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#1 of 2 guest houses in Flinders Ranges National Park
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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.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Romantic
Location
Flinders Ranges Way 3134 Arkaba Road, Flinders Ranges National Park, South Australia 5434 Australia
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Arkaba is an Australian safari destination, complete with heritage accommodation, passionate, knowledgeable guides and a team of private chefs. You can opt for: a 3-day walk, staying 2 nights in a luxury camp site; guided day hikes from the homestead, coming home for dinner every night; or simply sit back and let the guides drive you around the stunning property and its equally spectacular local ranges. With only a handful of rooms, you eat meals with the other guests, who rotate regularly. The food is top notch and the chefs do a great job of accommodating dietary requirements. If you need internet, mobile or TV and get bored after a day in nature, Arkaba is NOT for you. The homestead is proudly screen free and entirely focused on its conservancy. If you love bush walking and/or are interested in seeing and learning about the extraordinary local fauna and flora - it's paradise.
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Date of stay: June 2021
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Service
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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.
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.
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Date of stay: September 2022
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Chase or Bart were both very comfortable
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.
Response from Wild Bush Luxury Team, Marketing at Arkaba Homestead
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
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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.
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Date of stay: October 2022
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Service
Sleep Quality
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.
We booked at the Homestead for 3 nights in March and left after 2. We wanted to love this small hotel in the bush, however, found very little of interest. Perhaps, the problem was the timing of our visit. We went during a period of severe drought. We had looked forward to the game drives, but were disappointed. The only wildlife evident were some very ragged looking kangaroos.They truly looked stressed by the drought and heat. Yes, the owners are trying to restore the habitat that was destroyed by years of ranching, but they have a long way to go and the existing scene was very brown and desolate. We enjoyed the sunset drive, with views over the Flinders Range, but once was enough. We were driven to a National Park for a nature walk, but with the drought, it wasn't particularly interesting.
Our room, in the main building was nice, with a large bath. However, the door to the room opened directly into the lounge, providing a public view of our bed and my napping husband.
The quality of the food was good, though I think quantity could improve. As the menus are set, you eat what you are served. That was not a problem, as we are not picky eaters. For our seated lunch one day, we were offered a salad with some duck on it, followed by a sorbet. That was it. It seems that a soup and bread or something else would have made the meal more satisfying for people with bigger appetites.
I have delayed this review, as I feel terrible about writing something negative. The staff were lovely and everyone is trying very hard to make the guests comfortable. We made an excuse aout having to visit a friend in Melbourne to explain our early exit in an effort to not cause hurt feelings. After a lot of thought, I finally decided to make these comments, as I don't believe the place is really worth the 4 1/2 hour drive from Adelaide.
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Date of stay: March 2019
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
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.
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Date of stay: September 2022
Room Tip:try and get one that doesn't open directly onto a communal area
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.
Response from Wild Bush Luxury Team, Marketing at Arkaba Homestead
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
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
For peace and quiet you can’t do better than Arkaba Homestead. Set in 60,000 acres of former sheep station this is the site of an ambitious conservation project aiming to restore land ravaged by Western agricultural practices to its native glory. The Homestead is well furnished and comfortable (there is A/C) and has a cracking team of chefs and a covetable wine cellar and drinks cabinet. The staff: John, Bruce, Lisa, Kelvin amongst others were great company. All committed to the cause with enthusiasm and knowledge. Due to the high temperatures our exploration was with Bruce in a Land Cruiser getting to see the corners of the estate with their individual ecosystems. Don’t worry about modern day distractions as there is no mobile signal, internet or light pollution. Relax and enjoy nature in a way few of us can at home. It was a privilege to share this with the Arkaba team albeit just for a few days. Thank you.
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:This is unique, go for it. There is a decent sized pool too.
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.
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.
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Date of stay: June 2022
Cleanliness
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Sleep Quality
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.
Response from Wild Bush Luxury Team, Marketing at Arkaba Homestead
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.
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The remote luxury homestead is a great escape with opportunities for day hikes and overnight trips staying in perfectly positioned glamping sites. Iconic Aussie landscape and guides are extraordinarily informative. I went for the hiking and fitness and dose of outback - the wonderful service, food and wine and every need catered for were a bonus. I would recommend for the serenity aspect, the vision the owners have for the area, and the overall attentive service and would consider going again.
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Date of stay: October 2021
Rooms
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Sleep Quality
Room Tip:The 'coach' room outside is most private but my room towards the back of the house was great
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.
Unable to complete the 3 day walk due to a foot injury sustained before the walk the staff were very accommodating in allowing me to travel to the camps by 4 wheel drive with Adi through the stunning scenery of the Flinders Ranges and then join the rest of the group for meals and overnighting. Bruce, the guide, is passionate about conservation and shared his wealth of knowledge with all of the group. The amenities in the camps and at the Homestead were fabulous as was the food including an amazing last night dinner. The team at Arkaba deserve a huge pat on the back.
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Date of stay: March 2024
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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.
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!
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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.
Response from Wild Bush Luxury Team, Marketing at Arkaba Homestead
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
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Hi,
the price for a double room is $1,632 (for 2 people). That includes all meals, all beverages (including premium South Australian wines and a wide selection of spirits) and all guided activities on the conservancy. With only 5 rooms and a maximum of 10 people that can stay at any one time, the real luxury comes from the fact that you effectively have 60,000 acres of Arkaba's private wildlife conservancy to yourself and the field guides will be able to tailor activities to your interests.
There are more places to choose from in the Flinders Ranges National Park area.
PRICE RANGE
AU$1,995 - AU$2,415 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Wild Bush Luxury
LOCATION
AustraliaSouth AustraliaFlinders RangesFlinders Ranges National Park
NUMBER OF ROOMS
5
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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