
19 January 1802	The two ships move their anchorage to North West Bay, opposite the northern tip of Bruny Island
2 February 1802	The geographer, Faure, reports an important correction to the chart of south-east Tasmania: “Tasman Island" was, in fact, attached by an isthmus (Eaglehawk Neck) to mainland Tasmania
16 February 1802	The ships leave D'Entrecasteaux Channel
18 February 1802	The Géographe and the Naturaliste anchor in Great Oyster Bay, on the western side of Maria Island
20 February 1802	The zoologist René Maugé dies from dysentery contracted at Timor and is buried on Maria Island
27 February 1802	The ships leave Maria Island and head north to continue the survey of the east coast of Tasmania
6 March 1802	The Géographe loses contact with a dinghy containing the geographer Boullanger, midshipman Maurouard and six sailors, sent to conduct a closer survey of the coast
8 March 1802	Baudin confined to bed with colic pains; the two ships become separated during the evening
9 March 1802	Boullanger's boat party picked up by an English brig, the Harrington; the Naturaliste encounters an English schooner, the Endeavour, which is heading for Maria Island
10 March 1802	The Géographe encounters the Endeavour; the Naturaliste encounters the Harrington at the entrance to Banks Strait and recovers Boullanger and his boat party; Hamelin begins survey of Bass Strait while waiting for the Géographe at Banks Strait (not at the agreed rendezvous point of Waterhouse Island)
11 March 1802	The Géographe breaks off its search for the lost dinghy and heads north
18 March 1802	The Naturaliste leaves Banks Strait to search for the Géographe to the south (along the east coast of Tasmania)
19 March 1802	The Géographe sights Waterhouse Island, the rendezvous point in Banks Strait, but the Naturaliste has just departed: the two ships have passed one another in the mists
24 March 1802	After several days of stormy weather and rough seas, the Géographe heads towards Wilson's Promontory to begin its survey of the “unknown" south coast of New Holland
27 March 1802	The Géographe sights Wilson's Promontory
29 March 1802	The Géographe leaves Wilson's Promontory and follows the coast in a westerly direction
3 April 1802	The Naturaliste regains Waterhouse Island after its unsuccessful search for the Géographe around Maria Island; Hamelin undertakes further survey work (Port Dalrymple)
7 April 1802	Hamelin leaves Tasmania and heads for the northern side of Bass Strait; a boat party is sent to fix the position of Wilson's Promontory and chart the coast from there to Western Port; other boat parties are sent to examine Western Port itself
8 April 1802	The Géographe meets the Investigator, commanded by Matthew Flinders, in Encounter Bay (named by Flinders to commemorate this meeting)
9 April 1802	Flinders visits the Géographe for a second meeting with Baudin, before the ships part ways, Flinders following the coast in an easterly direction, Baudin entering Backstairs Passage to begin his survey of the north coast of Kangaroo Island and of the two gulfs north of it
18 April 1802	Hamelin leaves Bass Strait and heads for Port Jackson
21 April 1802	The Naturaliste sights Cape Howe, 32 years to the day after Cook's first sighting
25 April 1802	The Géographe leaves the gulf waters of South Australia and heads for the Islands of St Peter and St Francis (Nuyts Archipelago), surveying the western coast of Eyre Peninsula along the way; the Naturaliste anchors inside the Heads at Port Jackson
26 April 1802	The Naturaliste shifts anchorage to Sydney Cove
8 May 1802	Baudin breaks off his survey of the south coast, having been unable to round the Islands of St Peter and St Francis due to unfavourable weather; he decides to head for Port Jackson, via D'Entrecasteaux Channel (Tasmania)
9 May 1802	Matthew Flinders arrives at Port Jackson in the Investigator
18 May 1802	The Naturaliste leaves Port Jackson, bound for the Ile de France (Mauritius); Hamelin's first lieutenant, Milius, is sick and remains in Sydney
20 May 1802	Weather prevents Baudin from entering D'Entrecasteaux Channel; he anchors instead in Adventure Bay, on the eastern side of Bruny Island
22 May 1802	The Géographe leaves Adventure Bay and makes for the east coast of Tasmania, from Cape Tourville northwards, en route for Port Jackson
4 June 1802	Baudin breaks off his survey of Tasmania's east coast and heads for Port Jackson
8 June 1802	Hamelin, having been unable to round the southern point of Tasmania, turns the Naturaliste round and heads back to Port Jackson
20 June 1802	The Géographe arrives in Port Jackson
28 June 1802	The Naturaliste enters Port Jackson, but does not reach its mooring till 3 July due to calms and contrary winds
22 July 1802	Flinders leaves Port Jackson in the Investigator to complete his circumnavigation of Australia; he is accompanied by the Lady Nelson, under the command of Lieutenant John Murray; the Lady Nelson will be sent back to Port Jackson on 18 October, after a series of mishaps on the north-east coast of Queensland
22 September 1802	The French commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Republic; differing protocols regarding flags lead to a misunderstanding with the English colonists, who wrongly accuse the French of slighting their government
4 October 1802	Baudin writes to the governor, Philip Gidley King, to defend his men against accusations that they re-sold spirits purchased from the cargo of the Atlas, in contravention of regulations; King promptly absolves the French officers of blame and secures a formal apology from the principal accuser, Captain Kemp
18 November 1802	The Géographe leaves Port Jackson accompanied by the Naturaliste, which is to sail back to France carrying the natural history collection, and the Casuarina, a schooner purchased in Sydney to conduct closer coastal surveys under the command of Louis Freycinet
6 December 1802	Running in for King Island, Baudin bids farewell to the Naturaliste but Hamelin is soon forced back by contrary winds; the three ships anchor in Sea Elephant Bay
7 December 1802	Louis Freycinet, in the Casuarina, is sent to survey the Hunter Islands, off the north-west tip of Tasmania; the geographer Faure is sent in a boat to circumnavigate and chart King Island (the first circumnavigation of the island)
8 December 1802	Baudin visits the Naturaliste for a farewell dinner with Hamelin; as the Naturaliste is preparing to leave, she is boarded by Captain Charles Robbins and surveyor Grimes, who have just arrived in the Cumberland, sent by Governor King to forestall any plans the French might have for a settlement in Tasmania; Grimes informs Hamelin that he has been sent to prepare for the establishment of a settlement in D'Entrecasteaux Channel; Hamelin leaves without consulting Baudin on this matter
9 December 1802	Robbins and Grimes visit Baudin on the Géographe
12 December 1802	Bad weather forces Baudin to weigh anchor and move out to sea for the night
13 December 1802	The Géographe anchors once more in Sea Elephant Bay
15 December 1802	The Géographe, having been forced during the night to leave its anchorage a second time, loses its longboat which it was towing
23 December 1802	The Géographe is finally able to anchor again in Sea Elephant Bay and retrieve the scientists who have been left on the island; the Casuarina has not yet returned from its survey of the Hunter Islands
24 December 1802	The Géographe leaves King Island at six o'clock in the evening and heads towards the Hunter Islands hoping to meet the Casuarina
27 December 1802	Returning to Sea Elephant Bay, the Géographe is finally reunited with the Casuarina
2 January 1803	The Géographe and the Casuarina sight Kangaroo Island and begin their survey of it, starting with the previously uncharted south coast
6 January 1803	The Géographe anchors inside Kangaroo Head, in Eastern Cove, near present-day Penneshaw; theCasuarina arrives the following morning
10 January 1803	Baudin sends the Casuarina to conduct a close survey of St Vincent's and Spencer Gulfs; the men of the Géographe remain on Kangaroo Island, collecting specimens, looking for water and constructing a new longboat
31 January 1803(?)	The Naturaliste calls in at the Ile de France on its journey home
1 February 1803	The Géographe weighs anchor and leaves Eastern Cove, heading west; the Casuarina, whose return is overdue, is sighted at two in the afternoon running in an easterly direction but Freycinet does not tack to follow Baudin and the two ships are separated
5 February 1803	The Casuarina is abeam of St Francis Island
6 February 1803	The Géographe makes landfall near Streaky Bay
7 February 1803	The Géographe anchors in Denial Bay; the area is carefully surveyed and more specimens are collected
10 February 1803	The Naturaliste leaves the Ile de France and heads home
11 February 1803	The Géographe leaves Denial Bay
13 February 1803	The Casuarina arrives at King George Sound
17 February 1803	The Géographe anchors in King George Sound and the two ships are reunited
20 February 1803	On a surveying excursion, sub-lieutenant Ransonnet encounters an American sealer, the Union, under the command of Isaac Pendleton, in Two People Bay (so named in commemoration of this meeting)
23 February 1803	Captain Pendleton visits Baudin in King George Sound; he dines with Baudin on the Géographe the next day
1 March 1803	The Géographe and the Casuarina leave King George Sound
8 March 1803	Baudin, having lost sight of the Casuarina two days earlier, decides to move on to the rendezvous point of Rottnest Island
9 March 1803	The Géographe sights Cape Leeuwin and St Allouarn Island
13 March 1803	Baudin finds the Casuarina anchored at Rottnest Island and the two ships head for Shark Bay
16 March 1803	The Géographe and the Casuarina anchor in Shark Bay, off the north-western tip of Peron Peninsula
23 March 1803	The Géographe and the Casuarina leave Shark Bay and begin their survey of the coast from North-West Cape to the Bonaparte Archipelago
31 March 1803	Matthew Flinders in the Investigator anchors in Kupang Bay, Timor, after his survey of the Gulf of Carpentaria
8 April 1803	Flinders leaves Timor and heads for Port Jackson
25 April 1803	Near Cassini Island, the French encounter some Malay fishermen on an expedition to fish for trepang (sea cucumbers)
	Leaves Western Australia
29 April 1803	Baudin breaks off his survey of the north-west coast of New Holland and heads for Timor; his health has seriously deteriorated
6 May 1803	The Géographe and the Casuarina arrive at Timor and anchor in Kupang Bay
3 June 1803	The Géographe and the Casuarina leave Timor to survey the north coast of New Holland, including the Gulf of Carpentaria
5 June 1803	The astronomer Bernier dies at sea from fever contracted at Timor
7 June 1803	The Naturaliste completes its return journey, arriving at Le Havre, having been briefly detained by the English in Portsmouth
9 June 1803	Flinders arrives at Port Jackson, thereby completing his circumnavigation of New Holland
7 July 1803	Baudin breaks off his survey of the north coast of New Holland at a point just east of Melville Island and decides to head home, via the Ile de France (Mauritius)
	Leaves Western Australia/North Coast
24 July 1803	The Géographe and the Casuarina are separated during the night of the 24th-25th in rough seas and stormy weather
7 August 1803	The Géographe arrives at the Ile de France (Mauritius)
10 August 1803	Flinders leaves Port Jackson in the Porpoise, accompanied by the Cato and the Bridgewater, bound for England
12 August 1803	The Casuarina arrives at the Ile de France (Mauritius)
17 August 1803	The Porpoise, carrying Matthew Flinders, and the Cato strike a coral reef north-east of Hervey Bay, now known as Wreck Reef; on the 26th, Flinders leaves for Port Jackson in a cutter to arrange a rescue
8 September 1803	Flinders arrives in Port Jackson
16 September 1803	Baudin finally succumbs to his illness and is buried next day at the Ile de France (Mauritius); Milius is subsequently given command of the Géographe for the remainder of the homeward journey
21 September 1803	Flinders leaves Port Jackson in command of the Cumberland, accompanied by the Rolla and the Francis, to rescue those stranded on Wreck Reef
7 October 1803	Flinders and his rescue party reach Wreck Reef; four days later, the Francis returns to Sydney, the Rollaleaves for Canton and the Cumberland, with Flinders still in command, sets sail for England
15 December 1803	Flinders arrives at the Ile de France and anchors in the Baie du Cap
16 December 1803	The Géographe sets sail from Port Louis (Ile de France), leaving the Casuarina in the colony
17 December 1803	Flinders, in the Cumberland, is piloted from the Baie du Cap to Port Louis for an interview with the Governor of the Ile de France, General Decaen; his passport being for the Investigator, and war having again been declared between France and England, Flinders is arrested; he will remain in detention on the island until June 1810
3 January 1804	The Géographe anchors in Table Bay at the Cape of Good Hope
24 January 1804	Departure of the Géographe from the Cape of Good Hope
24 March 1804	The Géographe drops anchor in front of the Ile de Groix, a few kilometres off the coast of Lorient in Brittany; it anchors next day in the roadstead of Lorient