El Questro described in one word would be awesome. We all loved staying here.
It was actioned pack from the minute we got there. You had to cross three small water crossing to get into El Questro which was exciting in it's self. After successfully setting up the tent and everything in 1.5 hours we drove to Moonshine Gorge for a swim. We had a quick swim and had a look around the campground before having a relaxing night after the day of driving.
We were up at 6am and the boys went fishing in the river behind the campground. They didn't catch anything but had a fun time. We then walked the Amalia Gorge walk which was nice with a half way pool which we ended up coming back to as the end pool was cold. The boys found a rock to jump off and they were having so much fun that they inspired a single lady of about 55 years old to jump off the rock with them. She ended up diving off the rock and told the boys that she would never usually do anything like that.
Then we went to Zedebee hot springs which was really busy as they close it at 12pm for the homestead guests. We had a quick swim and then we drove to Branko's lookout which takes you along a very long single lane rocky river crossing. When you first start the river crossing you can't see if anyone is coming the other way, so it is really nerve racking but exciting. We made it but it was very bumpy.
We then went on the Chambelian Gorge boat cruise and they had a competition on the cruise that whoever spotted the first rock wallaby would get a bottle of wine and Michael won it.
After the cruise the kids visited the horse stables and watched the horses get washed. They were loving it.
As we woke up at 5am and wanted to get out of the campground so that the kids didn't wake anyone up we decided to drive the 4x4 track up to Saddleback Ridge. It was very steep and rocky and the view was unreal from the top.
The kids then went on a horse riding lesson. They were super excited and had heaps of fun.
Then we did the El Questro Gorge walk this is by far the most challanging walk that we have completed. Alot of people only make it into the half way pool as you have to wade thru water and hold your clothes and bags above your head to then climb up a massive bolder to reach the track on the otherside. The track was mainly massive boulders and very tiring. We saw 2 snakes on the way in. The waterhole at the end was small but very pretty. We then made our way out but it was too dangerous to try and climb down the boulder to get back into the halfway pool so we had to jump off this massive rock face and pass our bags down to each other. This is by far the highest thing that I have every jumped off and I don't think that I would have done it if I didn't need too. When we finished the walk we were supper proud of each other and happy that no one got hurt along the way.
The next day we drove further along the Gibb River Road and crossed the Pentecost River on our way to Home Valley Station for the day to go land fishing. The tour started off with us hopping in the back of a troop carrier with the guide Calum, and driving along dirt roads and getting thrown around in the back until we arrived at the river. The kids loved it. Calum then had to catch live bait in nets and the kids helped. After lots of fun and the kids spotting a croc we didn't catch any fish. The kids caught mud crabs and Michael had about 8 bites from barramundi.
On the way back we did the Emma Gorge walk. It only took us 30 minutes to get to the end as we were practically running it as we really wanted a swim. This is the most stunning of the gorges so far.
We arrived back at the campground and went looking for our friends Tom and Michelle Bishop and their 3 kids. They had arrived earlier and was lookinig for Michael to go heli fishing as they had a spare seat in their helicopter. As Michael had missed out they thought they had bet to go out again and take him, so they did the next day. We had dinner and a few drinks at the bar listening to the live music.
The next morning Tom, Nigel and Michael went helifishing and they loved it. Michael caught the biggest barrumundi of the day at 83cm in an area full of salt water crocodiles. Tom's cousin owns the horses stables at El Questro so the kids got to go on a longer and more exciting ride thru the campground to our tent, it was very exciting. We all had a swim in the river behind the campground and lay on the grass and had a few drinks. Christian and Laura the horse owners got the keys to the Zedebee springs gate and we all went for a swim on dusk, it was awesome. Michael couldn't keep his fish as it was too big so we had cheese toasties for dinner as we had run out of food as we were meant to leave the day earlier.
Looks awesome! Bloody freezing and wet in Sydney! Goldie!
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