Day 50: El Questro (Day 1)

Today we got up early and drove out to El Questro Gorge trail head. The water level in the river on the way in was less than 80cm so was open to non-snorkel fitted 4WDs like ours. So we thought we'd take the chance to get out there. In the end there were four river sections to cross. One rather long deep one and the others much shorter and shallower.

Once at the trail head we started the walk into the gorge. The first part of the walk was more open as we followed the stream that runs through the gorge, often by walking back and forth across it. This lower part of the gorge was filled with Livistona Palms. As it started to narrow the sandstone walls where filled with ferns. We made it to the Halfway Pool and changed into our swimmers to wade out into the pool and climb the rocks to continue further into the gorge.

After the Halfway Pool the gorge walls continued to narrow and we had to traverse lots of large boulders and even scramble up a bit of a rock wall and some steep steps to eventually make it to Mac Miking Gorge Pool at the end of the walk. There weren't very many people at the pool and we even got a few minutes of being in the water with just the four of us. After a refreshing swim we headed back down the gorge to the car. Stopping at the lower pool for a longer swim this time.

Then it was back to camp. Late in the afternoon we headed over to the bar and grassy area near reception for the kids to set up a cricket game and the adults could have a cold drink. By the time the sun set the kids had 10 players on the pitch.