Arkaba Conservancy

Rooms

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 European 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 day on safari. In winter, wind down with a roaring fireplace and exchange stories with fellow guests. Rates are inclusive of meals, bottomless beverages and daily guided wilderness activities on the property.

Location

The Ikara-Flinders Ranges offer one of the most accessible Outback destinations in Australia — just a four and a half hour drive north, or a one-hour flight from Adelaide or Kangaroo Island, four-hour drive from the vineyards of the Barossa Valley, a three-hour drive from the Clare Valley wine region and little over an hour from Port Augusta. This is where the Outback begins, giving way to a fractured and furrowed landscape of deep valleys covered with casuarinas and native cypress pines which fall into creek beds lined with ancient river red gums and is home to a huge array of birds and animals.

Food and drink

Arkaba’s real luxury comes with the fact that it is small and therefore intensely personal. Breakfasts are a communal affair, hosted at the homestead's kitchen table and the open-plan kitchen encourages interaction with the chef. The outdoor terrace is the usual setting for a hosted dinner, with meals based on contemporary Australian cuisine with a few native elements to add a unique intrigue and interest. 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.

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. A purely South Australian wine cellar has been selected to showcase a cross-section of premium wine-growing regions and revered grape varieties. The bar is completely open and the chef will adapt and accommodate very specifically to guest tastes and needs.

Families

Arkaba welcomes children of eight years and above and offer engaging activities for young ones to connect with the natural environment. An application for exception may be made when guests travel with their nanny to care for younger children. In this instance, an exclusive use booking is essential.