Arkaba

Arkaba’s true luxury is delivered by the fact that its 60,000 acres are shared by just 10 guests, taking the definition of exclusivity to a new level in Australia.  Located in the ancient and awe-inspiring grand scale landscape of the Flinders Ranges, Arkaba is a genuine blend of conservation and tourism.

Flanked by the strikingly beautiful Elder and Chase Ranges and Rawnsley Bluff, Arkaba is recognised one of the most beautiful outback properties in the country.  Arkaba has an Aboriginal history going back thousands of years and a geological history that dates back hundreds of millions of years.

Arkaba’s settler history stretches back to the 1850s and one of the property’s earliest guests was John McDouall Stuart on his epic first crossing of the continent.

Formerly a sheep station and now a private conservancy, Arkaba provides the opportunity for guests to immerse themselves in the story of the bush – its ancient geology, diverse wildlife and the chance to get ‘hands on’ with the conservation programs of the property.  Arkaba’s team of expert field guides live and breathe the bush and through a mix of guided walks, open top safari drives and sheer passion, they will open up the secrets of one of Australia’s most fascinating and spectacular landscapes.

The homestead’s 5 ensuite bedrooms have been tastefully restored in tune with the property’s pioneering history and, in tune with Wild Bush Luxury’s understated yet cleverly up-cycled Australian style, a stay is more like staying with friends in the country than a typical luxury hotel.

"You might come to Arkaba for the wild, open spaciousness of the outback, the sense of being far away from everything, the chance to dine under the stars. But your presence here is not just about you. It's helping to fund a transformation ... returning the land to its natural state, and turning a 150-year-old sheep station into a private wildlife reserve" Louise Southerden, Sydney Morning Herald.

Stay

Each of Arkaba’s 5 bedrooms open out onto a shaded verandah with individual views of the surrounding ranges.  In early morning, the sight from the breakfast table as the rugged peaks of the Elder range are set alight by the morning sun provides a teaser for what the rest of the property has in store.

With décor by wildlife artist, Rosie Woodford-Ganf, - think bedheads fashioned from recycled fence posts and fleeces, curtains tied back by gum nut tassels, lights perched on explorers’ tripod theodolites – the homestead retains a sense of history and place, paired with understated rustic-chic style.

As the layout of the original homestead has been retained, each room has a character of its own and has been named after early settlers, explorers or property owners.  Four bedrooms are housed in the main homestead while the Coach House is a delightful stone cottage in the corner of the garden for those who may prefer a little more seclusion.
In the heat of the summer, the swimming pool and deck is a welcome retreat after a morning or day spent exploring the bush.

Rates are inclusive of chef prepared meals, beverages and daily guided wilderness activities on the property (4WD safaris, wildlife viewing, daily guiding).

The property has a two night minimum stay and is open all year round.

Experience

Although settled by Europeans in the 1850s, Arkaba has an Aboriginal history going back thousands of years and a geological history that dates back hundreds of millions of years.  It was in the Flinders that the very first soft bodied multi-celled organisms (the Ediacaran fauna) we are aware of today were first discovered. Today a walk on Arkaba is a walk through Australia’s geological history, with the exposed rock strata revealing Australia’s journey through time.

Arkaba’s wildlife is prolific – with Australia’s three largest macropods (Red Kangaroo, Western Grey Kangaroo and Common Wallaroo) all regular sightings. The country’s most endangered macropod, the Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby, has also returned to Arkaba’s range since the introduction of active conservation programs.

For those keen to learn more of the challenges Australia faces in saving its diversity of wildlife, join one of Arkaba’s field guides one evening to track a radio collared feral cat or set up the trip cameras that monitor key sites across the property. The tourism dollars that are spent at Arkaba go straight back into wildlife conservation on the property and an ever improving wilderness experience.

For the more active, Arkaba offers some of the best bushwalking in the country; for the soft adventurers, an open top safari drive reveals the vistas and secrets of the property in a different way, usually capped off with a sundowner drink on top of the ranges with the scale and grandeur of outback Australia laid out for miles around.

Food and Wine

South Australia is one of Australia’s great culinary stories: - its soils and clean air providing the key natural parameters for fresh and innovative produce.

Arkaba has adopted a ‘buy local’ principle with its food and wine sourced entirely from South Australian producers and the chef working his own local touches to the menu.

Arkaba’s real luxury comes with the fact that it is small and therefore intensely personal – hosted dinners and sharing stories with guides and fellow guests provide an atmosphere more akin to staying with friends in the country, or a private safari lodge.  A purely South Australian wine cellar has been selected to showcase a cross-section of premium wine-growing regions and the grape varieties for which they are best known and respected. The bar is completely open and the chef will adapt very specifically to guest tastes and needs.

Dining around an old wool classing table on the outdoor terrace with the ever-changing light and sounds of the bush all around is a special and uniquely Australian experience. A firepit in the garden provides a great spot to retire after dinner with a glass of wine or port to watch the stars appear over this ancient landscape.