Day 44
El Questro Station (ELQ) - Gibb River Road - Home Valley Station (HV8) - Kununurra
"And I will never be alone
Now I know you’re somewhere
You’re everywhere to me
You’re the colour in the sky
A reason to believe
And when the rain falls down
You tell a story
And I will hear you
Always near you
By the boab tree"
El Questro - I could easily stay a week here. It was so hard to leave today knowing that there is a million acres out there and I've seen so much yet so very little of it. We have loved this place - definitely a highlight of our trip!!
After breakfast we took a quick drive over to the jetty by the river looking up to Chamberlain Gorge. This is salty territory and Cobes is all that more freaked out for it. Cayla on the other hand would have no problems swimming here and it's all that bit harder to tone her down! You can hire a boat or take a tour down the gorge - full of barramundi too - but we had more to see!
We left the jetty and drove back towards the El Questro homestead. This is the exclusive accommodation - 12 guests only and rather pricey too I'd imagine!! Off limits for us riff raff!
We then drove up Saddleback mountain. This track is 4wd for the experienced only. I got to use lots of the Disco's gadgety here ! Very steep inclines with hairpin turns, loose rock and boulders to negotiate - awesome! And the view from the top - spectacular!! 360 degrees out over the station and river - wow! Then you get to do the drive again but crawling down in low range with traction assist! This is a popular spot for sunset and we had contemplated it yesterday but meeting traffic on those bends is not something I'd like to encounter!
Back at the station, we checked out and drove back to Zebedee Springs which everyone loved. A lot more people here than yesterday but we still enjoyed our dip in the 32 degree water.
From Zebedee we drove out of El Questro and back onto the Gibb River Road and a further 25k's on the dirt to another longer and deeper Pentecost River crossing. We were on our way next door to Home Valley Station. The crossing successfully negotiated we dove into Home and had lunch by their pool.
Just under 2k's from the station is the most magnificent lookout over the Cockburn Ranges. The range is part of El Questro and it has majestic crags and sheer rock cliffs spanning kilometres in length. Lots of panoramics taken here!
We drive a further 15ks up to a waterfall which was nice but nothing like the El Questro gorges and falls.
Back in the Disco and back to the river crossing but this time we had a sensational view of the Cockburn Ranges in front if us as we crossed - as opposed to the backpackers filming us on our way across first time! The return pic is the cover tonight.
We did just over 300 k's on the dirt and on 4wd tracks in the last 2 days. The Disco is covered in Kimberley dust too.
We drove back into Kununurra late this afternoon after a great 2 days in one if the best places in Australia - we'll most definately be back too sometime !
Tomorrow is a real treat - not going to give you any ideas but I can't wait !