Guide to Experiencing the Best of El Questro Station

El Questro Station is located outside of Kununurra, in the far north Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is a cattle station open to the public for tourism. The property boasts spectacular waterfalls and hot springs, offering station stay and camping accommodation on site. El Questro is at the northernmost end of the infamous Gibb River Road, and many travelers call in as part of their Gibb trip.

Click here to check out my Top 5 places to see Gibb River Road!

Accommodation options vary from glamping tents, powered and unpowered sites located at the homestead. You can also opt for a more private camping area along the river, also booked through the station. The homestead includes a café/bar with a gift shop. All staff we encountered were lovely and very helpful with excellent knowledge of the hikes and sites to visit. Guided horseback tours or helicopter options are also available if hiking isn’t your speed.

We visited El Questro for 2 nights, and 3 days in June and loved our stay. We camped with a group of 6 people at the homestead on an unpowered site.

Emma Gorge, the crown jewel of waterfalls in El Questro, stands 65m tall. The hike into the gorge was more challenging than expected, so I recommend wearing proper footwear. The 3.2km return hike follows a rocky trail over boulders along a freshwater stream. At the end of the hike, the trail opens into a vine-covered chasm with the waterfall front and centre. There’s a pool at the bottom to cool off in (when I say cool, I mean COLD). This is a super popular hike due to the shorter distance and easier accessibility with many tour operators visiting here.

Zeebeedee Springs is the picturesque definition of an oasis. A short walk from the car park, the naturally occurring thermal springs appear. Year-round these springs sit at approximately 30 degrees in temperature. They were the perfect way to warm up on a cooler morning of our trip. There are plenty of little pools for everyone to sit in, but this spot does get rather busy. You must visit in the morning before the day gets too hot, as they are known to close this site in the afternoons.

Amalia Gorge was one of my favourite hikes ever. True to its class, Amalia was a challenge in the most fun way possible. Traveling through the gorge, you have to climb over high rocks intermittently, and even hold onto a chain to support you as you navigate your way around a boulder over a deep pool of water. The final destination features a spectacular waterfall with a pool to swim in and plenty of space for everyone to sit and soak in the walk they’ve just completed prior to returning down the same track.

Saddleback Ridge Lookout: If travelling in a 4WD, I highly recommend a trip up to this spot for sunset. Passing through a few longer river crossings and up a steep hill, you arrive at a spot with stunning panoramic views of the station and down along the Durack River. We sat up here for dinner one evening, and it was simply breathtaking. Head up a half-hour to an hour prior to sunset to snag a good spot.

Champagne Springs is one of the longer walks in the park. The 4km return hike takes you down a winding path with scenery quite different from the other areas of the station. If travelling early in the season or if there has been recent rain, prepare to get a bit muddy. From muddy rainforest-style vegetation, the trail opens up into a sunnier rocky surface before reaching the springs. Along the walk, you will also find a beautiful big boab tree.

During our stay, the hike and road into El Questro Gorge were closed, so we were unable to see this site. However, the majority of the people we have spoken to highly recommend it and say this is their favourite gorge in El Questro. This is also followed up with cautioned warnings that the deep river crossings on the road into the gorge can be boggy, so remember to travel with appropriate recovery gear. 1 week Gibb River Road itinerary