So excited-into El Questro today!! Have wanted to come here for a long time!! The drive in was amazing with sheer cliff faces, tree lined escarpments-post card stuff. Was very excited to turn onto the Gibb River Road-funny though,as it is sealed road till the El Questro turnoff!! Arrived at the station to book in, which is the hub of El Questro, with a shop, bar, restaurant etc.- very nice if you are looking for those comforts. We headed into our own private campsite, on the Pentacost River. It is just perfect, large, private site ( no one around for as far as can see), easy river access -with our own shaded area to explore. Lovely rapids to swim in, and deeper holes for fishing. Loving it-and that's just our campsite!

There are many walks to do, hot springs and gorge swimming all over the park.

We all walked into Zebedee Springs and Amalie Gorge on the first day. Zebedee Springs was a short walk through pandanus and livostona palms, into thermal springs. Nothing like Douglas Hot springs- but very relaxing in the warmer water.

We then walked into Amalie Gorge, a challenging walk over cliffs, up Amalie Creek, to the gorge pool. A few places got the adults hearts skipping a beat-with tricky to negotiate sheer cliffs. Kids all managed easily and hopped along like little rock wallabies! We swam and lunched at the top pool, and were the only people there. The kids are all doing so well with the walks-this one was about 4km, not a moan from any of them.
We enjoyed the afternoon, swimming, fishing and exploring the campsite. Craig landed a 72cm Barramundi-which fed all 10 of us for dinner. John, Coen and Eli are yet to catch one-but must get points for trying. Coen and Eli are down at the river first thing, and are getting really good at flicking lures. Emma, Ebony and Aden also give it a good go, and Aden is able to flick lures now too.

Barb and I got up early to do one of the longer walks in the park. We headed into Champagne Springs. It was a spectacular walk, which took as about 5 hours return, with a swim at the top. Once again-we were the only people there, truly beautiful to see/hear the wildlife early in the morning. We had lots of laughs, especially negotiating the creek crossings and cliffs. Good times.

Next day we went into Emma Gorge. El Questros biggest attraction. And it didn't disappoint. A fairly easy walk into the gorge, just spectacular, a droplet waterfall falls into the gorge, which encourages moss and ferns to grow around the rock overhangs. We were clued up by Jo and Andrew about the hot spring water that runs into the right hand side of the gorge. That made it-as we could warm up in the little stream, then go back out to explore the cold water gorge. Thanks Jo and Andrew! Emma Gorge was definitely a highlight for me.

More fishing and playing at camp for the afternoon. Craig and I did a short 4WD trip, then we all headed out for dinner at the station. Kids all did the Junior Ranger activities before dinner. Aden got to have a go at whip cracking, Coen learnt how to lasoo a bull, and Emma was playing tug-o-war. They enjoyed those structured activities-I didn't get to see them do any of it-as I spent the whole time in the shower!!!!! The facilities were lovely at the station, little cubicles, open at the top, so it felt like a long, hot shower in the bush! Although the station is quite commercial -it was a nice break from the bush.

Before leaving El Questro -we got some fuel-$2.28/L-the highest we have seen yet! So of course just got enough to get us out of trouble.