2012 Around Australia: Day 152 - 153 14th July

Day 152 Saturday 14^th July 2012.

Happy Anniversary to us! Yep, 5 months on the road round Oz. How time flies when you are having “fun”.

It was a big day today. We drove to the El Questro Wildness Park. This is a million acre private station / resort with lots & lots of things to do and see. To get to it we had to go down the eastern end of the Gibb River Road. Surprise the road was actually OK. The turn off to El Questro wasn’t too bad either (maybe I am just getting used to corrugations).

Day started by an early morning “dip” in Zebedee Springs. Hot springs form pools where “tourists” lounge round like beached whales. The water temperature varies between 28-32 degrees C, depending on how close you are to the actual spring. This bathing spot is only open between 7.00-noon to the “common” tourist. After this time it is open exclusively to tour operators as well as the high paying guests at the El Questro homestead (somebody told me they charge $1000.00 per night).

After the springs it was into the El Questro “station” (township) to check it out. Very nice. Clean. Shaded grassy camping spots. Since this is privately owned they wanted to charge a wilderness day pass to go to the various attractions. Since we had already been to one I turned a blind eye to paying the “fee”. Naughty, I know.

Off to El Questro Gorge. The road going into the Gorge was really a “true” 4 wheel drive track. One of the water crossings was very tricky. It was about 50-60 feet wide and at least 500-600mm deep with “pot holes”. WDU564 did a fantastic job getting across. The car park at the start of the Gorge walk was absolutely full. Managed to squeeze into a space where I would not have been in any body’s way. Vania and I felt like mountain goats walking along the track / path. Blue ribbon tied to trees / bushes or blue patches stuck to rocks marked the way. Once we reached our destination there was a lovely water pool where people were swimming. Once again a really great spot.

We also did Emma Gorge. The track / path was not as spectacular as El Questro however the final Gorge / pool was one of the best I have seen. On one side there was “hot” water flowing in and at the other end a cold water fall. Absolutely clear water. Great swimming on a hot day. After the walk we had the compulsory afternoon drink at the Emma Gorge Resort. I thought this was a lovely spot. Beautiful, peaceful setting. Put this on your “bucket list” folks.

Kununurra was having its 40^th Agricultural Show on this weekend. Vania and I got dressed up (i.e. long pants and shoes) and headed in to celebrate. On the itinerary there was a possible chance of doing some Rock N Roll. No such luck, missed out again. Vania and I had some healthy “junk food” washed down by more drinks and waited for the “fireworks”. Wouldn’t you believe it we both forgot to bring our cameras? Fireworks were very spectacular for a “country” show.

Back home and try and get some sleep. Very, very hot and sticky up around here (even during the night).

Zebedee Springs. Great waterhole for beached tourists

WDU564 crossing thye Pentacost River. Easy Peasy!

Don't be an Ass with your water crossings!

On the walk into El Questro Gorge

One of the many pools at El Questro Gorge.

It was terrific to have a dip.

WDU564 crossing into El Questro Gorge. Bit "scary"!

Pool at Emma Gorge

Feel like a "shag" on a rock. Oops meant to say lizard

This my mate with his tracking device.

Road into El Questro.

Waterfall into Emma Gorge. Great spot.

Yep, fresh Boab water. Lovely.

Day 153 Sunday 15^th July 2012.

Drove to the “Grotto” (about 60k’s out of Kununurra). Yep that’s what it was, GROTTY. The best (scarcest) part was walking down / up about 140 steps. It would have been one of the steepest steps I have ever walked. No handrail and it were very “scary”. Vania overcame her fears and completed the walk. She admitted that she nearly threw up along the way. Drove into Wyndham. Wyndham is the “top town” in WA. “Top town”, meaning furthest north. We arrived and left within 5 minutes. Had enough time to take a photo of the “large croc” and then back to our campsite.

Repacking the car in afternoon in readiness to moving on tomorrow. The inside of the car needed drying out as well as we spilt about 12-14 litres of drinking water along the way. Amazing isn’t it, cross water crossings and car remains nice and dry inside, only to spill water inside from our own container. Weird!

OK folks in blog land, that’s enough from Vania and I. Till next time, take care. Cheers from Vania and Oscar.