14 - 16 June – El Questro

14 June – stocked up on supplies, lunch at Pumphouse then off to El Questro & our first crossing of the Pentecost River. We have a “private” camp site on the edge of the Pentecost. A beautiful & quiet location – no other people in sight or sound - & no facilities. A pair of blue-winged kookaburra’s sat on a log beside us & occasionally dived into the grass for a bug. Beautiful.  Popped up to the bar at the Station for a drink after dinner to listen to the entertainment – a really good singer on guitar plus a corny guy doing rope & whip tricks. A great atmosphere & lots of fun.

Pentecost River Crossing - Yes our little Subaru made it across here

One of our friendly kooka's

Our 'Private' tent site

15 June – headed along a 4wd track for a look at picturesque Chamberlain Gorge & saw several colourful kingfishers & caught a distant view of the El Questro Homestead (cheapest rooms $1,800/night??). Then to the Zebedee hot springs for a therapeutic soak. Anne followed up with a somewhat cooler dip in the river at the Station.

We then headed off on the Explosion Gorge guided tour along a serious 4wd track – very rough & steep (not for our little Forrester). The guide was very informative about history, plants & animals plus some geography. We had a boat ride along the steep sided gorge which was spectacular, then headed to Branko’s lookout to watch the sun set while sipping wine & tucking in to cheese & bikkies. Just amazing.

Explosion Gorge

Branko Lookout

16 June – packed & topped up with petrol at $2.30 per litre. Ouch! Next stop was a walk to Amalia Gorge – an interesting walk over rocky terrain with a few difficult sections & it was quite hot. The reward was a water fall dropping in to a magnificent rock pool. We both had a swim in the cool water – very refreshing.

We then drove to Emma Gorge which was a similar walk with high red cliffs surrounding a beautiful water hole & water fall. Only Anne ventured in this time – getting too cool for me.

So Gibb River Road - here we come. Just 11 kms along the dusty, corrugated, gravel road we blew a tyre. Drat! Had to unload the back to get the spare then drive back to the nearest tyre repair shop at Kununurra – a frustrating back track of about 100 kms & the tyre shop was closed. Booked in to a cabin.

Amalia Gorge

Amalia Gorge