The Kimberley WA - Elquestro Station and the Emma Gorge Resort

Thursday 29th June
El Questro W.A.

It was an overcast morning but still warm and a touch muggy. After breakfast we decided to walk Emma Gorge. Emma is situated 8 kilometres further along the Gibb River Road towards Wyndham. The Gorge resort was a lovely looking arrangement with the open alfresco dining room overlooking manicured lawns and a swimming pool. Numerous self contained bungalows were situated along the start of the gorge. From there it was a 1.5 km walk along the rugged creek bed and across boulders and pools to reach first, emerald pool and then eventually the rock pool and waterfall at the end. The cliff faces of the gorge tower 120 metres above the scree slopes and the red of the sandstone and contrasting white quartz are impressive. Many of the boulders on the gorge floor had rippled surfaces the sands of ancient fossilised seabeds.

The falls at the end of the gorge tumbled 80 metres into a large clear pool. Ferns and mosses grew in profusion on the walls in the moist conditions. To the right of the pool, a thermal spring bubbled warm water out of the rocks. A lovely spot. On our arrival back we explored the gorge resort and decided to have lunch. Very reasonably priced and excellent food. Most enjoyable.

On the return journey, we encountered a guy in a hire ute parked forlornly by the Gibb only a kilometres prior to the ELQ turnoff. He’d managed to ignore the obvious signs of a deflating rear passenger’s side tyre until the strange angle the vehicle appeared to be on, coupled with the metallic clang of the rim running on the rough road, alerted him to a possible issue. With no rubber left, the vehicle was on the back left rim and he couldn’t fit the piddly hydraulic jack under the rear axel housing. Thankfully the Navara scissor jack managed to fit under and handing him a pair of gloves, we were up and had the spare on in no time.

It was a relax around the camp and then up to the bar for happy hour at 5.00 p.m. Big mistake as a shouted round turned into two and three rounds. The guy with the flat shouted a bottle or two by way of thanks for the assistance. Don’t know what time I got home but we all had a good night round the fire. Buddy, the legendary ELQ stockman and raconteur held us enthralled. Mind you I was a bit nervous when the whip cracking started. Apparently no maxims like “I’ve you drink and whip…you’re a bloody idiot” up here. Still he impressed the lady’s and didn’t knock anyones eye out!.