Description
The endless space and scale of the area will leave you breathless and the luxury of El Questro’s Homestead is the ideal place in which to let the massive beauty of the untamed Kimberley works its magic. Cantilevered over the magnificent Chamberlain River, the homestead provides absolute comfort and all the facilities you would expect of a luxury lodge.
The Homestead itself has a contemporary feel, mixing modern pieces with rustic Australian furnishings, with romantic dining areas on rock platforms above the river, tropical gardens and - for good measure – tennis court. El Questro is possibly the only place in the Australia to spot crocs from the shower. They come drifting down the river as slowly and inexorably as the tide, stealthily taking up their positions before the nightly feeding session.
El Questro guides will tailor your stay to suit your interests. Take a cruise down the Chamberlain Gorge to view fine examples of Aboriginal Wandjina art and spot saltwater crocodiles. On horseback keep an eye out for wildlife including, bustards, Frill-necked Lizards, Brolgas and Jabirus. Scenic helicopter flights over canyons and gorges, past waterfalls, caves and galloping brumbies culminate in a delicious picnic lunch. Swimming in the natural springs is a true privilege. From the resurrected Emma Gorge, a short path threads its way beneath luminous walls of ochre-coloured stone to where a waterfall tumbles past the rapunzel-like tangles of fig roots into an amphitheatre of rock, feeding a turquoise pool. Another gorgeous spot for swimming is El Questro Gorge, where the water flows beneath clouds of butterflies and gorge walls cloaked in ferns and mosses. It’s so clear it looks as if the colourful native fish that live there are hovering in mid air.
The Kimberley region itself is one of the world's last frontiers, recently made famous by the film 'Australia'. Like the Pilbara to the south, it is one of the most evocative place names the continent has to offer, a distillation of the rawness, the vast scale, the splendour and the sheer wild beauty of this far flung corner of Australia. Its ancient rock formations and meteorite craters, its whirlpools, its surreal tides, bottle shaped boab trees and the beehive domes of the Bungle Bungles, make the Kimberley feel as if it exists in a dimension of its own.
Accommodation
The Homestead is an exclusive retreat perched atop the magnificent Chamberlain Gorge. With interiors featuring modern pieces set against rustic authentic Australian furnishings, the Homestead is the ideal place to fully appreciate the untamed beauty of the Kimberley. Surrounded by lush tropical gardens, the Homestead has a swimming pool and tennis court for the exclusive use of Homestead guests. There is communal use of a computer with internet access and there is wifi in communal areas. All rooms include: King beds, AESOP bath products, Bose Wave sound system including CD player and iPod dock.
| Chamberlain Gorge Room | Homestead Rooms feature modern bathrooms and furnishings. Each room has a private veranda overlooking the resort gardens. Rooms are air-conditioned and feature a private en suite bathroom. |
| Homestead Garden Room | Chamberlain Gorge Rooms are perched above the Chamberlain River and feature a private deck with lounge furniture overlooking the gorge. All rooms are stylishly appointed and feature a modern en-suite bathroom with a private indoor/outdoor stone bathtub cantilevered over the Gorge. |
| Cliff Side Retreat | The three new Cliff Side Retreats are situated at the edge of a sheer escarpment, overlooking the spectacular wilderness. Uninterrupted views of the Chamberlain River can be enjoyed from both your daybed and the luxurious bed that face floor to ceiling, sliding glass walls. From the shower, access either the free standing bath on the verandah or the garden rain shower surrounded by magnificent stone walls that provide complete privacy. |
| Chamberlain Suite | Perched atop the Chamberlain Gorge, the Chamberlain Suite offers sublime panoramic views and features a wrap-around veranda with floor to ceiling windows to enjoy the magnificent sunset and sunrise over the gorge. The veranda boasts a relaxing lounge and dining area. |
Childcare
Children over the age of the age of 12 years are welcome to come and stay at El Questro. However, there are no specific facilities available for them.
Facilities
At El Questro, food and wine are as much an attraction as the wild country that envelopes the property. Every meal is brimming with ingredients of superb pedigree and quality, leaving guests to forget that 3,500 km of rock and desert lies between the Kimberley and Perth. The neighbouring Ord River Valley nurtures growers who provide a vast array of tropical and organic produce, supplemented by the abundant riches of Western Australia’s coastlines and paddocks.
Activities
4 wheel drive safaris to explore the gorges and rugged expanse of the Kimberley, fishing for Barramundi in the Chamberlain River. guided horse rides on the property, relaxing in the thermal waters of Zebedee Springs, cruising the Chamberlain River to view Aboriginal and Bradshaw rock artt, helicopter flights and picnic to remote corners of the property and overnight safaris to the Cockburn Ranges, staying out in a semi-permanent bush camp.
When to travel
El Questro experiences distinct wet and dry seasons with an average year round maximum temperature of 33° C (91.4° F) and a minimum of 19° C (66.2° F). The Resort operates during the dry season only, between April and October each year.
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Location and directions
The Kimberley, Western Australia, Australia
El Questro is situated in the East Kimberley, 110 kilometres west of Kununurra by road - 58 kilometres on the sealed Great Northern Highway towards Wyndham, with the remainder on the unsealed and corrugated gravel Gibb River Road.
How to get there
Regular flights are available from all major Australian capital cities to Kununurra via Perth or Darwin.
Private VIP jet services are available from Sydney and Melbourne, direct to Kununurra.
