Fri 6 Sept 2013 – Retro Ellenbrae

We had an early swim, packed up and set off for Ellenbrae, the next cattle station. It's approx 100 kms away, but over gravel road. We were pleasantly surprised that the road was pretty good as some of the reports we've had weren't very positive. Also, there was no water at all at the Durack River crossing, which made things easy.

We arrived at Ellenbrae in 2 hrs and were completely charmed by it. Instead of being a resort built on a cattle station, like El Questro and, to a lesser extent, Home Valley, it's a cattle station that lets people stay in the way they live here.

First a visit to the enviro toilet (or dunny) which was done up very nicely, then we booked in, had our lunch.

Afterwards we went on a lovely, gentle walk through the bush to a water hole in the creek. It was like a little beach, with a gently sloping sandy shore and lots of water for this time of year. We had it all to ourselves and had a lovely time swimming and lounging on the shore.

Lots of bird life here too.

When we returned it was afternoon tea time and it so happens that the little tea room sells homemade scones with jam & cream. Rodger was able to indulge and I enjoyed a cup of tea. Around the tea room, which was the old homestead, they have made a beautiful lush garden and tiny double bar finches fluttered about in the trees while we ate.

Finally we went down to the camping area - just a piece of bush with a homemade camp kitchen and bathroom built from stone slabs. The manager came down and lit a fire in the "donkey" to heat the water for our showers.

It was the cutest shower I've ever had. We went over by lantern light and found the rigged up, subdued lighting. The toilet was like a throne and the shower lovely and hot but like something out of the Flintstones. The water for it is pumped up out of the creek. We enjoyed this unique experience very much.