EL QUESTRO 2

 

El Questro has a number of 4WD tracks & walks.  Today we explored some of these tracks.  I personally don't like one way tracks at all!

Emma Gorge is probably the most well known gorge of the Kimberley.  Just a one hour rock hopping walk into the gorge, it didn’t disappoint and was as beautiful as we pictured.  A narrow waterfall dribbles down into a freezing cold pool. 

Chamberlain Gorge is only accessible by boat, so we decided to treat ourselves to the sunset boat cruise.  Our glasses were filled with champagne as we gazed at the layered orange rock cliffs that have been carved by water over millions of years.  Last wet season the water was 20 meters higher. 

Above is the view from Saddleback lookout over part of El Questro.  We spent 5 days here and did not see everything. Unfortunately, we craved fresh milk, fruit & veg, so it was time to head back into civilization!  3 weeks on the Gibb was fantastic.  Perfect for camping, warm days, cold nights, clear blue sky every day.

Definitely for over 8’s and at least 25 years before you turn 80, while you still have a good level of fitness.  Good off road tyres and duck tape a must!

EL QUESTRO

 

19/07/12  El Questro,  the last stop on the Gibb.  One million acres of beauty.  There are 4500 head of cattle just for legal purposes but it is solely a tourist destination.  The road in was rough and rocky.  We had heard so much about El Questro, we were very excited to arrive all in one piece. We payed extra for a secluded campsite on the river, it was worth it. 

Zebeedee Springs – Thermal pools lined with Livistona Palms, it was so beautiful & romantic.  We love this place.  Opens at 7am, our first warm bath in 8 mths.

El Questro Gorge is a narrow rocky gorge, very picturesque trek leading to a couple of little pools.  The girls are confident with climbing up & over rocks & boulders.  We crossed our deepest creek crossing to get to this place.  The creek was muddy & about 40meters wide.  The sign said only high clearance 4WD.  Mike didn’t check because of crocs.  We drove in and slowly we descended.  The water got to 20cm above the doors.  My heart was racing  unnecessarily.

GIBB RIVER ROAD NO - 5

 

Our speed ranges from 5 to 55klms an hour depending on the road surface.  It’s mainly very rocky gravel after Mt Elizabeth so it’s very slow travelling towing the van.  People fly passed us covering us in dust, lucky we haven’t been hit by any rocks.  The Gibb doesn’t seem that busy, but by the end of the day the campsites are full.

Where’s the road?

Our longest day yet! 100klms in 4 hrs. from Ellenbrae Station to Home Valley Station.  As we came to the top of a rise to head down to Home Valley Station the scenery was spectacular. As we entered the station, the girls got very excited seeing a pool, playground, horses and GREEN GRASS.  Mike & I saw the grass was crammed full of campers & immediately thought we’re not staying here.  To our delight they had another camp 4klms from the homestead on the Pentacost River. The Girls screamed & cried, the biggest performance of the trip.  We have the best site overlooking the breathtaking Cockburn Ranges, they look amazing at sunset & sunrise.

 

Saltwater crocs inhabit this area, we have seen a few.  16/07/12  Mike launched the boat, he went up river for the day while I took the girls back to the pool to play.  4pm we see Mike zooming back.  He was stuck up river until the tide came in again.  He caught 6 Barramundi but only allowed to keep 2.  81cm & 76cm.

Went fishing the next day and I caught a 84cm Barra!  They put up a fight, jumping out of the water, it was great fun.  Our freezer is now full of Barramundi.

GIBB RIVER ROAD NO - 4

 

This morning was a few degrees warmer. First time we have seen clouds in 4 weeks.  We headed to Mt Elizabeth Station.  The road was average only 38klms to the turnoff, then another 30 to the station.  This part of road was all corrugated, it took 1 hour.  The campground is average,  we stayed here for 3 nights(only paid for 2).  Camping fees are expensive, $40 a night for dirt.  There are facilities, but get in early  for the hot water!  No shortage of water, thank god.  No washing machines along the Gibb, all hand wash.  This track is for the 4WD enthusiasts.  Wunnumurra Gorge is 10klms from camp & it takes 1 hour to get there.  We had it to ourselves most of the day.

 

Kirsty & Jade were able to feed all the farm animals on the station.  We heard good things about this station but it didn't live up to our expectations.  It was a very slow drive back out to the Gibb!

GIBB RIVER ROAD NO - 3

 

We drove through our first river crossing heading into Chanley River Station, 40klms off the Gibb.  The road was smooth and the campground was well maintained.  Here there are 2 gorges to visit, each 30klms from camp and 1 waterhole.  All the gorges are crystal clear.

Donkey Pool

Grevillea Gorge

Dillie Gorge

2 nights here and we were off to Mt Barnet.  Stopped in at Adcock Gorge which was small but nice, the road in was a bit dodgy.

 Mt Barnet has a petrol station & shop. The camp is 7klms further on and this is where we camped beside our friends.  Another busy camp, as it is the entrance to Manning Gorge.  Jump in the boat or swim across the river, then an hours walk up a rocky trail to the Gorge. It is pretty impressive too. 

GIBB RIVER ROAD NO 2

 

We secured everything and  were on the road again, only 130klms to Silent Grove camping ground.  This section of the road was being graded, so it was pretty good, but it still took 3 hours.  Nice scenery to look at along the way.  Our skin is very dry as is our mouths from eating dust!

Bell Gorge is 10klms from the campsite and 1klm walk to the gorge.  It has a pretty spectacular waterfall.  The pictures don’t do it justice.   The water was freezing.

 

We camped beside two families we had meet in Broome.  There are lots of kids,  Kirsty & Jade are having a ball!  We have campfires every night.

7/07/12 Guess who sat around our campfire last night??????  John Butler and his family. Yes John Butler from John Butler Trio!!!!!!!!!We were very excited and Kirsty & Jade were playing with their kids too!!!!  It was a late night as we couldn’t go to bed until they did! Sorry no photo.

This petrol station only has diesel $2.05ltr.  It had run out,  luckily the truck just arrived as we did. 

THE KIMBERLEY – GIBB RIVER ROAD

 

660klms of corrugated dirt road.   Our first stop on the Gibb River Road was Windjana Gorge. This busy campground is beside a very impressive backdrop, of a 350 million year old Devonion Reef, with a tiny opening through to a sandy river lined with freshwater crocodiles.

 

Tunnel Creek is where Jandamarra hid from police for 3 years, before he was shot at the tunnels entrance.  The tunnel is 700meters from one opening through to  the other side.  It is well hidden, and with a good torch we wadded through the creek.  Shinning the torch up we saw some amazing stalagmites/stalactites.

This is the other end of the tunnel.                          

We got back to camp and were ready to listen to the State of Origin on ABC radio at 6pm, when a couple arrived at 5pm and out they come with a satellite dish.  Guys were running from everywhere to watch the game, and a great game it was!  The majority of campers were Queenslanders.

Yes, it has been cold at night and down to 5 degrees in the morning.