El Questro - the enigma

We had heard a lot of negative things about ELQ- run down, not kid friendly.  We also heard El Questro the name has no meaning, it was just made up (like every name originally).  Travellers said go to Home Valley it is much better.  Well I don't know where they went, maybe they got lost, because ELQ was amazing and Home Valley we lasted 1 night in.  We had the best 6 days at ELQ helped by the fact we were there with the Robos and they were in the mood to party.  With 6 boys running rampant- making fires each night, swinging on the rope over the river, catching cherubin, making dam walls, wrestling, stick fighting and throwing rocks; and 4 parents wanting to do all the tours, drink plenty of booze and do some exercise as well; that says it all.  But I will grant myself the opportunity to say more as El Questro and the Robos deserve it.  It was very hot which didn't lend so much to fires, which we had every night, and we were off power so no fans to go to sleep with, but the boys crashed every night without a whimper as the smell of smoke drifted in through the windows.

I think from hanging with the Robo boys and all the heat they were completely trashed at the end of the day.  In fact when the Robos left I think we all took a couple of days to recover.  The fridges definitely struggled in the heat and no power, with the waeco finally giving up and majorly reducing the space for beer.  When we first arrived we took a while to find the best camping spot and took a few sprinklers out along the way.  But we finally got set up side by side, with Pete going for the unconventional method, with a circus tent for an awning and a bit of slope in the floorplan.  We did lots of swimming in the river and the swimming hole with special mention to Kirst and Emma who actually went in the swimming hole against all their instincts.  The hammock got a good go but monopoly deal was a fizzer with complete anarchy.  All the parents made the final but decided they had better things to do.  We had great dinners with everyone having a go at cooking, even the Littlefords arrived and once again gave us a camping lesson cooking up Kirst's damper and making a cake for us.  The highlights of ELQ (apart from the lovely people and great service) were:
Zebedee Springs was nice and warm and a great spot to just relax.  It got crowded easily though unless you were here yesterday!

Emma Gorge where we did some good rock jumps and thought was amazingly beautiful with nice cool water and a warm spring to warm up in.  The walk in was burnt from a recent fire and the restaurant was closed for lunch so if we had been the week before it would have been even better!
The sun was setting as we drove back to camp and we stopped to say hi to a bustard.

  The helicopter trip to Mira Mira Falls with a gourmet lunch and swim was absolutely spectacular with the boys commentary in the back a real classic.  The pilot was in a bit of a hurry to go though as he had to do 3 trips to ferry us all back.  Apparently he was more relaxed last week he may have even done a helicopter dive!

 The Explosion Gorge tour was fun, learning about different trees and animals with Ranger Graeme and seeing a bower bird nest and its silver collection.  The 4wdriving was cool and the view from Broncos Lookout over a few beers was magic.  Apparently it was better the night before with Ranger Stewie though!  She gave us a great deal on some beers that were very expensive at the bar, even happy hour was only $2 off.  We did have entertainment though with Jo (whom we met at Kununurra) showing off her talent.  I really wanted to hear Brondon sing though.

 Hiring boats on the Chambo and Arch catching a massive catfish.  We only had 1 cherubin as bait and Arch and Wooz tossed a coin over it.  Arch hooked the massve 82cm fish and spent the next 5 minutes trying to reel it in.  I had to help him in the end and Arch netted it just as the hook fell out.  Apparently the day before we would have caught a barra!

We drove up to Saddleback Lookout which was fun and very scary for Kirst.  The sunset and view were beautiful but ofcourse have been better.

The last day we hiked El Questro Gorge.  7km return climbing over boulders, wading through water holes, and having an absolute blast.  It was quite challenging but all the boys nailed it, helping each other, and painting themselves with ochre to celebrate making it to the falls.  We stayed there a couple of hours, just lapping up the ambience, and doing some Hawaiin big wave training with rocks underwater.

 Then to finish off an incredible day and week we pigged out at the Steakhouse restaurant with MEDIUM steaks and lots of drinking.  Apparently the menu was better last week!
Well there's the rap.  Thanks Robos for a wonderful time.

Waiting for the Robos

Arriving back from the Bungles we settled back into our lakeside camper and soaked up the chlorinated pool water.  We had a few days before the Robos were arriving and Wooz wanted to step up the fishing thing.  So we bought a redclaw net and went out on the canoes again paddling all the way around to the Pumphouse restaurant where apparently we were a chance to catch a bream.  We only pulled in catfish again however and Kirst and I soon got jack of sitting in a canoe in the hot sun.  We put the net out on the way with the boiled chicken wings in it and went back the following morning to check our catch.  Few teething problems with the net though and it would have to wait til El Questro with the Robos for some action.  We also went to the Zebra Rock Gallery and fed the fish and the turtles there, and saw a massive catfish we called Dufus because it was so slow.  We bought a bag of zebra rock too so the boys can do some sculpting (part of their huge schoolwork program ofcourse).  We hit the golfcourse too braving the heat and got through 7 holes before I couldn't see because of the sweat in my eyes and the boys were taking their clothes off and yelling water where the sand greens were!  We hit the local swimming pool too with the slowest waterslide in Australia and tested the boys freestyle swimming laps against their dad.  Arch was only a few seconds behind over 25 metres and Wooz not far behind that.  Nathanial hasn't progressed to freestyle but has gone from not swimming at all to being able to get 25 metres on his own. Then finally the Robos arrived to watch the Granny with us at the pub and barrack for the cats over a few celebratory drinks.  We were all very excited and went back for a swim while the girls went to the shops to stock up for El Questro and finished the day with a barbee while the boys spotted crocs and caught frogs.  No photos from this time, gone bit slack in the heat.  Next stop ELQ.

Lara Bungle

Well, while we had another week of hangin out in Kununurra before the Robos arrive for some serious holiday action, we thought we would try a couple of days at the Bungles Bungles.  The reason I called the blog Lara Bungle was because it was bloody hard work!  The 50km of 4wd track into the Bungles was tough going but Dora the Explorer stood strong and even handled the rally driving on the way out because I just wanted to get the hell out of there and onto some nice road (being a tactile person I like smooth not rough).  Kirst had booked the safari tent acommodation that Paul and Karen had stayed at, which included meals,  and we were quite impressed when we arrived. 

 There was no swimming holes or pools however and it was scorching.  We had lots of cold showers and beers and the boys loaded up on soft drink.  We had a scrumptious dinner and I smashed the boys at Yahtzee with my best ever score of 565.  Their was plenty of wildlife hanging around too and to keep it simple they were all called Roger.  The boys had talked up staying in their own tent but when push came to shove there they were busting in on Kirst and my second honeymoon.  Ofcourse I ended up sleeping on Nathanial's stretcher bed and he slept with his mummy on the nice bed that apparently was very comfy.  We did 2 walks, the Echidna Chasm when we arrived in the arvo

 

 and then the Cathedral Gorge via the domes the next morning.  It was boiling hot but there was some shade in the walks and they were amazing. 

 The boys stood strong and often led the way, they even did some tour guiding, and ofcourse found plenty of wildlife- they love an adventure.

 Thanks Lara you were hard work but very pretty. 

Postscript- she fired up after we left and was closed down for the season so lucky us.