On 19 October 1800, under captain Nicolas Baudin, she departed Le Havre with Naturaliste for an exploration of Australia.

She carried a number of scholars, painters, and designers, as well as Anselme Riedlé, the gardener, who had already accompanied Baudin on a previous expedition, and Charles Alexander Lesueur, an artist.

[2] For some 18 months Naturaliste and Géographe explored the less-known regions of New Holland (Australia), and Van Diemen's Land.

The supplies permitted Naturaliste to return to France and Géographe to continue her explorations of the Australian coast.

[4] Géographe returned to Le Havre on 23 March 1804, under Frigate Captain Milius, as Baudin had died of tuberculosis at Mauritius during the expedition.