Arkaba
Flinders Rangers
1st April 2021
Why we love it
Arkaba Homestead is an oasis of comfort and style amidst a harsh and rugged landscape.
In true Wild Bush Luxury style, the Arkaba Homestead pays homage to its rich pastoral and exploration heritage in a manner that is both rustically chic and utterly exclusive.
Your hosts ensure a friendly and personal level of service that is typically ‘down to earth’ but does not lose sight of the attention to the small details that are so important in delivering an outstanding outback experience.
The Flinders Ranges were originally inhabited by the Adnyamathanha (Hill People) thousands of years ago, and many still reside there today.
Cave paintings, rock engravings and other artifacts indicate they have lived in the region for tens of thousands of years. The area and its people played an integral part in the long-distance trade routes that crossed the continent. Ochre and pituri, a mildly narcotic drug, were traded along with stones used to make axes and tools, and shells which were used for decoration.
Important archaeological sites including ochre quarries (ochre is used as a paint decoration in ceremonies), rock quarries and art sites have been found among the hills and valleys of the Flinders.
Food
Hosted dinners and sharing stories with field guides and fellow guests provide an atmosphere more akin to staying with friends in the country or at a safari lodge.
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 corner of the garden provides a great spot to retire to after dinner with a glass of wine or port to watch the stars appear over this ancient landscape.
Arkaba has adopted a ‘buy local’ principle and the head chef uses the very best of South Australia’s produce to craft the food program with a few native elements to add a unique intrigue and interest.
The menu may include mouth-watering dishes such as: Twice cooked Berkshire pork belly served on port wine braised radicchio, apple Perry puree and glazed muntries (native cranberries); panfried scallops served with pea puree, champagne sabayon, Yarra valley caviar and Barossa valley prosciutto; or butternut pumpkin and goats cherve tortellini served with a walnut Beurre noisette and crisp sage.
A purely South Australian wine cellar has been selected to showcase a cross-section of wine growing regions with the grape varieties for which they are best known. The bar is completely open and the chef will adapt very specifically to guest tastes and needs.
Destination
The Flinders Ranges is quite simply an epic outback road trip par excellence; filmic landscapes, cute bush towns that time almost forgot and one of the world’s most incredible land formations at it’s heart: Wilpena Pound
One of the most accessible outback destinations in Australia. Nestled within the Flinders Ranges in South Australia and framed by the walls of Wilpena Pound and the Elder Range, Arkaba offers some of Australia’s most spectacular outback scenery.
Surrounded by the arid wasteland of the great salt lakes, an ancient seabed has been sculpted by millions of years of rain and sun into a fractured, furrowed landscape of deep valleys covered with casuarinas and cypress pines which fall into creek beds lined with river red gums.
Experiences
The field guides are essential in delivering an immersive wilderness experience through their interpretation and knowledge of the flora, fauna and geology of the Flinders country.
Your immersive stay at Arkaba includes approximately 7-hours of daily guided exploration across the 60,000 acre property. The field guides pull together the incredible geological history, wildlife and pastoral heritage of this region with a range of activities that gives you a chance to take in the sights and sounds of the bush.
All activities maximise wildlife viewing potential in the varying terrains, take in some massive vistas, and encourage being out at the best times of day for beautiful light shows – early morning & late afternoon (throughout the year).
Please note: Unless private experiences are arranged in advance, activities will be with other Homestead guests and therefore they may have a schedule in place prior to arrival.
Private experiences ensures full attention to individual interests and is highly recommended for serious birders and photographers.
Accommodation
JUST FIVE GUESTROOMS - The original layout of 1850s’ homestead has been retained, delightfully making all of the five guestrooms unique. Each has its own character and all have ensuite bathrooms and open out onto a shaded verandah with individual views of the surrounding ranges. Four are located in the homestead, while the Coachman’s Cottage in the corner of the garden provides a fifth guestroom and is ideal for honeymooners.
The rooms are air conditioned / heated and the mix of king and twin beds have premium mattresses, organic cotton sheets and a choice of pillows to ensure a great night’s sleep.
A comfortable library with deep leather armchairs and a large stone fireplace provides seclusion for enjoying a quiet drink and a good book, while dinner is hosted on the terrace overlooking the ranges. In the heat of summer, the swimming pool overlooking the Arkaba Creek is a welcome retreat after a morning or day spent exploring the bush.
Getting there
The are many different ways to get to Arkaba;
5 hours’ drive from central Adelaide (assuming no significant stops along the way). Make a day of it and visit scenic stops along the way (see Hit the Road section below).
120 minute private charter flight from Adelaide and the same amount of time to Kangaroo Island. Private charter flights land at Hawker airstrip and are met by Arkaba hosts for the short 20 minute drive to the homestead.
1 ¼ hours’ drive from Port Augusta (scheduled flights operate between Adelaide and Port Augusta with Regional Express Airlines on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday)
2 ¼ hours drive from Whyalla (scheduled flights operate between Adelaide and Whyalla with Regional Express Airlinesand Qantas on daily)
Private guided road transfer hosted by a local guide passing through the Clare Valley and can include wine tastings and lunch.
Private air and road transfers are available on request.
