Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

THE KIMBERLEY: A FAR-FLUNG WILDERNESS 477
Gibb River Rd. (P.O. Box 909, Kununurra, WA 6743). Accor, & 1300/656 565 in Australia, 1800/221-4542 in
the U.S. and Canada, 020/8283 4500 in the U.K., 0800/44 4422 in New Zealand, or 08/9169 1777. Fax
08/9169 1383. www.elquestro.com.au. 45 tent cabins, 27 with bathroom (shower only). AE, DC, V.
A$133–A$182 (US$86–US$118) double; A$198 (US$129) deluxe tent (sleeps 4). Amenities: Restaurant; bar;
outdoor pool; tour desk; laundry.
Station Township Bungalows These basic but comfortable cabin-style
rooms located by the store at the heart of Station Township are good for anyone
without their own transportation, as tours depart from right outside. The nicest
are the eight newest ones with balconies overlooking the Pentecost River. Two of
the four original stone bungalows sleep six but are the same price. The Steakhouse
restaurant and bar serves three meals a day of the steak and barramundi
kind, and there is often live music around the campfire. A swimming hole is
nearby. The front office loans hair dryers.
Gibb River Rd. (P.O. Box 909, Kununurra, WA 6743). Accor, & 1300/656 565 in Australia, 1800/221-4542 in
the U.S. and Canada, 020/8283 4500 in the U.K., 0800/44 4422 in New Zealand, or 08/9169 1777. Fax
08/9169 1383. www.elquestro.com.au. 12 bungalows (with shower only). A$198 (US$129) per bungalow
(sleeps 4). AE, DC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; tour desk; 4WD rental desk; laundry. In room: A/C, fridge,
coffeemaker.
Station Township Riverside Camping In addition to the other El Questro
options, there are two camping areas. Black Cockatoo Riverside Camping has
45 campsites near the station store, and there are another 28 more secluded
riverside campsites within a 6km (3 3 ⁄4 miles) drive. Campers share shower facilities
and a laundry, and use the bungalows’ restaurant. No bookings are taken
for campsites. Note: The Wilderness Park Permit fee is not included in the
campground fee. For contact details see above.
Gibb River Rd. (P.O. Box 909, Kununurra, WA 6743). Accor, & 1300/656 565 in Australia, 1800/221-4542 in
the U.S. and Canada, 020/8283 4500 in the U.K., 0800/44 4422 in New Zealand, or 08/9169 1777. Fax
08/9169 1383. www.elquestro.com.au. A$13 (US$8.45) campsite per person. Children under 12 stay free. AE,
DC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; laundry.
In Kununurra
Country Club Hotel Just down the road from the tourist bureau, this low-rise
hotel is your best bet among Kununurra’s modest choice of accommodations. Set
in tropical gardens, it has a lovely shaded pool with sun lounges and a bar, and a
couple of simple dining and bar venues. The rooms are nothing flashy, but they’re
neat and clean, with plenty of space. The front desk loans hair dryers.
47 Coolibah Dr., Kununurra, WA 6743. & 1800/808 999 in Australia, or 08/9168 1024. Fax 08/9168 1189.
www.ountryclubhotel.com.au. 88 units, all with bathroom (8 with tub). Dry Season (Apr–Oct) A$168
(US$109) double; A$222 (US$144) 2-bedroom apt. Wet Season (Nov–Mar) A$148 (US$97) double; A$191
(US$124) 2-bedroom apt. Extra person A$24 (US$16). AE, DC, MC, V. Amenities: 2 restaurants (1 casual grill,
1 Chinese); 3 bars; outdoor pool; tour desk; laundry. In room: A/C, TV, fridge.
PURNULULU (BUNGLE BUNGLES) NATIONAL PARK
Rising out of the landscape 250km (156 miles) south of Kununurra are thousands
of enormous sandstone domes 200m to 300m (656 ft.–984 ft.) high called
the Bungle Bungles . Thought to be named either after “bundle bundle”
grass or the bungle beetle, the Bungle Bungles get their distinctive orange and
gray stripes from algae found in the permeable layers and mineral graining in
non-permeable layers. The formations are 360 million years old.
The domes look spectacular from the air—and that’s the only way to see them
in the Wet, as the park is closed to ground traffic January 1 through March 31.
As the waters subside (sometimes not until early June, and they may swell again