El Questro Homestead

Poor booking and cancellation policies which do not favour people who book in advance and plan their holidays. Luxury Excapes now offer the same Emma Gorge accommodation at half the price that we paid directly, with a $100 dining voucher, and the reservations staff refuse to match / alter / provide any alternative offer. Very poor service! Totally unfair when they have a captive market and no competition.

An extraordinary Indigenous Culture Session but we were disappointed by the noxious diesel generator noise adjacent to the campground, which ran 24 hours a day; El Questro is known as a “Wilderness Park”, surely they can turn the generator off after 10 pm and use solar energy which is in abundance there and in keeping with the wilderness motto?

My husband and I embarked on an odyssey across Australia's remote wilderness areas. First stop the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef, then El Questro in the north-eastern Kimberleys, followed by five days in Kakadu, ending with five days on Lizard Island, most northern of the Great Barrier Reef getaways. None of it was cheap because we flew thousands of kilometres by plane and the remote locations added to the cost. Our five days at El Questro were the priciest and the most memorable by far. Everything about the homestead stay is six-star luxury in the most relaxed, unpretentious way. We loved the daily itinerary they arranged for us as we were ferried to heli pads, river barges, and rainforest gorges. We hiked, we swam, we took in the sights, and each night we dined under a canopy of stars, sharing stories with our fellow travellers. El Questro's staff were six-star, too. They are not your run-of-mill hospitality workers. Everyone is educated in the environmental sciences, and they share their knowledge. These are folk committed to the world's wilderness areas who want to share the love. The food was fabulous, as you would expect, as were the rooms, the ambience, and the attention to detail. We even got a farewell gift that I use daily. It reminds me that some experiences are priceless, and that's what you are paying for.

We stayed three nights and could not be happier with our experience. From the location and incredible scenery, to the Homestead and accomodation, to the food and beverage, to the tours and activities, and most especially, the highly professional and friendly staff - everything was just splendidly done. You can choose to join in on activities, or just sit around doing nothing - either in the homestead or in your room or by the pool. We especially enjoyed the Emma Gorge hike and the Chamberlain Cruise (the spitting fish are hilarious), but we were equally thrilled just sitting around on our deck watching the wildlife go by. We saw hundreds of Barra, at least five crocs, and a variety of stunning birds. Every meal was beautifully planned and executed, with great wine pairings for lunch and dinner. Special requests were no problem - I don't eat seafood but at every meal a genuine effort had been made to swap out the seafood menu item with something truly yummy that I could enjoy. Love, Love, Loved it! We're already planning a return visit next year.

If you like dust, over inflated prices and being packed in like sardines defiantly book a stay. The roads around the entire camp are more dusty than the entire Gibb River Road. The location in the George prevents the dust blowing away and the dust cloud can be seen from km's away! Not advisable for anyone with breathing difficulties. To the managers, buy a water truck and do some road repairs!

Before booking a stay at the Homestead, I contacted the Reservations office to check if it would be possible to arrange transfers between Kununurra and El Questro as I thought I might have to hire a 4WD. (The dirt access road that includes a few river crossings can be challenging). I was told that scheduled transfers from Kununurra hotels take place in the morning. So I arranged a transfer the day following my afternoon flight from Perth. A few months before my stay I was sent information about the transfer that was described as "unscheduled" and asked to pay another 500 AUD. When I arrived at Kununurra airport, I was surprised to see an El Questro representative who was meeting some guests off the same flight. The incorrect transfer information resulted in me missing the only opportunity during my stay to make a guided visit to Emma Gorge. Following my experience, I suggest anyone staying at El Questro hires a 4WD so that you are not dependent on staff availability to drive you to various places of interest. The rest of my Homestead experience was 10/10. All the staff I met were friendly and tried to make the stay as enjoyable as possible. The food was of high quality without being pretentious. The scenery, sunsets and clear night skies are stunning. I had a river gorge room that probably has the best view anyone can have while sitting in a bath!