Sunday we set off in the morning for Zebedee Springs, where, after a short hike, we ended up at the hot springs. The water is about 28 to 32 degrees and flows out into a number of small pools. We climbed up to the higher end where there were fewer kids and adults, slipping into our own private pool for a dip.
The water was warm, the company pleasant, the surroundings rich in superlatives. We stayed until we became prune-like then grabbed our things and walked back to the car.Â
Next stop was El Questro Gorge, which required us to go through two water crossings, one of which was the “Deep Water Crossing” marked on the map with a number of warnings. We reached it to find two Brolgas (the name of which I could not remember until about seven that night when I read it somewhere).
Cars and people had stopped to look at the birds but also to watch people make the crossing. We got some advice, watched others cross, and learned what an intake is. And then we were off.
Look, not gonna lie, it was deep and it was long and it was scary. But Narelle did it. Twice!
But before we could do the second journey, we had to conquer El Questro Gorge.
Now, perhaps the description did say it was a tough hike but in our experience that’s usually to deter people who really shouldn’t be doing these hikes. It usually doesn’t include us…
So off we went. El Questro Gorge is marked as a class 4/5 hike that takes about five hours all up.
The start of the hike wasn’t too bad as we went over uneven rocks into the gorge, but otherwise over fairly manageable terrain. There was a pool about quarter of the way in that was gorgeous and containing two older women who were perfectly content with not going any further. This should have been a lesson.
We continued on.
The ground became more uneven and unpredictable, requiring us to cross the river at points and step from stone to stone following blue squares. But despite the worsening conditions, it was manageable up to the point we reached Halfway Pool. This was a rock pool bordered at its top end by very large boulders and fed by a waterfall. The pool was perfectly adequate for swimming in, but it was only the halfway point and there wasn’t another pool at the very end.
We watched people scale the side of the pool, up slippery rocks from having to wade in at more than waist height with your stuff. We managed to push ourselves up, me scared that I was going to slip and smash my face on a rock during my descent. Glen took it all in his stride.
Once up, we looked ahead at even rockier terrain. Glen decided that he had seen plenty and was going to lay on one of the large rocks and read his book. Narelle and I continued on.
There were many moments over the next hour where I wished we hadn’t, even with the people passing us the other way saying the pool at the end was “not much farther” and “worth the effort.” By the end I definitely did not agree with both those statements.
To get there we had to scale much larger rocks than anticipated, using our legs and arms to scale these boulders, or walk along the edge of a drop, or, towards the end, climb up the side of a waterfall to get to the last section. It was a long hike.
I am, of course, grousing more than necessary as there were MANY parents with very small children making the climb there and back.
We reached the (small) pool at the end with its waterfall and beautiful colours. We had our swim and took our photos and took photos for other people, then put on our hiking boots and head back.
The return journey felt much easier and quicker than on the way out, as it usually does. My back and glutes protested loudly the entire way, especially as I climbed up and down, bending my knees, and sliding down rock faces.
It took us an hour to reach Glen who was impatient for our return. We then had to climb down into the pool again (probably one of the harder parts of it all) and continue the hike back to the car, passing that quarter way pool which was more than adequate.
I rolled my ankle about 10 minutes from the car, but could still walk, though the next day it was starting to moan. I was very glad to get to the car. Was the hike worth it? Yes and no. I’m glad I’m still capable of doing such things but the pay off at the end probably wasn’t worth it. If you really like hiking, then it would be. I know a few people who would have loved all the rock climbing so it’s definitely worth it for that.
From the gorge, we went back through the deep water crossing and out to El Questro Station for a snack and some information, before driving out to Pigeon Hole Lookout for sunset.
The lookout gave a stunning view of the river below. I’d hoped to see a crocodile (I had my binoculars) but no such luck. We waited for sunset. I had a chat to some of the people in the tour group that had stopped them and shared my binoculars. We took photos, and then It was back down the hill and home to Emma Gorge.
Dinner was at the restaurant. We ordered and ate too much, but the food was good, and after figuring out a bit more of the next day’s activities, then went off to bed at the very late hour of 9pm. Â
Travels with Dan 
What do you say, eh?