El Questro


El Questro
El Questro Map
The camp ground is a bit of a dust bowl but the river provides some beautiful relief from the dust and the 32-34 C temperatures.  We drove into Zebedee Springs (or as John calls them, the Zippity-Doo-Da Springs) and after walking along boardwalks through a lush fern oasis we came to the thermal spring which is fed via a fault line from a permanent supply of water from deep within the earth. The water temperature is around 28-32 C all year. The surrounding cliff faces and slopes are up to 1800 million years old (according to the signs) and are known as, "King Leopard Sandstone".  



 We enjoyed a swim and picnic lunch at Moonshine Gorge after driving from Zebedee Springs.


John enjoying a swim at Moonshine Gorge
We crossed back over the King River and then the Pentecost River which, due to the Wyndham tides, was much deeper, with the water rushing up over the running boards. 
The Pentecost River
 The following day and with the temperature forecast to be ~ 35 C, we headed off early at 7.30 am for the 4WD drive back to the main road, crossing the Pentecost River once again and another smaller crossing, then up into Emma Gorge. 


 The hike/walk is a grade 4 (the most difficult being a grade 5) and it was certainly very challenging in parts. 
Tackling the track into Emma Gorge
The beautiful Gorge
John unfortunately has a slip and our Canon EOS500 bit the dust, or more specifically, the water. (Hopefully we'll be able to replace it in Derby or more likely Broome.) The Falls at the top at Emma Gorge are truly spectacular. We all enjoyed a swim in the Gorge and a splash under the waterfall. 


The return journey took us back to the Turquoise Pool for another cooling dip. 


Turquoise Pool
Glad to have finished the hike into Emma Gorge


























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