El Questro Day 2

Day 18 Monday 14^th May 

El Questro

Odometer Total Mileage Temp 25

We were up early today as Zebedee springs is only open until 12 to help preserve the area. 

as we drove in I made Mark stop so I could take a photo of these palm trees

Zebedee Springs is only 10 minutes from the station (ELQ), so we arrived there a little after 8am. The springs are surrounded by Livistonia palms.

 You have the choice of lying in the first pool, which had minimal rocks and a sandy bottom 

or clambering over rocks. I clambered over the rocks to get some photos and found three families with babies enjoying the benefits of the warm water in their own personal pool at the top. 

Looking down the springs

Mark enjoyed a shoulder massage in a small pool on his own which was above the pool I selected.

I preferred the larger pool with no rocks.

I could have stayed there all day but we were going to try another hike, this time to Amalia Gorge. Amalia Gorge was another 10 minutes away and we arrived by 10am. The trail (3.4kms 3hrs return) led over a creek bed with medium sized rocks. We were only 5 minutes into the hike when Mark decided not to proceed because he had turned his ankle the previous day on the Emma Gorge hike. If I could have communicated with Mark I would have set off on my own as there were other hikers around. Disappointed we headed back to the station where we spent hours relaxing, reading and updating the blog. 

Julie's lunch a healthy salad with honey mustard dressing

I made Mark some chicken and avocado wraps

We met our tour guides at the bar at 2.15 for our 2.30 Chamberlain Gorge Cruise. 

smaller tinnies

The cruise was a relaxing, meander through the gorge. 

prior to the big wet in 2011 these banks were covered in foilage

We could only go as far as these rocks. We stopped and enjoyed a glass of bubbly and some fresh fruit.

and fed the fish. The boat driver fed the fish, who spit at you in return, nice.  

On the way back we spotted this rock wallaby.

A view of the Homestead perched on the edge of the gorge, about $2k a night

almost back at ELQ we spotted these Ibis among the horses

We arrived back at ELQ at 5pm. Once back at ELQ more time was spent relaxing and blogging with a glass of wine before fixing dinner. Dinner was chicken and the remainder of the salad.