Locations: Kununurra, Emma Gorge, El Questro

Region: Kimberley WA

Dates: 1 August 2024 – 3 August 2024

Temperatures: 16 – 34

Kununurra to El Questro 120km’

Total trip kilometer’s 4665

Thursday 1 August 2024

Zoe’s 3rd birthday! Happy Birthday Darling girl!

After checking every bolt and screw and taping cupboards and fridge in preparation for the gravel road to El Questro and one final chat with Kay and Cliff a lovely couple from Cowra whom we met at Mataranka and then again at Kununurra, we set off.

We follow the same road to Wyndham and 55km’s along we turn left towards Mt Barnett and onto the Gibb River Road. We stop and take the obligatory pics and we’re off again. Emma Gorge is our first stop today for a hike and a swim, a further 26 km’s.

We cross lots of floodways and have escarpments either side. We then come to the first wet crossing at King River!

Emma Gorge

Emma Gorge is beautiful and the drive in is not too bad. We check in at reception to obtain our park pass as it’s part of El Questro and then head out to the Gorge. It’s a 3.2km return hike, moderate level 4 with some rock scrambles.

Despite the benevolent name I didn’t enjoy the hike. It was a rock scramble most of the way which is not my favourite thing.

I didn’t take poles and got about 9/10’s of the way before I gave up. It got the better of me!

Maybe I am a bit tired after the last few busy days but I decided the best thing for me was to sit in a shady spot by a burbling pool and enjoy the space rather than pushing any further.

It’s hard to write this as I don’t give up easily but these days I’m better at listening to my gut which is why I chose to stop. I encouraged Rob to continue on and he did and had a lovely swim. These are his pictures of Emma Gorge.

I still had to trek all the way out again and thankful did so with no harm. While I was sitting I saw three people fall, a teenager and two women. In my opinion it should not be listed as a moderate hike and I said so on All Trails!

We continue on to El Questro. We turn off the bitumen for our first section of gravel road this section of the trip and stop to let the tyres down.

We have 16km’s of gravel and it’s not too bad! Two wet crossing too.

We arrive and check in. We are here for three nights and will have to move sites after the first night. It’s a big space and I was hoping this would be sorted from when we booked but oh well! The first nights site is not great, sloping both ways but our neighbours are a nice couple. We make camp, then go for a walk and find happy hour at the Swing Bar!

Friday 2 August 2024

Temperatures: 16 – 33

We both opt for a slow day today. So after a sleep in, a nice breakfast we move the van. A much nicer spot, flat with more room. After resetting we spend the morning going for a walk and then I catchup the blog and Rob does some forward planning, we have lunch, a nap, and then we have another walks around the park, shower, then head to happy hour and an early dinner at the Steakhouse. a lovely relaxing day

Saturday 3 August 2024

Temperature: 16 – 34 degrees

Zebedee Springs

Today we are up early, about 5:30am and are out before 7:00am.

Off to Zebedee springs for a dip. Zebedee is about half way back down the track to the Highway and is a short hike, 600m return from the Carpark. Grade 2

It’s a beautiful spring, tropical, warm and the water is clear. There are palm trees in the water and rocks and after about 20mins we discover leeches. A lady we are chatting to nearby suddenly grabs her foot and pulls off a small leach about 3cm.

She is horrified and leaves.

I’m not as phased and remain in the spring as while longer and thankfully neither Rob nor I have the pleasure of meeting any leeches!

One the way back to El Questro I take a video of the Pentecost’s River crossing! Hope it loads for you.

After yesterday’s experience at Emma Gorge, I’m reluctant to challenge Amalia Gorge, a grade 5 walk so Rob goes alone and I stay behind and do some cooking. I bake a loaf of bread and some raspberry friands and start a lentil salad for dinner.

Amalia Gorge

Rob enjoys his hike to Amalia Gorge, 3.5km, moderate, grade 5 walk which includes two pools, lots of rock scrambling and includes a chain rock climb! He finds a fellow traveler to take some pictures of his swim.

We relax through the heat of the day after Rob returns then shower and head to happy hour at 3:30. Yes they start early here!

We cook dinner while watching the Swans v Port Adelaide game. What a shocker! 112 pt loss for the Swans! I’m disappointed to say the least!

The sunset is nice though.

We are off to Ellenbrae Station tomorrow., Sunday 4 August.

Hopefully the Gibb River road will be kind to us.

Stay Safe and take care. Of each other

Love to all.

Maryann and Rob xx