Well we have finally left Kununurra after a week, and quite happy to be out of the caravan park. The park wasn’t that bad, it’s just noisy especially where we were. We had planned to stop in Kununurra for a few days but not a week but due to the car troubles we didn’t have a choice, could have been worse places to be stuck though I suppose.

The obligatory pictures of Gibb River Rd signs.

The plan for today was to turn down the Gibb River Rd and head for El Questro and check into our private campsite, but as we had left so early we decided to call into Emma Gorge first. Emma Gorge is part of the El Questro property but on the other side of the Gibb Rd. It’s an up market resort with cabins, eco tents and a very nice bar. We were there for the walk into Emma Gorge though with the promise of a swim at the end. The walk was only 1.6km and rated medium with a steep rocky section with big rocks which according to the walk notes “will require the use of both hands and both legs”, excellent we thought sounds great fun and it was getting hot already so in go the bathers and towel into the backpack. It was a lovely walk, following a creek up to the gorge over some rocks and across the creek a couple of times, but we are both still wandering where the tricky section was!

Col under the waterfall (so white I had to get this far back to stop the glare)

The gorge was beautiful and exactly what I was so keen to experience up here. It is surrounded on three sides by huge towering cliffs covered in ferns and because it’s the dry season the waterfalls were only a trickle but that was fine. The water was a tad cold (yes it took me forever to get in) but we had got so hot walking in it was very refreshing. There was also a small thermal waterfall up on a rock ledge that I quickly found and spent some time in, absolutely magic!

Chilling in the thermal water.

The gorge and waterfall in the middle

Time to head for El Questro to set up and have something to eat (swimming makes you hungry) The road in wasn’t too bad only some minor corrugations (hooray) and two water crossings which would have stopped any 2wd traffic. We arrived at the township to check in and find out some more info and generally suss the place out. The main hub of activity is the township which includes the general campground, store, amenities blocks, bar and the restaurant. There were heaps of people about but as El Questro is only two hours from Kununurra it’s a good day trip option for the grey nomads. There are several walks to gorges and lookouts and a few 4wd trips so we’ll be busy.

Our private campsite is just that private! We haven’t done much bush camping so far so this is good although hardly free. We are in number 9 of about 26 spread out over a 10km stretch of road, ours is only 3.3km away from the township (and hot showers). We took about an hour to get the camper off the truck and spent the rest of the afternoon doing nothing except chilling, oh and some personal maintenance fingernails, toenails and beards. So nice to hear nothing but crickets and the river running!!

Campsite number 9 called Mopoke.

Our backyard for the next 4 days.

Beard trimming time, second time this trip already.