ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIA

We acknowledge and pay respect to the Adnyamathanha people, the traditional custodians of the land upon which Arkaba Homestead stands. In sharing elements of their history, heritage and culture we acknowledge the Adnyamathanha people of Ikara (Flinders Ranges) and their connections to Country.

We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and emerging. 

LOCATION

Flinders Ranges is the largest mountain range in South Australia, which starts approximately 200 km north-west of Adelaide. The discontinuous ranges stretch for over 430 km from Port Pirie to Lake Callabonna. The Flinders Ranges National Park is some 450km north of Adelaide.

CLIMATE

The Flinders Ranges generally enjoy clear sunny days all year round. This results in cool winters with many frosty nights. Light snow has been recorded on the tallest peaks. Summers are characteristically hot and dry but extreme heat is rare. Most of the area receives an average of 250 to 300mm of rain a year. The maximum of around 350mm falls in a small area centred around Wilpena Pound. Most of the rain falls during the winter months but the falls from summer thunderstorms and monsoonal influences can be very significant in some years.

 

Flinders Ranges

ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIA

We acknowledge and pay respect to the Adnyamathanha people, the traditional custodians of the land upon which Arkaba Homestead stands. In sharing elements of their history, heritage and culture we acknowledge the Adnyamathanha people of Ikara (Flinders Ranges) and their connections to Country.

We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and emerging. 

LOCATION

Flinders Ranges is the largest mountain range in South Australia, which starts approximately 200 km north-west of Adelaide. The discontinuous ranges stretch for over 430 km from Port Pirie to Lake Callabonna. The Flinders Ranges National Park is some 450km north of Adelaide.

CLIMATE

The Flinders Ranges generally enjoy clear sunny days all year round. This results in cool winters with many frosty nights. Light snow has been recorded on the tallest peaks. Summers are characteristically hot and dry but extreme heat is rare. Most of the area receives an average of 250 to 300mm of rain a year. The maximum of around 350mm falls in a small area centred around Wilpena Pound. Most of the rain falls during the winter months but the falls from summer thunderstorms and monsoonal influences can be very significant in some years.

 

“To walk at Arkaba is to take a journey through 500 million years of geological time, tens of thousands of years of Aboriginal history and two centuries of European settlement. And to see the Australian landscape with new eyes.”

An ancient landscape moulded by millions of years of geological activity, the Ikara-Flinders Ranges offers some of Australia's most striking outback scenery. The spectacular mountain range is the largest in South Australia and stretches for over 430 km. Its most characteristic landmark is Wilpena Pound, a large, sickle-shaped, natural amphitheatre covering nearly 80 square kilometres, containing the range's highest peak, St Mary Peak (1170m), and adjoining the Flinders Ranges National Park. 

The name Wilpena is an Aboriginal word meaning 'bent fingers', which describes the shape of the range. Ikara is the Aboriginal name for the Flinders Ranges meaning 'meeting place.' Ikara-Flinders Ranges holds strong cultural significance for the local Adnyamathanha people.

The region is vastly arid, giving way to a fractured and furrowed landscape of deep valleys covered with casuarinas and cypress pines which fall into creek beds lined with ancient river red gums and is home to a huge array of birds and animals.

The Ikara -Flinders Ranges offer one of the most accessible outback destinations in Australia - just 4.5 hours drive or 1 hour's flight from Adelaide or Kangaroo Island, 4 hours drive from the hills and valleys of the Barossa, 3 hours drive from the Clare Valley wine region and little over an hour from Port Augusta.

Ancient grand scale landscapes

Ancient grand scale landscapes
Located in the ancient and awe-inspiring grand scale landscape of the Flinders Ranges, Arkaba is a genuine blend of conservation and tourism. Watch video »

Arkaba

Arkaba
Formerly a sheep station and now a private conservancy, Arkaba provides the opportunity for guests to immerse themselves in the story of the bush – its ancient geology, diverse wildlife and the chance to get ‘hands on’ with the conservation programs of the property. Find out more »

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