El Questro - Emma Gorge

The walk to Emma Gorge pool is really rough, with a few places where you’re on your hands and knees. Set off early and take your time. The glamping tents are lovely, and you can park right by yours, but they don’t have keys, so take basic precautions. There’s no air con, which means you’ll want to be out during the day. Nights cool down to the mid to late teens, so sleeping was fine. The pool is lovely and cool, and there’s a nice bar and dining area. Pretty glamping in the Kimberley.

The resident pet dingo was the most fun part of our stay. The pool has an old fashioned feel, with a strange steep slope and rough concrete, though the whole area is still appealing on a hot day. Rooms were good, the shared spaces were pleasant, and the food was pretty decent. Apart from El Questro homestead, this is the best place to stay around here. I’d happily come back.

The breakfast was a letdown, with raw fried eggs served on cold plates. We also found just one working washing machine and dryer, costing $12 per cycle between as many as 200 people. After arriving covered in dust from the Gibb River Road, we ended up waiting in a queue until midnight instead of enjoying the lovely setting. The bathroom walls in the glamping tents only go partway up, so you can hear your loved one using the bathroom. We stayed two nights on our Outback Spirit bus trip. This was the worst stop in our 15 day trip, despite being promoted as one of the most luxurious. We were envious of campers at El Questro, with washing machines spread around the park.

After our Emma Gorge hike, we stopped for coffee and snacks. There’s a big, busy carpark, public toilets and shady landscaped grounds. The covered deck has tables and chairs with a view of the landscape and trail head, and the gift shop is well stocked for anyone after souvenirs. It has a busy resort feel, right in the middle of the Gibb.