At a Glance
The Kimberley 4 day luxury walk combines the very best day walks in the Kimberley region with fine food and wine experiences and ultra-luxe accommodation at El Questro Homestead in the heart of El Questro Wilderness Park. This is the truly un-compromised luxury in the wilderness.
Packed with highlights, this premier walk features stunning El Questro Gorge walks, Lost City Cave Tour, Chamberlain Gorge cruise, Zebedee Thermal Springs, and Buddy’s Point sunset 4WD safari. Many other optional activities to choose from such as use of a motorised dinghy for fishing or self exploration, bush culture, history and nature tour, and bird watching tour. Life on earth is most diverse in the tropics, and the Kimberley region is no exception. Birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and invertebrates are abundant. The Kimberley really is ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- 3 nights luxury accommodation at El Questro Homestead
- Fine food and wine, 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners. Three-course dinner menu changes nightly with a selection of wine, beer and spirits is included
- Guided Walks (scheduled)
- Lost City Cave Tour
- Chamberlain Gorge cruise
- Bush Culture, History & Nature Tour
- Bird Watching Tour
- Sunset at Buddy’s Point
- Exclusive and complementary use of Zebedee Thermal Springs each afternoon
- Return transfer from/to Kununurra airport
Itinerary
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Scheduled transfer from Kununurra to El Questro Wilderness Park in a 4WD. A million acres in size, El Questro is located on the eastern perimeter of the Kimberley Region, and extends for approximately 80 kilometres into the heart of the region, most of which has never been explored. It is one of the last true frontiers. Then you could enjoy relaxation in your luxurious room. Or you could choose to take out a motorised dinghy to explore this small waterway at your leisure or take some fishing rods and try to catch the giant resident Barramundi. 4:00 pm Toast for the starting of a journey with a glass of Champagne at Buddy's Point lookout and take in the 360-degree view of the property, all while the sun sets on another perfect Kimberley day. Buddy Tyson was the essence of El Questro and an icon of the property. This trip to Buddy's Point lookout offers a steep 4-wheel drive adventure in El Questro's famous open air Safari vehicles. The views from the top take in the heart of the Chamberlain Gorge which is not viewed in this manner from any other look out. The Homestead is seen nestled amongst its grand mahogany and frangipani trees. From this vantage point you can see why El Questro was where Buddy hung his cowboy hat for 20 years. Enjoy three-course dinner under the stars. The dinner menu changes nightly with a selection of wine, beer and spirits is included. |
El Questro Homestead
Dinner |
Participate one of the guided walks at El Questro. Schedule is subject to change. Champagne Springs is named for the crystal clear springs that bubble from deep inside the earth’s 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 with its cascading falls. The exposed terrain makes it more challenging, especially after the Half Way Point. At the end of this strenuous walk beautiful freshwater pools partly surrounded by lush vegetation invite you to a well deserved swim. The sheer cliffs on the western and northern side rise up to 375m and are mostly made up of ancient sandstone. Erosional forces, such as the watercourse, have carved out Champagne valley by following a geological fault line. Lunch at The Homestead. After lunch, your guide will take you on this 3 km fresh waterhole in the Homestead's private 'dinghy'. Sit back and enjoy the diverse fora and fauna and resident Rock Wallabies, Johnston Crocodiles and the cheeky Archer Fish. Relax on the peaceful return journey at dusk when the colours of the Kimberley shine on the towering cliffs. Tonight, you'll enjoy a private cliffside dining overlooking the stunning gorge. |
El Questro HomesteadBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Join in one of scheduled guided walks to explore El Questro Gorge. The high walls of this gorge were once part of an ancient Devonian reef that once surrounded the Kimberley. With its varied bird life, interesting reef walls and its many freshwater crocodiles, Windjana will keep us enthralled for hours. El Questro is proud to be home to some of the best known gorges in the Kimberley. At the top of El Questro Gorge, adventure awaits at The Lost City. Your guide will lead you through the intricate rock formations and cave systems carved out through time. Lunch at The Homestead. In the afternoon, you have exclusive use of Zebedee Springs - the most romantic of hideaways. After a short walk through dense vegetation you'll come upon a series of thermal pools and small waterfalls. Zebedee Springs is an oasis in which to relax and rejuvenate after a day walk. Enjoy three-course dinner under the stars. The dinner menu changes nightly with a selection of wine, beer and spirits is included. |
El Questro HomesteadBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Walking distance: 3-4 km Join in one of the scheduled guided walks and explore another gorge on foot. We will offer you either Amalia Gorge or Emma Gorge guided walk depending on our schedule. Amalia Gorge is more of a steep sided valley than a narrow gorge. It offers spectacular views and a deep plunge pool at the end of the trail. The gorge is made up of ancient “Warton Sandstone" and “Elgee Siltstone" estimated to be up to 1800 million years old. Despite the extreme age, the rocks are still largely horizontal as they were laid millions of years ago. The trail offers a challenging and adventurous experience, which requires some climbing and clambering over falls and large sandstone slabs. Due to the open topography, the temperature is fairly high throughout the day. During the dry season the water stops flowing. Emma Gorge is part of the Cockburn Ranges. A scenic trail takes you along changing vegetation to crystal clear pools and waterfalls. The gorge is characterised by massive scree slopes and cliff face escarpments reaching up to 120m on both sides of the trail. The bulk of these cliff faces are made up of ‘Cockburn Sandstone’ and massive Quartz Sandstone. The strata remain largely horizontal as they were laid down 1800 million years ago. Ripple patterns on the rocks were created when sediment was deposited under shallow tidal waters millions of years ago. If you don't want to do more walking, you could choose to do the following activities. Please advise us at time of booking. OPTIONAL TOURS 06:00am - 08:00am Join your guide on an early morning excursion to bird watching sites close to the Homestead. The variety of ecosystems in the park attracts more than 100 different bird species. You could spot the resident pair of dancing Brolgas, colourful Rainbow Bee-Eaters, the endangered Gouldian Finch or Sea Eagles feeding their young. Locations for this trip will vary depending on the season and latest sightings, but the tour will always include a pair of binoculars and a local species list. Bush Culture & History Tour 08:00am to 11:30am Learn from our own real characters about the pioneers and previous characters of the original cattle Station and the remarkable journey to an acclaimed tourism destination. Take in the views from up high on a look out, visit ancient Boab trees, learn about the Aboriginal peoples' use of the native fora as you identify a number of plant and wildlife species along the way. A light morning tea is served beside a lazy waterhole. Depart El Questro Homestead. You'll be transferred to Kununurra airport to meet your return flight.
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Dates & Prices
Daily departure on request from April to October. Please contact us to book if you have a group of more than 12 people.
More Info
- The departure point is Kununurra WA
- Major commercial flights provide convenient access to Kununurra
Day 1: Sunset at Buddy’s Point 4WD safari
Day 2: Approximately 10 km
Day 3: Approximately 12 km
Day 4: Approximately 3 - 4 km & Depart
From May through to the beginning of October, El Questro Wilderness Park very rarely gets rain and enjoys warm, sunny days. The winter months of June, July and August see daytime temperatures between the high 20’s and low 30's and the nights cool off to between 8 and 18 ̊C. April, May, September and October have warmer temperatures all around, when day time highs can be in excess of 35°C and night time lows are between 15 and 25°C. April and October can be particularly humid with some chance of rain.
(Data sourced from Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology, Units = °C)
What to bring
You should bring appropriate clothing and footwear. Running shoes are the minimum requirement for the basic gorge walks. For harder treks, good hiking shoes or boots are recommended.
- Aqua shoes or Crocs can be handy in some of the swimming holes if you have very sensitive feet or feel unbalanced, but are not a necessity for most.
- You are advised to bring a hat, sun glasses and sunscreen.
- The Homestead has an outdoor swimming pool and many of the tours allow for swimming in natural waterholes so please don't forget your bathing suit.
- Those visiting in the winter months of late May, June, July and August should bring jackets or sweaters and long trousers for the evening as it is quite cool.
- Shorts and/or lighter clothing are most comfortable for day time activities.
- The dress standard for dinner is smart casual. We request that guests refrain from wearing t-shirts, singlets, thongs and sports shorts however polo shirts and tailored shorts are acceptable. At the communal lunch table we request that guests do not wear bathing suits or singlets.
- The accommodation carries only a small range of toiletries and remedies. If you require special items it is best that you bring them with you.
- The Kimberley offers stunning scenery and you can easily fill your camera’s memory card. Bring an extra card or means with which to transfer your photos.
Time Zone
Kununurra is on Australian Western Standard Time Zone UTC+8
Electricity
Australian electricity is 220-240 volts. Adapters can be provided.
Safe
A Safe is available for the storage of your valuables.
Laundry Service
Valet Laundry service is offered daily. Charges apply.
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.
Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.
A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 60 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 60 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.
Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.
General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 60 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 60 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance
Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.
Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.
Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.
Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.
Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.
Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.
Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The walks take place in very special wilderness settings. The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a walk with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the walk has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any walk up to 60 days prior to departure if a minimum of 4 walkers are unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the walk or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.
Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.
Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.
For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.
Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.
