Arkaba’s beautifully restored 1850’s homestead, welcoming just ten guests at a time, is surrounded by 60,000 acres of privately-owned and carefully protected outback. Nestled within the Flinders Ranges, a five-hour drive from Adelaide, the unusual blend of semi-arid and temperate habitats supports 1,200 species of plants, including bullock bush and narrow-leafed emu bush, and nearly 300 species of birds. Against the dramatic backdrop of the Elders Range and Wilpena Pound, ancient sea beds and arid salt lakes have given way to spectacular rock formations, cypress pines and river red gums; this is an ancient landscape where kangaroo mobs, emus and colonies of yellow-footed rock wallaby roam free.
Committed to conservation and inspiring guests to value nature’s beauty, ‘Arkaba’ in the local indigenous dialect means land of abundance. In the Flinders Ranges alone, since European settlement 150 years ago, nearly 24 of the 58 native mammals have become locally extinct. For over seven years Arkaba’s focus has been to reverse the detrimental effects of livestock-grazing by regenerating habitats and welcoming back native species. Efforts include removing sheep stock, eradicating feral species like goats, foxes and cats (which can claim the lives of between four to 20 native creatures per night) and restoring vegetation, under the Native Vegetation Council’s Significant Environment Benefits Grant.
Environmental awareness and conservation are integral to the Wild Bush Luxury guest experience. Guests to Arkaba can choose to stay in the homestead for a few days or join the fantastic Arkaba Walk (a 4-day/3-night guided bush walk through Flinders Ranges that concludes at the Arkaba homestead). Guests to Arkaba can enjoy safari drives, walking and stargazing, as well as more hands-on activities such as tracking feral cats, setting up trip cameras and joining biologists on land surveys and vegetation identification. With just five rooms, Arkaba’s homestead is not only a romantic retreat for couples but a homely base for families hungry for adventure in the bush — interactive activities draw kids (from the age of 8) into the conservation ethos. Commitment to a light footprint extends throughout the homestead’s operations — water is bottled onsite, energy consumption is reduced where possible, and cleaning materials are eco-certified.
Read more at thelongrun.org/arkaba/
