Written by Brooke Wilson
Wide open spaces, crisp fresh air, uninterrupted starry nights, what more could you ask for?
This month we are heading to El Questro, located in the heart of the Kimberleys.
El Questro offers the ultimate exclusive getaway, tucked away in the rugged wilderness. From humble beginnings as a cattle station, the 700,000 acre property was eventually developed into a tourist destination, and remains to this day a destination like no other to explore what is considered one of Australia’s “Last True Frontiers”.
Access to the property is by the famous Gibb River Road, and located over an hours drive west
of Kununnura – you will truly feel that you are disconnecting from the world and reconnecting with
nature. The station offers several accommodation types to suit all budgets, ranging from bungalows and camping at the Station, safari tents at Emma Gorge, to the ultimate luxury at The Homestead’s suites.
Really spoil yourself by staying in one of their cliffside retreats, the suites overlooking Chamberlain Gorge with uninterrupted views. You might also enjoy unwinding at the end of the day by relaxing in the suites stone bathtubs (cantilevered outdoors over the gorge, no less) with a glass of bubbly in hand.
It would be remiss not to mention the sheer number of activities available – remote wilderness certainly doesn’t mean a shortage of experiences, especially in the Kimberleys. Daily tours collect guests from the station, but those a little more independent can choose to collect a map from reception and take themselves on a self-guided adventure. Perhaps take a cruise along Chamberlain Gorge, sipping wine and watching the towering cliffsides on either side. You might also enjoy an afternoon cruise down Explosion Gorge, before being driven up to Branco’s Lookout for sunset drinks and nibbles. Other guided tours through the park include barramundi fishing, horse riding, visiting the Zebedee Springs thermal pools, or hiking through the wilderness to magnificent waterfalls, swimming holes or breathtaking lookouts.
The best way to experience the Kimberley region and El Questro is by taking to the air. Both plane and helicopter flights are available, offering a range of different tours, from flying over the Bungle Bungles, Lake Argyle, King George Falls and Mitchell Falls, the Cockburn Ranges and much more. This will truly be a highlight of your journey, there is nothing quite like seeing the remote wilderness from the air, and gives you access to places otherwise inaccessible.
There really is no other place like El Questro, and we Australians are lucky enough call it our own backyard!