About

5.0

#1 of 2 guest houses in Flinders Ranges National Park

Location

Cleanliness

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Value

Arkaba Conservancy is one of Australia's most exclusive outback stays, a Wild Bush Luxury property in South Australia's Flinders Ranges.

A maximum of just ten guests at a time share this remote 63,000 acre private wildlife conservancy dedicated to the conservation of Australia’s unique wildlife and birds. Mobs of kangaroos, emus and other abundant wildlife will delight you on safaris through spectacular ancient landscapes, where expert field guides will immerse you in the story of the bush.

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Property amenities

Free parking

Pool

Outdoor pool

Free breakfast

Bar / lounge

Hiking

Airport transportation

Non-smoking hotel

Room features

Air conditioning

Room types

Non-smoking rooms

Good to know

HOTEL CLASS

HOTEL STYLE

Great View

Location

50Car recommended

Grade: 50 out of 100

2Restaurantswithin 10 km

5Attractionswithin 10 km

Flinders Ranges Way, Flinders Ranges National Park, South Australia 5434 Australia

See all nearby hotels

Nearby restaurants

Flinders Food Co

216 reviews

5 min

The Old Ghan Restaurant

44 reviews

10 minAustralian

See all nearby restaurants

Nearby attractions

Flinders Ranges National Park

4 minSpeciality & Gift Shops

See all nearby attractions

127Reviews1Q+A24Room tips

Reviews
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AradTraveler wrote a review Nov 2023

Boston, Massachusetts187 contributions77 helpful votes

One of a kind place

This is a very special place, feels like you are visiting friends. The rides are hugely informative and the guides excellent, special thanks to Shane who is extremely experienced and passionate about wildlife and conservation. The staff at the house is lovely and the service has the appropriate balance of informality in keep with the setting. Expect to interact with the other guests (Max of 10 guests) during all meals together and some of the rides. The place encourages introspection and appreciation of nature.

Date of stay: October 2023

Value

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Trip type: Travelled as a couple

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Response from Wild Bush Luxury Team, Marketing at Arkaba

Responded 4 weeks ago

Hi Arad - we loved reading your feedback, as you've captured what makes Arkaba so special in our own eyes. We thank you for joining us! We've shared this feedback with the team too. Thank you, and we hope to welcome you back on another Wild Bush Luxury experience soon.

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Sara S wrote a review Oct 2023

1 contribution

You just have to go!

This was “3rd time lucky” for us due to Covid cancellations. But so worth the wait! We were joined by old friends from Canberra & met new friends on the way. The walk is nothing short of spectacular, moving through an ancient & beautiful landscape. Then staying each night at wonderfully well thought out bush camps with amazing 3course meals under the stars! All this under the guidance of our super knowledgeable & funny fearless leader, Shane! Could not imagine anyone better suited to shepherd us city slickers through the bush! The Homestead is beautifully appointed with friendly caring staff & magical views. We could not recommend this experience more highly - you just have to go!

Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Response from Wild Bush Luxury Team, Marketing at Arkaba

Responded 2 Oct 2023

Thank you so much for joining us (and being patient with us around Covid cancellations). Feedback like this makes us incredibly happy, as we're passionate about sharing the magic of the Flinders Ranges with our walking guests. We hope to welcome you back on another Wild Bush Luxury experience someday very soon!

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Kristin K wrote a review July 2023

12 contributions4 helpful votes

Fantastic Outback Adventure!

What a fantastic adventure! We loved our trip to Arkaba Station! Beautiful lodging and fantastic views. Wayne was a terrific guide and helped us experience the wildlife of the outback. The meals were 5-star and this stay was one of the most fun things our family has done together (traveling in Australia this July with 22 yr. old twins from the States). Really loved this experience!

Date of stay: July 2023

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Location

Service

Trip type: Travelled with family

Room Tip: July is great for travel- less snakes and heat!

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Response from Wild Bush Luxury Team, Marketing at Arkaba

Responded 27 July 2023

Thank you for posting your feedback - we are delighted you enjoyed your stay at Arkaba, as we have a passionate team who love sharing this magical part of the world. We hope to welcome you back to Arkaba, or another Wild Bush Luxury experience very soon.

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Richard C wrote a review Apr 2023

Brighton and Hove, United Kingdom132 contributions68 helpful votes

disappointing upmarket safari

We were disappointed with what was expected to be a safari similar to one in Africa. The accommodation was excellent. Food nicely presented, but no choice. Staff very pleasant. The breakfast out on a dawn walk consisted of three bits of cake and some fruit. No breakfast at lodge on return at 9.30am. We were restricted to one drive a day and one early morning walk. The pool was lovely but we were there to see the station, not to sit by the pool. Bird and animal life minimal.

Date of stay: March 2023

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Trip type: Travelled as a couple

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Response from Wild Bush Luxury Team, Marketing at Arkaba

Responded 19 July 2023

Hi there - we're sorry you didn't overly enjoy your Arkaba experience. Our overland drives are similar to Africa in relation to our open-top vehicles hosted by skilled field guides, though our experiences are delivered in a localised style to best explore our outback location with its uniquely Australian flora and fauna. Our Homestead menu is curated weekly (being a remote outback location and relying on our regular supply runs from our selection of Australian producers) though our reservations team gather information on dietaries and requests pre-arrival. I'm sorry to hear you didn't feel there was enough food though, as we often have guests saying there is too much food. We thank you for sharing, so we can share with our small team to continually better our experience. I hope you get to experience the Flinders Ranges another time soon, to view our region's incredible wildlife. The Wild Bush Luxury team,.

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Rania B wrote a review Jan 2023

10 contributions4 helpful votes

+1

Amazing outback escape in the right hands!

After reading the comments in here, I was about to cancel my trip but I decided to move forward and I am GRATEFUL I have done so. We just spent 3 days in Arkaba and it was an amazing experience! Outbacked, you have nothing to take care of, it was a tier one service from the reservation, to the hosting, to the comparable 1 star Michelin food, to the excursions that we have done! You spend 3 days surrounded by Kangourous everywhere in a stunning nature. They make everything to make you happy to to give you the best out of the experience (moonrise breakfast, sunset drinks on the top of the mountain, sur-mesure dinner as we were on Honeymoon). Huge shout out to Guilia who arranged our trip last minute, to The chef for the incredible food, and to Monica who made us discover Arkaba with her heart! I will definitely go back there when I am back to Australia!…

Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Response from Wild Bush Luxury Team, Marketing at Arkaba

Responded 19 July 2023

Thank you so much for sharing this review. Our team love to hear feedback like this, as we're all very passionate in sharing our incredible pockets of remote Australia with our guests. We hope to welcome you back to the Flinders Ranges again, someday soon. The Arkaba team - Wild Bush Luxury

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

robyn r wrote a review Nov 2022

Melbourne, Australia280 contributions135 helpful votes

Luxury Australian Safari

Arkaba offers a luxury “safari-type” experience. The homestead is on private land and has space for 5 or 6 rooms guests (rooms are situated within the homestead) and communal eating areas. The rooms were spacious and beautifully fitted out. There are no locks on the doors or safes. The tours were excellent and we saw a variety of kangaroos (including the beautiful euros) and many bird species. The guides were knowledgeable. The food was spectacular. Easily 2-hat quality. The wine was plentiful and of reasonable quality. We were warmly welcomed and looked after and treated like visitors they knew and had invited to stay.

Date of stay: October 2022

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Jennifer H wrote a review Sept 2022

Victoria, Australia71 contributions68 helpful votes

More like school camp than a luxury resort

Like a previous review, we feel a bit bad about writing something negative. The staff are largely lovely and trying hard, but to be honest, we were not prepared for the style of Arkaba's offering and feel that others should know what they are getting before deciding to fork out the high cost. The rooms are comfortable, but really three star at best. You are told what to do and what to eat, when and with whom. The meals are good and nicely prepared, but there is no choice. We suspect that those with large appetites would be hungry. Unlike similar luxury lodges, there is no food offered between meals (not even a biscuit to have with your coffee). For the price, the wine choices are mediocre at best, but there are unlimited beverages at any time, including Nespresso coffee (but no real coffee machine). The killer for us, however, was the total lack of independence. We were told we could not just walk by ourselves, you must join in the organised activities. If you want to do anything independent you need to leave the property. We would not have chosen Arkaba if we had known this before we arrived. The guides were lovely and trying very hard, but our guide had limited local knowledge. Having said all that, the other guests all seemed happy with the experiences. So maybe our review is simply a heads up for fellow independent travelers. In our opinion, we have had much better outback luxury stays for a fraction of the price.…

Date of stay: September 2022

Room Tip: try and get one that doesn't open directly onto a communal area

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Response from Wild Bush Luxury Team, Marketing at Arkaba

Responded 27 Sept 2022

Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review about your stay at Arkaba. We are sorry your expectations didn’t align with the experience we have created, which is a fully hosted, fully guided experience. Our all-inclusive rates feature daily guided activities that showcase the magic of Arkaba and may include bush walking, 4WD safaris, tracking native wildlife, visiting ancient Aboriginal sites or just soaking up the sights and sounds of the Australian bush. Arkaba’s 60,000 acres were once decimated by sheep farming and our goal is to rewild it and restore it to its original beauty. For this reason, as well as guest safety, we don’t allow guests to explore far from the Homestead unaccompanied. Accommodation is in one of only five guest-rooms at the restored 1850’s Arkaba Homestead, and our hosted dinners shared with field guides and fellow guests aim to provide an atmosphere more akin to staying with friends in the country or a private safari lodge, than a typical luxury hotel. We offer a wide selection of South Australian wine to suit most palates however we will certainly take on board your comments and review our offering. Thank you again for taking the time to write your feedback, we hope you might want to try another Wild Bush Luxury experience at some stage in the future. Thanks, Brooke - Marketing

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

AgentAlfie wrote a review Sept 2022

45 contributions1 helpful vote

+1

Beautiful Scenery, Wildlife a Plenty, Gourmet Food & Wine and an Expert Guide

Begin and end staying at the very comfortable Homestead Lodge. We stayed in two different rooms which was nice for the variety. The food is outstanding. The hard working Chef Beau kept smiling and delivering exceptional meals and there was plenty of grog sourced from mainly SA too. The rooms were very comfortable and felt quite homey. The trek itself was led by Bruce, an expert outdoors man. His knowledge of the wilderness and nature was extraordinary. I learnt so much from Bruce. Throughout the trip he waited for the slower folks and made everyone feel welcome and relaxed. He put in so much effort at the camps with the camp hosts to make sure every detail was not missed. So, if you are looking for a good walk (40ish KM over 3 days) through the most amazing scenery. Happy to stay in a swag and enjoy the night air and stunning views from bed, eat and drink great food and wine and stay in either end at a very comfortable lodge, then this is the trip for you. Thanks to Bruce (in particular), Beau ( the hardest working man in hospo) and the rest of the crew for a great experience.…

Date of stay: September 2022

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Room Tip: Chase or Bart were both very comfortable

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Response from Wild Bush Luxury Team, Marketing at Arkaba

Responded 27 Sept 2022

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review. We are so glad to hear you enjoyed your experience of the Arkaba Walk with the incredible Bruce & Beau. We look forward to welcoming you at another Wild Bush Luxury experience soon. Thanks, Brooke - Marketing

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

T T wrote a review June 2022

1 contribution

Terrible accommodation and offering. Reading the other reviews I can’t believe it is the same place.

The reality of the accommodation and experiential offer does not match the description or the price point. I don’t know how it can have changed so drastically from the other reviews as recently as May 2022, but it could be an alternative reality! I would never recommend this to anyone expecting a luxury stay. Never.

Date of stay: June 2022

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Response from Wild Bush Luxury Team, Marketing at Arkaba

Responded 27 Sept 2022

Thank you for your review, we appreciate you taking the time to share your comments. I am very sorry to hear your time with us didn’t match your expectations and note that our team has already spoken with you regarding your stay.

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Emanpee wrote a review May 2022

Sydney, Australia2805 contributions913 helpful votes

Outstanding hospitality and activity options

This is a superb place to appreciate the beauty and topography of the Flinders Ranges. In luxury accommodation with everything included, food, drink and super keen and helpful guides. This is walking safari aussie style, all day or 2 x half day excursions with return each evening to warm homestead hospitality and a gourmet meal. Nothing to complain about here, just thoroughly enjoy.

Date of stay: May 2022

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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