Arkaba
An ancient landscape moulded by millions of years of geological activity, the Flinders Ranges offers some of Australia's most spectacular outback scenery.
Arkaba’s 60,000 acre private conservancy is home to a wondrous variety of birds and wildlife and a remarkable conservation story.
Dating back to the 1850s, Arkaba Homestead’s five ensuite bedrooms have been tastefully restored in tune with the property’s pioneering history. With Wild Bush Luxury’s understated Australian style, the homestead pays homage to this rich pastoral and exploration heritage in a style that is both rustically chic and utterly exclusive.
Your hosts will ensure a friendly and personal level of attention 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 real luxury at Arkaba comes in sharing this spectacular conservancy with just a handful of other guests.
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. Arkaba’s real luxury comes with the fact that it is small and therefore intensely personal – hosted dinners and sharing stories with field 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 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.
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.
Originally 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. Today a walk on Arkaba is a walk through Australia’s geological history, with the exposed rock strata revealing Australia’s journey through time from an ancient seabed to mighty mountain range.
Arkaba’s wildlife is prolific – with Australia’s three largest macropods (Red Kangaroo, Western Grey Kangaroo and Common Wallaroo) all regular sightings. The near threatened Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby has also returned to Arkaba’s range since the introduction of active conservation programs.
For the 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.
+44 (0) 1608 638777
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