Hot article El Questro Wilderness Park

El Questro Wilderness Park

The Kimberley region of North Western Australia is one of the world’s last unspoilt frontiers. It’s the spectacular scenery and natural environment that draws people to this area, and with almost one million acres to explore, El Questro is a most unique holiday and wilderness destination.

We flew into Kununurra from Broome and travelled the 100km or so to the El Questro Station township by four-wheel drive.  Nestled on the banks of the Pentecost River, the sprawling evergreen station lawns provide stark contrast to the surrounding landscape.

It’s hard to fathom that the oldest rocks at El Questro were formed between 1,800 and 1,900 million years ago, at a time of considerable geological activity when a piece of ancient continental crust collided with the rest of northern Australia.

Four-wheel driving and hiking through El Questro offers the opportunity to experience some truly magnificent country. Incredible views, stunning palm-fringed waterholes, dramatic cliff faces and some serious barramundi fishing, there’s something for everyone.

One of my favourite parts was the short trail walk through dense Livistonia Palms to a series of rocky thermal pools called Zebedee Springs. The viewing platform at Saddleback Ridge was also a spectacular highlight.

There’s a full range of accommodation here, from camping and caravanning to bungalows and safari tents, but if you REALLY want to do it in style, spend a few days at the ultra high-end Homestead.

Pictures just don’t do this place justice, you’ve got to come here and have a look for yourself.

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Hot article Western Beach - Cape Leveque

My First Week

What an INCREDIBLE 7 days.

Best first week on the job of all time, without a shadow of a doubt. Absolutely no comparison.

Four-wheel driving, mud crabbing, pearl farming, spear fishing, safari tenting, pearl meat eating, whale watching, dragon boat racing, dragon boat sinking, we did it all. From beautiful Broome, up the Cape Leveque road to Kooljiman, around the crest of the Dampier Peninsula to Cygnet Bay and back again.

The food, the colours, the heat, the sunsets, the contrasts, the lifestyle, the people, it’s great to finally get my teeth into my new job and start exploring the state.

So many highlights to choose from, but the Giant Tides Last Light Tour at Cygnet Bay was spectacular. To witness the full force of nature as the huge tidal movement emptied the King Sound and created a waterfall hundreds of metres long across the reef was astonishing. It was also a great conversation starter for the 7 course pearl meat degustation feast that we had that evening.

So, 7 days down and only 168 left, I’m going to enjoy and make the most of each and every single second!

Tips and Tricks

Getting to Broome and Cape Leveque

  • Virgin Australia has daily flights from Perth to Broome.
  • Car rental through Budget Rent a Car. Transfer flights also available from Broome.

Where I Stayed

My Expert Local Guides

  • Aboriginal elder and Character of the Kimberley Brian Lee of Tagalong Tours.
  • Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm and all their wonderful staff.

Events to Keep an Eye Out For

My Insider Tips

  • Don’t miss the Giant Tides Tour or the pearl meat inspired degustation dinner at Cygnet Bay.

Hot article Mud Crabbing with Brian Lee - Dampier Peninsula

Mud Crabbing Monday

And we’re off! Ladies and Gentlemen my Taste Mastering adventure begins in Broome where we pick up our 4WD.

Make sure you know how to work the windscreen wipers otherwise you’ll spend the whole journey with them going like the clappers every time you try and indicate. We’re on our way to Kooljaman, a wilderness camp on the Dampier Peninsula 200km north of Broome in the Kimberley region, and we’re meeting up with my new hero, Brian Lee.

Brian is an Aboriginal elder and mud crab fisherman. He’s softly spoken, extremely wise and a great teacher and story teller. He’s also got a wicked sense of humour! Me being all respectful and first day on the job and everything, fell for the majority of his gags.

Today we’re catching our own dinner and on the menu is mud crab. Armed with just a metal pole and hessian sack we’re at Hunters Creek. Waiting for the tide to go out to reveal the crab holes, Brian suddenly whips his shirt off and dives straight in. He emerges a few minutes later whooping and hollering and holding aloft the biggest, meanest looking crab you’ve ever seen, looks to me and says… “Your turn.” Really??! First day on the job and I’m going to get my fingers ripped off by a massive crustacean?… I’ll never play guitar again.

Thankfully he breaks into a huge smile.

“Oh Brian, you big kidder you” I laugh nervously as sweat pours down my face.

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