EL QUESTRO

GEODIA · Member

EL QUESTRO

PJK · Senior Member

At those prices I would have to be convinced that it was a very special place to visit.

$20 per night for power is ridiculous for an average motorhome or caravan.

Where is this gold plated place??

Peter
PJK

PeterS · Veteran Member

Hi Geodia,

I would say that is a tad expensive at $28 pppn!

Friar Park · Senior Member

Hi Geodia, tho' never having been to El Questro I have been to W.A. I have yet to visit any of these hyped up places and found them to be value for money. I might be proven wrong in this case but I doubt it.

Friar

Cloak · Guru

Thing is places like that cater for those with fat wallets. Want to go on a fishing charter? Want to jump on a helicopter? Want a 5 star meal?

The whole Kimberley is full of great scenery and experiences that money just can't buy.

Will I ever go there? No way...

bill12 · Guru

El Questro has been a ripoff for years, and once bitten, most NEVER go back.Its not for the average Ozzy, its for the gullible overseas terrorists, woops tourists, and Ihave work in the tourist industry for more than 25years. I for one will NOT BE GOING BACK. Bill

Gerty Dancer · Guru

We stayed there 3 years ago, and didn't go near it this trip.
Even though there is some fantastic scenery out there, there's plenty more scenery around Wyndham, Kununurra and Lake Argyle that's there to view free. For a beautiful scenic trip, do the Ord river cruise from Kununurra... $330 for two people and we felt it was good value.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Drove into El Questro years ago - and it was a rip off then!!!! Think they wanted $17 just to be in there!!!! The camping was expensive as well, way back then. Didn't even go near this time around.

wendyv · Guru

The private riverside camp sites are very pleasant. Last time we were there, was a composting toilet shared between neighbouring sites - because the sites are a fair way apart, the toilet was not too close!
There are a number of driving tracks to different features and walks on the property and these seem to be being added to all the time, and new walking tracks put in.

ELQ has some superb scenery and excellent walks. Been there 3 times now and would go there again if we ever get back to the Kimberley.

Whilst it seems expensive, one must remember that all the infrastructure is put in and maintained by the property - and that costs money. Road upkeep alone must cost heaps. It is also a fairly seasonal operation - like all places in the Kimberley - and so profits must be made over the few months of the season.

Looking back over my records from our 2007 trip there, $25-30 a night camping fees was the norm, through the Kimberley. The National Park campground in the Bungles was $20 a night.

-- Edited by wendyv on Tuesday 5th of August 2014 08:06:25 PM

Roving-Dutchy · Guru

Unless the Gibb River Road has vastly improved I wouldn't be taking a non off road van along there, it would probably shake it to pieces.
Cheers
David

Meredith · Senior Member

We have been to El Questro once in the past and intend to return there in September this year.

While the sites are expensive the place is in my opinion worth it for its beauty and the walks. They have a very short season and just getting the facilities and the road in open ready again each year after the damage from the wet must cost a lot of money. They didn't have powered sites when we went previously, they are new for this year, and must run from a large generator, which wouldn't be cheap with the cost of bringing fuel in there. We will go for the unpowered riverside site option.

Explorer · Guru

Geodia Hi,

Yes it seems a lot but IMO worth it even just for the been there done that value. Another option that is probably better value is their day trip from Kununarra, They pick You up from Your accomodation for a full day of all the best sights plus cruise,lunch etc. I did this a few years ago and have camped there since.Enjoy the Kimberleys.

Mike.

wendyv · Guru

Roving-Dutchy wrote:
Unless the Gibb River Road has vastly improved I wouldn't be taking a non off road van along there, it would probably shake it to pieces.
Cheers
David

I believe that the Gibb River Rd has been sealed now, from the Kununurra end to the ELQ turnoff??

That still leaves the track in to ELQ itself, which can be rather corrugated - and there is the river crossing - fairly shallow in the dry season - just before the "home paddock".

Agree that the Gibb River Rd, from there on, is not a good idea for a conventional van. There are usually some corrugated sections somewhere along it. The Pentecost River crossing will be flowing and maybe up to floor level if not high clearance.

-- Edited by wendyv on Wednesday 6th of August 2014 03:08:02 PM

Cupie · Guru

We haven't been there since 2000 so our experiences are possibly not relevant.

In those days the road into El Q was very rough & I certainly wouldn't take a Jayco especially a 25 footer.

We were just in the Patrol & got there at around 3pm. They wouldn't let us walk to the falls because it was too late so we just drank their free coffee (good brewed stuff) & sat in their plush padded wicker chairs chatting for an hour or so & then bid them good day.

This site has some interesting stuff on The Kimberleys

http://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/kimberley-blog.html

Oops .. Try this link ..

http://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/

-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 7th of August 2014 12:07:07 AM

norto · Member

We were there 2 months ago. $60 per night for a powered van site with no water hookup.

Pete

Hylda&Jon · Guru

We stayed at the unpowered private site for a few days and it was a lovely, grassy secluded little spot right on the edge of a stream which was burbling over a few rocks which provided us with the perfect sound to fall asleep by so was very pleasant. We could have swam in it but had to keep an eye out for crocs. The loo was a couple of hundred yards away and a short drive to the amenities block for a shower and shop at the main camp site. We loved it and would do it again even though we thought it a bit expensive..

The road into El-Questro actually crosses a stream so taking a standard caravan or sedan into the place may not be advisable a lot of the time and, of course, the whole place is closed during the wet season. If you ring them they will tell you whether it is advisable. We left our caravan at a place called Parrys Lagoon farm (which is grassy caravan park on the Great Northern Hwy on the way to Wyndham) for $5 a day (allowed as long as you spent one night there first), then we took our 4WD and a tent into ElQuestro.(I believe there is also a place at Kunnanurra you can leave your van for $5 a day).

Cheers

Jon

-- Edited by Hylda&Jon on Saturday 16th of August 2014 11:43:43 PM

The Phantom · Guru

wendyv wrote:

Looking back over my records from our 2007 trip there, $25-30 a night camping fees was the norm, through the Kimberley. The National Park campground in the Bungles was $20 a night.

-- Edited by wendyv on Tuesday 5th of August 2014 08:06:25 PM

You should write to them and ask for a refund. I stayed there last year for $16 per night for 2 adults.

Or, perhaps, your records are incorrect.

The Phantom

wendyv · Guru

No - records definitely correct. We stayed at Kurrajong Camp - for 2 of us was $20 a night. We stayed a week, but for 2 of those nights one of us was camped up in Picaninny Gorge on a bushwalk - and we only paid $5 a night for him for those two nights, but still $10 for me, thus $15 total.
Sounds like they may have changed the price structure? My notes also show that we had to pay a $3 entry fee on top of the camp fee.

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.