Worth getting out of bed for...

Viewpoint

Branco’s Lookout is on many of the tour itineraries and for good reason ¬– it’s an unbeatable spot for watching a sunrise or sunset over the Kimberley’s rugged valleys, mountains and plains. It's accessible by 4WD only.

Arts and culture

It’s here that Baz Luhrmann chose to shoot much of Australia, and the rugged, untouched terrain is a breathtaking insight into the country’s past and present. The Gibb River Road on which you have to travel partly before you reach El Questro was constructed in the 1800s to transport cattle and spans over 660 kilometres of rough unsealed road, traversed now only by four-wheel-drives. The Aboriginals, one of the world’s longest surviving cultures, date back more than 45,000 years and their lives are inextricably bound to the land here, evidence of which can be seen in their artwork. In nearby Kununurra there are several galleries with an impressive range of indigenous art; try Lovell Gallery (144 Konkerberry Drive; www.lovellgallery.com.au), Red Rock Art (50 Coolibah Drive; www.redrockgallery.com) and Waringarri Aboriginal Arts (Speargrass Road; www.waringarriarts.com.au).

Something for nothing

Set against a backdrop of towering palms and a rocky red cliff-face, Zebedee Thermal Springs cascade down a series of small waterfalls into pools perfectly big enough for two to enjoy a quiet soak.

Shopping

El Questro’s Station Township sells authentic Aussie Akubra hats and also aboriginal crafts. The property’s Emma Gorge Resort has a shop selling upmarket souvenirs, including clothing, books, hats and art. In Kununurra there is a market on every Saturday during the dry season where you can meet the locals and sample some chocolate boab fudge or frozen mango cheeks.

Daytripper

Kakadu National Park in the adjacent Top End region is Australia’s largest, and is home to more than a third of the country’s bird population. Setting for the early sections of 1980s film classic Crocodile Dundee, it includes spectacular waterfalls, vast wetlands and the world’s largest collection of rock art. We highly recommend Lords Kakadu & Arnhemland Safaris (www.lords-safaris.com), a passionate organisation that offers specialised small group tours into the park’s ‘difficult to access’ areas.

Perfect picnic

For something special take a helicopter ride to Mirimiri falls, where you can have a romantic picnic in a tropical oasis by a secluded swimming hole. It’s only accessible the air, so privacy is guaranteed.

Walks

There are a number of guided and self-guided trails organised by El Questro – ask at the resort receptions for details. Don’t miss the spectacular walk up Emma Gorge. The hour-long walk is graded easy but does take some level of fitness. At the end, however, you are rewarded with a dramatic waterfall and a crystal-clear swimming hole that has thermal springs flowing into it. Lie back and watch the millions of water droplets falling, as if in slow motion, from the top of the cliff.

Activities

El Questro offer a variety of tours that showcase the region’s most breathtaking scenery and natural feats. Kick back and take it all in with a sunset drink on a private boat cruise through the beautiful Chamberlain Gorge with its dramatic 200-foot escarpments. Entertainment is provided by the archer fish, which spit water at you while you are trying to feed them. Heli-fishing tours are offered to remote and rarely fished waterholes on the property in search of barramundi.