El Questro Station — Hotel in Durack

Disgraceful, inefficient and rude service, the most expensive camp site we've had on our big lap and you're packed in like sardines, steakhouse restaurant drastically overpriced and offering up an average meal. However, this is basically your only option if you want to experience the magnificent gorges, lookouts and springs at this beautiful station. What a shame it's been sold to the yanks who are obviously only interested in ripping off Aussies.

The 3 girls at reception were surly, inefficient, rather rude and had no personality or drive to make guests feel welcome. We booked a helicopter flight to Miri Miri falls (which was exceptional and our pilot, Nathan, was awesome) and were told to arrive 30 minutes prior to the flight for a briefing but were directed to wait at nearby tables. Apparently they didn't tell the pilot we were waiting and we lost 30 minutes of our very expensive helicopter trip as a result.

Everyone was commenting about how small the sites were. Some people couldn't pull out their awning because if they did, it would smash into the caravan next to them. This is absolutely outrageous and I can't understand how this isn't in contravention of some legislation. You should be ashamed of yourselves for trying to pack in so many campers and caravans into such tiny spaces.

We paid for and extended our stay to see more of the gorges but due to some clerical error in their system, apparently their system wasn't updated, as a result I received a curt and rude letter advising us that we were to see reception immediately because we were supposed to check out the day prior. There were plenty of opportunities to see us in person to discuss this, but they felt leaving a rude and arrogant letter on our caravan was the best way to handle this.

The whole station stinks of ripping people off and offering rude and unhelpful service in return. We visited Home Valley for a day and their reception and other staff were so friendly, helpful and brimming with enthusiasm - maybe the management and owners should take a trip down there and see how to run a station because this has been the most unpleasant and horrible stay we've had during our big lap of Australia....

Seriously disappointed, probably won't go back. Stayed here after travelling the gibb from the west. The entrance road is a couple of kms long and A LOT more corrugated than the gibb... should be able to get a certificate that says 'i survived el questro road' instead of 'i survived the gibb'... Came at the end of season and stayed because we thought it would be nice and relaxing after driving corrugated roads for 5 days. The lady at reception was lovely however we were greeted with a $90 payment for ONE night. An unpowered site, 2 adults and 2 dogs. The staff didn't explain about the costs well enough or even ask if we wanted to do any walks etc. The charge was about half of that for the campsite and the other half was for a 'park pass' which you need to be able to get into the gorges, walks, lookouts etc. We told them on check in we had 2 dogs and their response was 'yeah not a problem', took our $90 and failed to mention that we can't actually take the dogs anywhere. There's no dog signs on all the walks (fair enough when they're so rocky etc, wouldn't want to take the dogs down them anyway) but they should have told us that at the start because we would have opted not to get a park pass from the beginning because we couldn't even use it. Not only that, they took our money BEFORE advising that more than half of the gorges/walks were shut and the ones that were opened were dried up. We were there at the end of the season so we knew this would be the case and we weren't there for the walks. But we still had to pay the exact same price as someone who travelled during peak times. Made no sense. Not to mention our camp was on the river bank where as soon as dark came there were tonnes of cane toads and even a snake in our camp! Again, we have dogs and we told them that on check in! We're so disappointed. We will be doing the gibb river road again in peak season but I think next time, we will drive straight past el questro and not...

El Questro is a magnificent place, spoiled by ridiculous management. It’s so disappointing, I regret booking and will never be back! The staff are lovely and very helpful, but for the money you pay, there is very little freedom to do anything. The character of the Kimberley is lost amongst the overbearing rules and restrictions that have choked the life out of this magnificent place. Short walks to popular areas, are closed early in the day and you can no longer fish on any of the waterways… due to crocodile safety… as if anyone in (or visiting) the north of Australia aren’t aware of crocodiles!

It’s currently end of September… on a 38° day and the track to Emma Gorge is closed at 4pm. Zebedee Springs also closed! Why?? The “no fishing” policy is particularly infuriating as the website contradicts itself… mentions a popular fishing spot in one of the headline descriptions (where we caught loads of barra, before), but hidden away in the FAQs, is their no fishing policy! For me, fishing on the property was 70% of why we booked in the first place!

Twenty years ago, we stayed for over a week. It had a fraction of the facilities and loads and loads of Kimberley charm! Basically, it actually HAD a soul! It was better 20 years ago... Much, MUCH better! For years I’ve raved about this place, directing/recommending many people to come… not anymore! There’s really no reason to!

Maybe one day, it’ll be sold off to a group that understands the Kimberley (and the reasons why people come here) and isn’t so pathetically risk averse… Until then, my advice is don’t bother putting your vehicles/vans through the wear and tear… it’s not really worth it. Better off doing a day trip from elsewhere, for something you specifically want to see, and calling it...