Kimberley, Australia Expedition Day 2 of 14
Written by Scott David Martin | April 30, 2023

The Dash [ - ] goes behind the scenes of a WABU filmmaking expedition in the remote Northwest region of Australia, The Kimberley. In this 14-part series, we’ll share the highs and lows, from marathon shoots aboard luxurious yachts to heart-stopping encounters with nature's fiercest creatures.

**Greens, oranges, & blues driving to Roebuck Bay**

I’m squinting at the GPS in the front seat.
Dave behind the wheel, Chris & Marc in the back.
Drone cases stacked between us like Jenga blocks.

We were supposed to be halfway to Roebuck Bay by now.
"Uh… where are we?" I hear from the back.

We’re not lost… we’re in Australia.

Mars

By the time we arrive at Roebuck Bay, we’d lost two hours of scouting light.
But the moment we touch the sand, everything evaporates.

The ground beneath us glows orange.
It looks like someone painted the shoreline with ochre and set it on fire.

The orange bleeds into the sea.
The color shifts as far as the eye could see.

We did what we always do in moments like this:
Stopped talking. Start shooting.

**WABU Producer Marc and WABU Director Scott on the road near Roebuck Bay**

**Aerial view of Roebuck Bay** ©SEABOURN

Despite the beauty, despite the magic, I could barely enjoy it.
I hadn’t eaten in over 36 hours.
I’d maybe slept a few.

My brain is buzzing, my stomach churning.
Still, I thought: This is the scene.
This is the moment.

Crocs & Deadlines
The next stop: Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park.
And we are behind schedule.

We have one goal:
Scout a close-up of a croc’s eye opening.
Simple in concept. Ambitious in execution.

Months earlier, we debated how to get it:
Do we camp out in the wild and wait for the perfect shot?

Or do we simulate it in a controlled environment to save time and budget?
We chose the second option.

Walking past the enclosures, the tension built.
One second, stillness. The next, violence.

BUT it was Day three with the crocs that would really surprise all of us.

**Dinosaur Footprints at Low Tide** **©SEABOURN**

Scouting into Prehistoric Time
One of the most intriguing discoveries during our entire pre-production phase?
Dinosaur footprints.

Ancient. Perfectly preserved.

BUT they only reveal themselves at low tide.
Miss that moment? Miss the shot.

Scouting this shot is key to execution.
We land at mid-day.

The midday sun in the Kimberley?
A heat punch to the gut.

103 degrees Fahrenheit. No wind.
Just sun and sweat.

The shot we need: a human hand in a dinosaur footprint.
We called in an expert. A local paleontologist.

She could walk this prehistoric coastline in her sleep.

She meets us at the edge of the reef, points to the rocks, and says:
"You’ve got about an hour before the tide comes in. Let's go."

We rush to the spot.

I crouch down and run my hand over the imprint.
The sand is warm. The texture, rough like coral.

I am touching a ghost.
A handshake 130 million years in the making.

That night, we laid out the gear.

Battery charging. Cards dumping.
I stared at the tiny red sand grains still stuck to the tripod legs.
This adventure is just beginning.

And we’re deep in this story.

Up next on The Dash (—):

“The croc is attacking our drone!”

Red Earth & Reptiles 🐊

Predator Eyes & Sunset Lies 🐫

Lights, Camera…Nausea? 🎬