El Questro tours and activities form an integral part of every visit to the property. The Homestead offers a wide range of complimentary excursions that provide opportunities to fully immerse yourself in the natural attractions of the Wilderness Park. The majority are exclusive to Homestead guests, facilitating engagement between the small group and their guide. El Questro’s enthusiastic rangers are adept at personalising your experience to your individual tastes.
Allow us to tailor you a customised itinerary to ensure you sample the best of El Questro and the Kimberley while still leaving time to take in the serenity of the Homestead. Guests are encouraged to pre-book their full itinerary or individual excursions prior to arrival. Please contact The Homestead for further information.
Click on the activities below for more details.
Tours complimentary to Homestead guests are indicated by an *. Charges apply for certain specialty tours and tours that are outside the immediate area or involve helicopters or aeroplanes. Prices are valid from 1st April 2011 to 31st October 2011. All tours and activities are subject to availability and may change due to weather or road conditions. All timings are approximate and minimum and maximum numbers may apply.
Don’t miss these highlights:
- Catch an elusive Barramundi on a 4WD fishing tour.
- Get a bird's eye view from a scenic flight over the unique sandstone formations of the Bungle Bungle Ranges.
- Rejuvenate at the Zebedee Thermal Springs, your natural day spa, for the afternoon.
- Experience the Ord Valley Muster – a two week festival in May.
- Circumnavigate the Cockburn Range on the Big Day Out.
Boating through El Questro’s Gorges
Private Chamberlain Cruise*
3-5pm
Boating through the Chamberlain Gorge is a must. An El Questro ranger will take you on this 3 km fresh waterhole in the Homestead’s private “dinghy”.
Enjoy the diverse flora and fauna; resident Rock Wallabies, Johnston Crocodiles and the always cheeky Archer Fish are familiar inhabitants of the gorge. Relax on the peaceful return journey at dusk when the colours of the Kimberley shine on the towering cliffs.
*This tour is included in the El Questro Homestead tariff.
Explosion Gorge and Branco’s Lookout
2.30pm until sunset
The tour starts with an informative 4-wheel drive journey in an open air Safari vehicle, a great way to experience true 4-wheel driving in the outback. At the end of the track lies Explosion Gorge, an amphitheatre style gorge that will reveal it’s secrets during a 45 minute cruise. Finish the tour on Branco’s Lookout, with views back to the Homestead and the Pentecost River below. Enjoy some bubbly, a taste of cheese and the setting sun: the perfect ending to a memorable day.
$100 per person, minimum 2 persons
Self Drive Boats*
Times subject to boat availability
Located in various waterholes around the property are a number of small boats available for your use. All boats are powered by small electronic motors and can seat four adults. Don’t forget that there is also a dinghy in the billabong below the Homestead. Remember that you are in Crocodile Country, please adhere to crocodile safety procedures.
*This tour is included in the El Questro Homestead tariff.
Nature and Wildlife Tours
Bush Culture, History and Nature Tour*
8-11.30am
This tour is designed to give you an insight into the many facets of El Questro.
Learn from our own real characters about the pioneers and previous characters of the original cattle Station and the remarkable journey to acclaimed Wilderness Park. Take in the views from up high on a look out, visit ancient Boab trees, learn about the Aboriginal peoples’ use of the native flora and count the types of wildlife and plants you spot along the way. A light morning tea is served beside a lazy waterhole.
*This tour is included in the El Questro Homestead tariff.
Bird Watching Tour*
6-8am
Join an El Questro Ranger on an early morning excursion to bird watching sites near the Homestead. The variety of ecosystems in the park attracts 100 different bird species including Pheasant Coucols, dancing Brolgas and even the once near extinct Gouldian Finch.Take part in the friendly competition as you see who can spot the most birds from the list.Binoculars and field guide provided.
*This tour is included in the El Questro Homestead tariff.
El Questro’s Big Day Out
7.30am-5pm (Seasonal availability)
The Season’s must do experience; a tour as diverse and unique as the Kimberley landscape you will travel through. Circumnavigate the Cockburn Range while taking in the highlights of El Questro’s northern boundaries. Follow in the drover’s footsteps as the Karunjie track leads you over the mud flats and on to Wyndham. Visit the Boab Prison Tree, see the wild and not so wild cattle of the station and enjoy an unforgettable lunch prepared by the Homestead Chef. Return home along the banks of the mighty Pentecost River.
$275 per person, minimum 2 persons
Escape to a Romantic Waterfall
Zebedee Thermal Springs*
2.30-5pm
Exclusive use of Zebedee Springs is offered to Homestead guests every afternoon. Let an El Questro Ranger drive you in style to the most romantic of hideaways. While he stand watch, you take a short walk through dense, tropical vegetation to a series of thermal pools and small waterfalls. Set amongst a back drop of sheer cliffs and Livistonia palms, Zebedee Springs is a magical place to relax and rejuvenate after a busy day.
*This tour is included in the El Questro Homestead tariff.
Miri Miri Waterfall
Duration 2 hours
Fly by Helicopter to a remote corner of the Wilderness Park where you will find Miri Miri, a spring-fed waterfall cascading over a 50m drop. A somewhat steep walk will reward you with your own private swimming hole set in lush bushland. Unreachable by road or on foot, Miri Miri offers an unparalleled romantic excursion that is only enjoyed by a select few. Choose to go either in the morning or afternoon, or have Chef pack you a gourmet picnic lunch.
$640 per person – Min 2 persons
EL Questro From Above
Helicopter Scenic Flights
Perhaps the only way to get an appreciation of the vastness and diversity of El Questro is from a scenic flight. An open door Helicopter ride over the Cockburn Ranges, through the Pentecost and Chamberlain Gorges, past waterfalls and even the Homestead offers unparalleled sights. It is an exhilarating way to enjoy the Wilderness Park.
Requires 2 / 3 persons.
30 minute scenic tours of the southern half of the property $350 / $280 per person
60 minute flights including the Cockburn Range to the north $650 / $510 per person
Sunrise Breakfast on Branco’s Lookout
4.45 – 7am (Seasonal)
Set your alarm to rise before daybreak and join an early morning adventure. A ranger will take you on a steep four wheel drive trip to the top of Branco’s Lookout. From the lookout you will enjoy the magnificent views of the Pentecost River and the Cockburn Range as they are lit by the rising sun. French Champagne and Chef’s special continental breakfast will be served in typical Homestead style while you enjoy what we think to be the best hour of the day.
$80 per person, minimum 2 persons
For the Adventurous
To undertake activities that involve walking, we suggest that you will need a reasonable level of fitness and appropriate, comfortable footwear. If in doubt, please check with our Rangers at the property.
Spectacular Guided Gorge Walks*
8–11am
El Questro Wilderness Park is proud to be home to some of the best known gorges in the Kimberley. Each walk offers a different style of gorge, from shady and tropical to more open and valley like. All walks are at a minimum an arduous task, with most requiring good balance and a higher level of fitness. What all of the walks and gorges have in common is the reward at the end of the journey; crystal clear water holes for a refreshing swim before the return walk back to the vehicle. Each day a ranger will lead Homestead guests on a different guided walk. Enquire the day before as to which walk is on for the next morning.
*This tour is included in the El Questro Homestead tariff.
Horse Riding (16 years and older)*
6.15-9.30am or 2.45 – 5.30pm
Horse treks are a great way to discover all types of Kimberley wildlife and see the country side from a new vantage point. Small groups are guided on a 2 hour trail ride that follows the base of Saddleback Ridge and the flow of Moonshine Creek.
Previous experience is recommended however a small number of beginners can be catered for on each tour.
*This tour is included in the El Questro Homestead tariff.
Amaroo Falls by Helicopter
2.5 hours
Discovered in the South East of the property in April 2010, Amaroo Falls is the newest jewel in El Questro’s crown. Only accessible by Helicopter, the majestic setting at the top of one of our highest waterfalls offers an enthralling guided walk. Venturing through a series of smaller falls and pristine water holes, partially shaded by the cliff’s rugged outcrops, you can enjoy swimming, a picnic or photography while taking in the isolated beauty. The edge of Amaroo waterfall provides a window to breathtaking views across an endless El Questro landscape.
$700 per person - for 2 persons only
The Lost City Cave Tour by Helicopter
6.45-9am
At the top of El Questro Gorge lies a newly discovered ancient land. Let a ranger guide you through the intricate rock formations and cave systems carved out through time.
A reasonable level of fitness is required as the tour requires scaling around crevices, crawling through openings and maneuvering through the darkness of the caves. A truly amazing experience.
$490 per person - For 2 persons only
Incorporate an hour landing at Miri Miri waterfall $860 per person.
Champagne Springs Walk returning by Helicopter
7-11am
Champagne Springs is named for the thermal springs that bubble from deep inside the earths’ interior and surface near the end of this walk through a lush, tropical, hidden valley. To the halfway point, the trail is sandy and rocky but mainly in the shade. The track then opens up into rugged terrain until you reach the top and the waterhole.
A helicopter waits to carry you off on a half hour scenic flight along the Pentecost and Chamberlain Gorges, landing you back at the Homestead.
$585 per person - For 2 persons only
Catch an Elusive Barramundi
Test your skill, and with a little handy advice from the Rangers, you may catch an elusive Barramundi!
All Barramundi begin their lives as males, changing into females at 5 years of age and 80cm in length. El Questro promotes catch and release practices that benefit the angler by ensuring the female “trophy” Barramundi have a long spawning life. We offer fishing trips to either freshwater holes or salt water rivers, each offering different opportunities.
Local Freshwater Fishing Branco’s Waterhole*
7-10am
Just beyond the crossing where theChamberlain and the Pentecost rivers collide before heading out to sea, lays Branco’s waterhole. Trolling is done from whisper quiet dinghies on this picturesque river. Fishing is of course a hit and miss affair and whilst this waterhole has produced many quality fish over the years, the more serious fisherman may consider one of our other fishing options.
*This tour is included in the El Questro Homestead tariff.
Heli-fishing Tours
5.45-11am
Choose from either freshwater or saltwater destinations within El Questro’s one million acres. Not accessible by road, these pristine waters rarely get fished ensuring the angler a plentiful bounty of Barramundi. Flying over the vast country side provides a thrill that is overshadowed only by catching your own Barramundi.
$655 per person freshwater – Min 2 persons
$955 per person saltwater – Min 2 persons
4WD Fishing Tour to the Pentecost River
4.45-10am (subject to tides)
An early start ensures you are on the magnificent Pentecost River as the fish are warming up. The Cockburn range provides the back drop for this historic fishing spot known as “The Killing Tree”.
Fishing from small dinghies gives you the opportunity to cover various sections of the river. In addition to the great fishing, it is a natural paradise.
$255 per person – Min 2 persons
Experience the Wonders of El Questro's Neighbours
All flights depart from the El Questro Airstrip
Bungle Bungle and Lake Argyle Scenic Flight
6am, 9am and 2.30pm
One of Australia’s natural wonders, the World Heritage Listed Bungle Bungle Range is a unique sandstone formation dating back 350 million years. This two hour aeroplane flight from El Questro’s airstrip takes you over Lake Argyle, the Argyle Diamond Mine and the Carboyd Range before orbiting Purnululu Park, home to the Bungle Bungles. This once in a life time experience is found only in the Kimberley.
Travel Tip: Use the above tour as your transfer to Kununurra airport or accommodation.
Minimum 2 persons
$565 per person, plane only, El Questro return,
or $900 per person with an added low level ½ hour helicopter flight (9am only).
$440 / $775 per person for flights concluding at Kununurra Airport.
Complimentary luggage transfers are provided by El Questro.
Bungle Bungles Full Day Tour
9am-4.30pm
Take in a day with a difference. Experience views of Lake Kununurra, Lake Argyle and the Carr Boyd & Osmand Ranges enroute to the World Heritage Listed Purnululu National Park, home to the Bungle Bungle Range. On landing, you will be transferred into an air conditioned 4WD vehicle. A short drive will take you past the amazing beehive domes. Your unforgettable walk along Piccaninny Creek to Cathedral Gorge will indulge you in history before you reach the magnificence of the ancient amphitheatre which doubles as your lunch location. After lunch join a guided walk along the ancient dry bed of Piccaninny Creek and inspect the 350-million-year old orange and black striped beehive domes up close. Your guide will bring the natural history of the Bungle Bungle domes to life. On return to the Bellburn base camp, light refreshments will be served. The flight home to El Questro will encompass an orbit of the Argyle Diamond Mine.
$890 per person - Min 2 persons
$1,200 per person with an added ½ hour low level helicopter flight – Min 2 people
Argyle Diamond Mine Ground Tour with Bungle Bungles Flight
10.30am-4pm
Combine the treasure of nature with the treasure of the earth in this fly/drive day tour. From El Questro, you are flown by aeroplane to the Argyle Diamond Mine. Enjoy a 3.5-4 hour guided ground tour including views of the Mine’s open cut operations from a well positioned viewing platform and a drive through the processing plant. Your tour also includes a buffet lunch at the Staff Village and a visit to the Village Store where Argyle Diamonds may be purchased. Continue on in the aeroplane to the ancient Bungle Bungles in Purnululu Park. A 20 minute orbit over the Range offers the best views of the formation’s deep gorges and the well known “beehive domes”. Fly back to El Questro along the Carr Boyd range.
$860 per person - Min 2 persons
$1,170 per person with an added ½ hour low level helicopter flight – Min 2 people
Mitchell Falls and Kimberley Coast Tour
7am-3pm
Explore the remote Mitchell Plateau on a full day aeroplane trip from El Questro.
See Kimberley cattle country and Drysdale River National Park before landing at the Mitchell Plateau Airstrip. Connect with a helicopter that flies you over the spectacular Mitchell Falls before landing there to drop you off. At the Falls, you will spend almost two hours on the ground unaccompanied where you can take a self-guided walk, swim and enjoy a pre-packed morning tea. You will have plenty of time to photograph the spectacular surroundings, before being picked up by the helicopter and returned to the Mitchell Plateau airstrip. Re-board the aeroplane for the return flight home taking in views of Port Warrender, Kalumburu, King George Falls, Berkeley River Gorge, Cambridge Gulf, Adolphus Island and Emma Gorge before landing at El Questro.
$1,720 per person - Min 2 persons
Kimberley Panorama and Drysdale Station
9am-4pm Tuesday and Thursday
The only way to see the remote northern coastline of Western Australia is by air.
From El Questro’s Airstrip, the route to the Mitchell Plateau takes you over tidal mud flats, mangrove systems, waterfalls and deep gorges. Spot crocodiles, manta rays, dugong and other sea creatures. The flight path takes in Wyndham, the Cambridge Gulf and Adolphus Island before reaching the coast and continuing over the Berkeley River Gorge and the King George Falls. You will land at the Mitchell Plateau ond orbit the Mitchell Falls before stopping for lunch at Drysdale River Station. Return to El Questro with stunning views of the setting sun on the western walls of the Cockburn Range.
$960 per person - Min 2 persons
Travel Tip- Arriving in Kununurra early or staying in town the night before?
All of the aeroplane scenic tours offer departures from Kununurra and will land at El Questro at the end of the tour. Complimentary luggage transfers are provided by El Questro.
