New waterfalls discovered at El Questro

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New waterfalls discovered at El Questro

September 1, 2010

It’s not every day you stumble across previously undiscovered waterfalls.

But this is exactly what happened to Michael Bass, the El Questro Wilderness Park Manager
who was carrying out a routine aerial burn programme.

“Finding Amaroo Falls was a surprise right out of the blue,” said Michael, more commonly
known as Micko, who has worked at El Questro for eight seasons. “I was speechless when
we landed to have a look. That such a beautiful place was not known about by now was
hard to believe. We did a couple of loops in the helicopter and I was amazed at the make-
up of the falls, a series of falls connected by crystal clear swimming holes that just screamed
‘explore me!’”

“Two weeks later I was back, swimming in the pools.”

Located in the south eastern corner of El Questro, 25km south east of the main activities hub
of El Questro, The Station Township and 25km south of Emma Gorge Resort, Amaroo Falls
are the latest jewels in El Questro’s crown, found purely by chance. And because of their
beauty they have been named Amaroo Falls, ‘amaroo’ meaning ‘beautiful place’ in Aboriginal.

Only accessible by helicopter, Amaroo Falls comprise a stunning collection of around 15
waterfalls and cascades of varying heights from 2 metres to 45 metres. In addition there are
pristine swimming holes and some of the most breathtaking views El Questro has to offer,
sweeping across the south eastern El Questro plateau.

Vegetation at the falls includes Kimberley heather, grevilleas, acacias and spinifex. Being
one of the semi-tropical pockets of El Questro there are also maidenhair ferns with tropical
box trees and rock figs growing out of the walls.

To allow visitors to El Questro to enjoy the waterfalls, the El Questro rangers have
developed the Amaroo Falls Tour. Taking a maximum of just two passengers, the tour is
priced at $650 per person and includes the scenic flight to Amaroo Falls, guided
commentary and interpretation from an El Questro Ranger and a gourmet picnic lunch. Once
at the falls guests can hike, swim, learn about the flora and fauna, or just relax in their own
magical corner of El Questro. The tour takes approximately two-and-a-half hours.

Covering a massive million acres, El Questro is located in Western Australia’s East
Kimberley, 110km from Kununurra.It is a land of red-rock mountains, resplendent river
gorges, boabs and hidden patches of rainforest. And spread out across a million acres, there
are waterfalls, gorges, ravines and cascades that have remained undiscovered for years.

El Questro was first owned by Torrance McMicking who, in 1958, lodged a pastoral claim
and named the property. Several owners later, Will and Celia Burrell purchased the lease in
1991, opening Emma Gorge after the wet season and launching it as a wilderness resort in
May 1992. El Questro Homestead, with its spectacular location overlooking the Chamberlain
River, was opened in September 1992 followed by the Station Campground and Bungalows
a year later in May 1993.

Today, around 3,500 head of cattle still roam the northern flats of the property while visitors
can enjoy a range of accommodation and experiences suited to any style or budget: from the
Station Campground and Bungalows, to tented cabins at Emma Gorge and the luxurious
Homestead overlooking the Chamberlain River.

Additional soft-adventure activities at El Questro include cruises along the Chamberlain
River, barramundi fishing, scenic helicopter flights, enjoying a dip in Zebedee thermal
springs, bird watching, 4WD tracks, gorge hikes and bush walks, history and bush tucker
tours, horse riding and much more.

El Questro Wilderness Park opens from 1 April to 31 October every year, allowing for the
dramatic thunderstorms to pass over the Kimberley and replenish its numerous gorges and
waterfalls during the annual wet season.

For more information go to: www.elquestro.com.au. For reservations, telephone 08 9169
1777

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Written by Travel Editor · Filed Under Travel News 

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