El Questro Homestead
People & Purpose
Together with the Traditional Owners of The Kimberley, the Balanggarra people in the north and the Nyaliga in the south, the team behind El Questro Homestead see themselves as custodians of this precious swathe of truly wild Country. They aim to preserve it for the future and share its wonders with guests. View case study
“We are proud co-custodians of this unique and precious wilderness retreat and are committed to its preservation, educating others about its cultural importance, and proudly sharing its beauty with our guests.”
Grant Wilckens, Chief Executive Officer of the G’day Group
El Questro operates on Crown land under a pastoral lease and special tourism leases. The 700,000 acre property is under Native Title to two regional Aboriginal groups.
The Balanggarra people obtained Native Title recognition in 2014 and are the Traditional Owners of the northern parts of the property. The Nyaliga people of the WANJINA-WUNGGURR Aboriginal Corporation (WAC) are determined for the southern section of El Questro. In November 2022, a landmark Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) was reached between the WAC and the Western Australian Government, which included a 99-year lease for G’Day Group to conduct tourism activities over the whole of the former pastoral lease area.
The agreement will see the G’day Group purchase carbon credits from WAC that will enable the property to operate with net zero emissions. It will also enable the company to roll out its Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) priorities, including improved waste water and land management practices. The ILUA also guarantees ongoing employment and training for local Indigenous youth.
“Providing opportunities for /ndigenous youth is part of the El Questro vision, and the property hosts a number of annual camps to support young /ndigenous people from the region coming together to share culture and learning,”
Grant Wilckens, Chief Executive Officer of the G’day Group
El Questro Homestead is a luxury base from which guests can explore the property and beyond by 4WD, helicopter, boat or on foot, learning about the region’s abundant wildlife and endemic flora along the way.
The Savannah Guides network of professional tour guides and tourism operators – of which El Questro is a member – fosters ecologically sensitive interpretive tourism. Members of the organisation must demonstrate a commitment to conservation values and meet strict standards of operation. Savannah Guides are dedicated to passing on their extensive knowledge of the Kimberley to visitors.
El Questro’s rangers customise itineraries for guests that may incorporate a guided private cruise along the three-kilometre-long Chamberlain Gorge, watching for wildlife such as rock wallabies, Johnston crocodiles and archer fish; or an early morning bird-watching excursion spotting some of the hundred bird species on the property, such as the resident pair of dancing brolgas or the endangered Gouldian finch.
EL QUESTRO HOMESTEAD CONSERVATION EXPERIENCES
OUR LITTLE WHITE BOOK
The Luxury Lodges of Australia brochure has become a treasured and widely recognisable ‘go to’ for Australian experiential luxury, enjoyed both online and in printed form at our lodges. The brochure is available to view or download in eight languages below.