Kimberley Hot Springs

A soak in the hot springs are a wonderful way to relax after an invigorating Kimberley hike.

There is nothing more relaxing than a soak in warm water. If that warm water is in a permanent natural thermal spring setting within an oasis of leafy green vegetation in a remote wilderness park then you're talking about the next level of relaxing.

The hot springs that we visit on our Adventure Wild tour were created by a deep fault within the rocks. Water is heated at depth and pushed upward. This is what forms the beautiful Zebedee Springs. We sit in small seemingly polished rock pools surrounded by Livistona and Pandanus Palms which are rain forest trees from long ago when this part of Australia was a more tropical environment. Everybody loves this relaxing part of the tour.

In contrast to the cool waters of the pool at the end of Emma Gorge, there are also thermal springs located in the rocks.
Thermal Springs at Emma Gorge
Livistona Palms contrast with the sandstone gorge walls at Zebedee thermal hot springs, El Questro Gorge.
Livistona Palms

We sit in the little warm pools surrounded by the shady trees and palms and the ancient sandstone stone cliff faces tower above us. The Springs are a really pleasant temperature of 28 to 32 all year round. We sometimes see native butterflies flitting around as well as the dragon flies who are attracted to waterways in the Kimberley.

There is also a hot spring in Emma Gorge pool. We go into the big fern lined pool and let everybody know that there is a little hot spring on the right hand side of that deep cold pool. If you walk over to the rocky ledge you'll feel the warm water quite quickly.

We visit Zebedee Springs as part of the Adventure Wild tour when we stay at El Questro. We leave for the pools early in the morning and they are open to the public from seven o'clock to midday.

There is a lot of birdlife around Zebedee Springs which adds to the magic of the place. You're more likely to hear them, than see the birds. People who know their birds have seen Broad Billed Flycatcher, Brown Honey Eaters, Greater Bower Birds, and Rainbow Bee Eaters at the Springs.