We headed off with the ute packed to the hilt. We almost had to leave one of the kids behind. We had tents, mattresses, chairs, clothes and all the food and water we needed for two weeks
The Gibb River road is approximately 50ks from Kununurra. We turned onto the road and took the opportunity to take a photo to prove that we made it to the road....I did think about heading back to the air conditioned caravan at that point.

Elquestro
About 30ks along the road you get to Elquestro National Park. This was our first stop for the night. We put up the Aldi tent for the first time without too much drama...well without divorce :)
Elquestro is beautiful with a mountainous backdrop and lots of waterholes and gorges to explore. We took the hilux up to the lookout which was terrifying and beautiful at the same time. In the afternoon we looked at Jacks waterhole and we walked to Elquestro gorge. Ella managed to seek out a couple of animals, this stop the donkeys were the focus, and the random cow that walked around the campground.The camping ground has a couple of swimming holes, which the girl at reception said " oh it's fine to swim, there's only fresh water crocs.....I think I will just take a shower. The showers roof has openings at each end so you can see the stars and the trees, brilliant.
That night we had a great sleep with the 12v fan keeping us cool...thank god for my clever husband who hooked it up to the second battery. We camped just like the 300per night tents right beside us.

Emma Gorge
We got up early this morning and packed everything up..,still no divorce. We headed to Emma Gorge resort to start the walk to Emma Gorge. The walk is approximately 3ks round trip. It was interesting with the kids because you had to climb rocks in some sections and cross the river, but the reward at the end was amazing. Emma gorge has a large waterfall, with a crystal blue swimming hole at the bottom. You can even swim under the rock ledge and feel the warm water flowing from the rocks. This gorge is by far my favourite of the trip. We stayed and swam for a couple of hours before walking back. When we got back to the resort we were exhausted and hot, so we snuck into the resort pool to cool down. We blended in very well until Kaden announced at the top of his voice " it's ok mum I won't tell anyone that we're not supposed to be here"... That's when we left.
We had lunch then headed for home valley station.

Home Valley Station (HVS)
On our way to HVS we hit our first bit of dirt road. We had been told that the road was full of corrigations and hard going, but the road had just been graded and was easy driving. We did pass a couple of people with flat tyres. I crossed my fingers that wouldn't happen to us. A further 40ks and we pulled into HVS. The station has beautiful big stone gates and as you enter there is a large stable complex on your left, and a large resort style pool. This filled the brief for both kids, pool for Kaden and dozens of horses for Ella. We set up our tent then headed for the pool. We spent the afternoon lounging by the pool, while Ella stayed at the stables....Not what I had expected from the dusty Gibb River road.We finished the night with a drink at the bar. This is my favourite place so far....HVS, not the bar. I have also taken to drinking a beer each afternoon. I may have to check into AA on return.
Ella secured a job helping Harry the stable manager prepare the horses for a trail ride the next morning. That meant I had to get up at 5.30am to accompany her to the stables ( you had to be 16 to do a trail ride so she was devastated)....Harry was fantastic, he let Ella catch one of the horses, helped him wash them, feed them, then saddle them for the ride. Ella was in heaven. We had breakfast, then packed up, finally another swim before leaving. We headed for Drysdale station.

Drysdale station
We travelled a couple of hours then turned into to Kullumberu road, Drysdale station was approximately 60ks along this road. This road was the worst we had encountered with a lot of corrogations. We arrived at Drysdale station early afternoon and it lived up to its name. Dry and dusty, but better than camping on a river filled with crocs....early night and off to Mitchell Plateau tomorrow, woohoo!

Mitchell Plateau
We left dusty Drysdale early and headed for Mitchell Plateau. This is the base for our walk to Mitchell Falls. Mitchell falls is another landmark that I am really excited about seeing, and would be another highlight of the trip. We drove for an hour along Kullumbaru road before turning onto the road for Mitchell Plateau. This road was the worst we had encountered with large rocks and massive pot holes. We saw a sign as we entered this road that said "rough road ahead" no kidding :/. The road was approximately 80ks and it took us about 1.5 hours. With about 10ks to go you come across a sign that says " Are we there yet? No" this made me laugh.
We finally arrived and were the only campers there. We found out that they closed the falls that Sunday, so we just made it :). That afternoon mum and I went to the helicopter office and organised a flight home from the falls the next day. The walk is 8ks round trip and it would have been too hard on the kids. We kept the helicopter ride a secret from the kids. At 6.30 the next morning we headed off. The walk was great, there were lots of shadey spots on the way in. It took us about 1.5 hours with breaks, and there was the magnificent falls. They really lived up to my expectation. We spent a couple of hours swimming then we said to the kids it was time to start the walk back. This was met with lots of moans and groans....I then said " how about we catch this helicopter", just as it flew around the rock face. That moment was priceless. They were both so excited. We flew along the Mitchell river, we spotted one croc, yes one of the ones that will eat you :). The pilot took us over JD falls, then back for a final fly over Mitchell falls before heading back to camp. Much easier than the walk in, and what an amazing thing to do with my family. I was on such a high for the rest of the day.

While at the Mitchell falls campground we met some wonderful people from Switzerland. Alf and his travel companions had a flat tyre and Britz had failed to provide the right equipment. Luke to the rescue, crisis averted. I had taken some photos of their helicopter flight so I got Alf's details and we agreed to catch up on the way out at Home Valley Station.
The next morning we left our special spot and headed back to Home Valley Station.

Home Valley Station(HVS)
Back at HVS we spent the next couple of days swimming, reading, fishing and recuperating. Ella obtained her job again and spent the next three days helping Harry. On the second last night we had drinks with our Swiss friends before saying goodbye.
On the last morning at HVS Harry presented Ella with a T-shirt for all of her hard work with the horses....so proud, and she was so happy.
The next morning we headed back to Kununurra, we stopped at Zebedee springs, part of Elquestro on the way out. The springs are thermal and like an oasis amongst the red rocks.

We finally made it back, covered in red dust, but very happy. We plan to do Windjana gorge and Tunnel creek ( also part of the Gibb River road, on the way to the coast). Now four days of rest, relaxation and air conditioning before heading to the Bungle Bungles.