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El Questro

A million-acre cattle station in the east Kimberley run as a wilderness park, with gorges, hot springs and a clifftop lodge.

Updated 4 September 2026

El Questro

AI illustration

Typestation resort
WhereWestern Australia
Nearest cityKununurra
Best seasonMay to September
Time to allowTwo to four days
Getting thereAbout 100 km west of Kununurra off the Gibb River Road; four-wheel drive for most tracks
EntryWilderness park permit plus accommodation charged

El Questro covers around four hundred thousand hectares of the east Kimberley, a working pastoral lease run as a tourism operation with three tiers of accommodation: a campground at the station, bungalows, and a lodge of a handful of suites perched above the Chamberlain Gorge that ranks among the more expensive places to stay in Australia. Access to the country requires a wilderness park permit. Zebedee Springs, a set of warm thermal pools among livistona palms, opens for mornings only; Emma Gorge has a walk to a high fall and pool; El Questro Gorge is a longer scramble; and Chamberlain Gorge is toured by boat. Tracks in are rough and river crossings frequent.

Highlights

  • Zebedee Springs - warm thermal pools among palms, open mornings only.
  • Emma Gorge - a walk to a plunge pool below a high fall.
  • Chamberlain Gorge - a boat trip between high red walls.
  • The station country - ranges, rivers and cattle across four hundred thousand hectares.

When to go

May to September; the property closes through the wet season, usually from November to April. Zebedee Springs opens only in the morning and closes at midday for lodge guests. Book accommodation well ahead in the peak dry.

Before you go

A wilderness park permit is charged on top of accommodation, and prices across the property are high. Most attractions need four-wheel drive with river crossings. Zebedee Springs is crowded during its short public window.

Nearby

Kununurra lies east; the Gibb River Road runs west from the station.

Key facts

Built1967
Location16.0086° S, 127.9806° E · map

Source: Wikidata, item Q123617730, read on 18 October 2026.

What to pack for El Questro

Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.

  • Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
  • Swimwear - Needed at most public thermal pools; some traditional baths are nude and single-sex. Find on Amazon
  • A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
  • Quick-dry towel + flip-flops - For wet changing areas and hot poolside stone. Find on Amazon

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Plan your trip

Where to start if El Questro is going on the list.

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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