<P> On 21 January, Phillip and a party which included John Hunter, departed the Bay in three small boats to explore other bays to the north . Phillip discovered that Port Jackson, about 12 kilometres to the north, was an excellent site for a colony with sheltered anchorages, fresh water and fertile soil . Cook had seen and named the harbour, but had not entered it . Phillip's impressions of the harbour were recorded in a letter he sent to England later: "the finest harbour in the world, in which a thousand sail of the line may ride in the most perfect security ...". The party returned to Botany Bay on 23 January . </P> <P> On the morning of 24 January, the party was startled when two French ships were seen just outside Botany Bay . This was a scientific expedition led by Jean - François de La Pérouse . The French had expected to find a thriving colony where they could repair ships and restock supplies, not a newly arrived fleet of convicts considerably more poorly provisioned than themselves . There was some cordial contact between the French and British officers, but Phillip and La Pérouse never met . The French ships remained until 10 March before setting sail on their return voyage . They were not seen again and were later discovered to have been shipwrecked off the coast of Vanikoro in the present - day Solomon Islands . </P> <P> On 26 January 1788, the Fleet weighed anchor and sailed to Port Jackson . The site selected for the anchorage had deep water close to the shore, was sheltered, and had a small stream flowing into it . Phillip named it Sydney Cove, after Lord Sydney the British Home Secretary . This date is celebrated as Australia Day, marking the beginning of British settlement . The British flag was planted and formal possession taken . This was done by Phillip and some officers and marines from the Supply, with the remainder of Supply's crew and the convicts observing from on board ship . The remaining ships of the Fleet did not arrive at Sydney Cove until later that day . </P> <P> The First Fleet encountered indigenous Australians when they landed at Botany Bay . The Cadigal people of the Botany Bay area witnessed the Fleet arrive and six days later the two ships of French explorer La Pérouse sailed into the bay . When the Fleet moved to Sydney Cove seeking better conditions for establishing the colony, they encountered the Eora people, including the Bidjigal clan . A number of the First Fleet journals record encounters with Aboriginal people . </P>

Where did the first fleet arrived in australia