Kimberley Tour - 22 July

El Questro Wilderness Park:  22 July [80 km]

The Emma Gorge resort is located right under the Cockburn Range - and the golden morning sun was simply brilliant.

We set off on another beautiful day for El Questro ‘township’ – which is predominantly a large caravan park and camping ground on the picturesque Pentecost River.  Then we drove the short distance to the Chamberlain Gorge.  Jim and Olley were waiting for us to board their boat for our cruise along the 3km fresh waterhole.  The cruise passes through towering escarpments which have been eroded by the Chamberlain River over what is thought to be millions of years.  

Indeed, the Chamberlain River could be the oldest river in the world.  We did see a rock wallaby and one freshwater crocodile as we travelled along the waterhole.

At the top of the waterhole, after negotiating some very shallow spots, we stopped at a small beach.  As we looked into the water, we were startled to find that we were being spat at by a number of archer fish:  they stay near the surface and, if they see anything shiny, they spit water at it thinking it is an insect. 

We marvelled at these fish for some time, while we fed other fish, including catfish and barramundi.  Jim provided an excellent insight into the history of the magnificent Chamberlain Gorge and even gave us some genuine Australian bush poetry!

We visited the magical Zebedee Thermal Springs on our way out, where some people sat in the crystal clear 30 degree water.  These Springs are located in a patch of luxuriant rain forest and it is a very tranquil spot.

Some of us intended to walk into the Emma Gorge waterfall in the afternoon but smoke from extensive burning off caused the Gorge to be closed.  So, it was into the swimming pool at the resort to cool off and refresh – as we watched numerous birds fly around the lovely eucalypts and other trees.  The setting of this resort right in amongst the Cockburn Range is superb.