Tues, 21st June, 2022 El Questro Station, Gibb River Road, WA (Champagne Springs & Amalia Gorge) (Anthony’s birthday)

6am - 14 degrees. Up early again. Feeling good after the big walks yesterday. 

7am - Drove to the car park for the walk near the river crossing into the station. Champagne Springs walk is 10km, Grade 5 and to allow 5-6 hours. This will test out our legs.

First we travel alongside the Pentecost River that we can’t see because of the palms then a few spots it opens up. We came to a big open area. Around the base of the hill some more to another pool.

Clambered up over the rocks. We can hear water going over rapids as it comes out of the palms.

Around the base of the hill then follow a creek bed as we turn away from the Pentecost. The track changes from rocks to sand and back again.

Arrived a huge Boab - the biggest yet I think. Lovely old giant.

From here we turn and head up Champagne Valley and meet the creek that comes down from the springs further along. Around the base of the hill.

Now we have to cross the creek - looked very muddy on the other side so I changed shoes - Steve didn’t!! He made it across ok on the submerged rocks and hard clumps of grass. I did too but I didn’t have to worry if I did sink into the mud.

Nice view back up the cliff face. Only went a short way and more muddy/wet crossing. Should have changed your shoes Steve! I found some more logs to line the track with. Aren’t I good to my husband.

At least he is good at leading the way. More wet spots with thin logs to balance on or rocks to hop across.

Lovely flowers on the trees have fallen on the ground or broken off by the birds. Lots of birds noises in here which is nice. One last wet bit then up onto the rocks where I changed my shoes.

Off we go again following blue markers on white poles across the rock slopes. Up and down the rises with the escarpment on the other side of the creek.

Then we are at the creek. Walked down to the big pool. There are numbers on the rocks but no numbers on our map. Maybe there is another map like the one we had at Emma Gorge that pointed out things - will have to check at reception. View from the falls down the creek to the escarpment.

Down the rock walls and up to the falls then continued upstream. The water is flowing down the rock slope. We think this is the thermal springs according to the map but it doesn’t look very inviting.

We followed the blue markers around the rocks past other pools with funny slime stuff to the next big hole which we think is Gem Pool. You could get in here for a swim as it is deep but the rocks look slippery. Lovely reflections.

Continued upstream. Little caves under the rock slabs. A little waterfall with a small pool above it. More wasp nests hanging off the rocks. Another pool. Looks like the end of the track for us.

Decided to cool off at the little rapids. Rocks were slippery but we got wet enough. Steve sat down - I just wet my hair.

Sat and ate our date slice then walked back. Selfie time.

Headed down to the bottom pool. The water runs along the ledges making nice waterfalls. Steve ventured in for dip - very slippery and not deep but he got wet.

I walked a bit further to the next big pool. More slippery rocks to get in so we gave it a miss. Great views though. There is a lovely breeze. I wet my shirt so I will be cool for the return journey. Again we have the place to ourselves.

Headed back. Met a family on the way up. A few more snaps of the Pentecost River and a red flower off the tree, missed them on the way up.

Back to the truck at 11.30am (took us 4.5hr) then to the camper for lunch. Reception didn’t know anything about the numbers for the gorge walk but she said she will look into it.

Feeling good so we decided to do Amalia Gorge too. It is 7km back out the main road but then we will have done them all and can just stop at Zebedee Springs to soak in the warm springs tomorrow morning as we leave. 

1pm at Amalia Gorge carpark - Grade 4 walk, 3.4km, 2.5 hour walk. There are a few other cars here. Wobbled over the river stones till we reached water. Then along the rock slopes. Across the natural causeway.

Lots of small pools trapped between the rocks as we worked our way along the base of the cliff. Then up onto the shelves and around the rock face. One section used to be a squeeze through the boulders - now there is a chain to hang onto as you go around the outside edge of the boulder!

A lovely big pool rewards us. Steve deciding whether to dive in!

It’s not my photography - all the rocks are on a slope. We had a big ledge to climb up but Steve couldn’t make it. I got up with a shove from Steve and found a big rock on the other side to add to the small ones to make a bigger step. It worked.

Another nice pool with water seeping in from the rocks called Ochre Falls. Unfortunately it was a climb up and around it and there was no chain for this big. Steve said ‘if you fall you will just get wet!’ I must admit I am very proud of myself with all this rock scrambling and climbing but without Steve I certainly wouldn’t have done it. No photos of course but it was a little scary. We made it - not sure about getting back! Met a couple coming back who said we were about half way and the waterfall wasn’t flowing but it was nice. The sign said it was a seasonal falls and usually dry by July but they didn’t get a good wet season this year..

Kept on. Glad I am taking photos as I wouldn’t be able to explain all the changing conditions we have climbing over. Steep climb down here. Wobbling over these boulders is giving our ankles are work-out. Another pool then a wet section to get through. Nearly there.

Would be a great waterfall in the wet. Will have to see if I can get a wet season photo. Bit slippery to get in here. Pretty pink flowers on this bush up high on the rock wall.

We went around to the other side where there is a rock platform going out into the water. There is water dripping down the wall further along. Stripped off an in for a dip. The rock was slippery so we carefully made our way in. It was freezing like Emma Gorge.

We floated for a bit as our skin got used to the cold. A family arrived so we told them to come in where we did. It was very invigorating. Great for the muscles too.

Put the camera in the backpack and headed back. Got back to the truck at 3pm then back to the camper for a cuppa. We certainly have done some kilometres over uneven ground so we are very proud of ourselves and aren’t feeling any worse for it except for a blister I have.

Put the camper back on the truck ready to leave tomorrow. Had drinks chatting with a new-comer about the truck and what to see. He had always had Nissans but now has a Range Rover! Clouds have come over.

Decided to shout ourselves dinner out as we heard the burgers were good but not tonight. Looks like everyone had the same idea so only pizzas and sweet potato chips were left when we got there. All good - the pizza and chips were great. Chatted with a couple from Mackay but are now working as they travel.

Once the traffic had settled from the sun-set viewers I cleaned the camper of the red dust that has floated in through the pop-top windows.