Arkaba Walk

Land Tour

5 days

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Arkaba Walk
  • About
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  • Itinerary
  • Location

$AUD 855 per day

Departure: Adelaide, Australia

Arrival: Adelaide, Australia

Adventure

Set against the backdrop of the Elder Range and Wilpena Pound in South Australia's Flinders Ranges, the Arkaba Walk is an opportunity to experience the sights and sounds, the scale and the space of outback Australia in a style that is exclusive and authentic. Our bush luxury philosophy brings a team of passionate guides and a few key creature comforts to an immersive bush experience.
Arkaba's skilled guides lead the small groups over the 3 days of walking, sharing their passion and knowledge of the landscape, geology, pioneering history and abundant wildlife, which includes emus, kangaroos, wallaroos, many bird species and the rare Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby.
Walks are supported by a vehicle and staff member, who transfer all the bedding and personal gear between camps, so that walkers carry only a daypack. Evening meals draw on the finest and freshest produce, with some local bush tucker influences, accompanied by fine South Australian wines.
About
4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners, and trail snacks
All beverages including beer and wine
2 nights accommodation in luxury permanent camps and 2 nights in homestead, twin share
Professional walking guide and support team
Basic toiletries - soap and shampoo
Use of a 30L day pack with inbuilt 2.5L water bladder
Return group road transfer from Adelaide (needs 4 people to run or a supplement for a private transfer will apply)
All entrance and National Park fees
Emergency communications and group first aid kit
Walking poles and sock protectors
Basic toiletries
Conservation Levy directly contributing to wildlife conservation programs
Support vehicle for transporting your luggage between camps
Hightlights
Arkaba Walk is a trip of the Great Walks of Australia
Traverse the ancient and spectaclar Flinders Ranges
Spend your first and last evenings relaxing in Arkaba’s exclusive luxury lodge with panoramas of Wilpena Pound and the Elder Range
Relax around the campfire, indulging in a three-course camp dinners with fine South Australian wines
View local wildlife including emus, kangaroos, wallaroos, many bird species and the rare Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby

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Itinerary
Day 1 - Meet at Adelaide airport or hotel, road transfer to the Flinders Ranges and Arkaba
Meet your guide in the arrivals hall at Adelaide at 9.30am sharp on day 1. Alternatively, if you have stayed in Adelaide, you will be met in the lobby of your centrally located hotel between 09:30 and 10:00am, before hitting the open road to Arkaba. Heading north from Adelaide, you will bypass the small country towns of Virgina, Two Wells and Dublin. Keep an eye out for the imaginative collection of large sculptures along the highway, made by way of protesting the development of a waste facility in the small town. Stop for lunch on the banks of Bumbunga Lake. Following a quick break, your journey will take you past the infamous Snowtown, Redhill, Port Pirie and Port Germein before another short stop in the historic railway town of Quorn. From here, Arkaba is about an hour away, and you will arrive to Arkaba Homestead by 5pm in time to freshen up before your guided lay of the land experience and a three course meal hosted by one of Arkaba’s field guides.
Day 2 - Arkaba Homestead to Black’s Gap Camp, approximately 13km, 4-5 hours
Breakfast will ensure you are sufficiently fueled and ready to explore before our 35 minute drive to our starting point. The distance today is approximately 13km, from Wilpena Resort into Wilpena Pound, crossing the interior of the Pound before the brief ascent to the rim of the Pound. From here, overlook Arkaba Conservancy and the route for the next three days. From here, enter the Arkaba Wilderness and descend off the lip of the Pound to Black’s Gap Camp.
Expect to walk into camp at the foot of Wilpena Pound at around 5.30pm, in time to settle in; take a hot shower and enjoy a cuppa or something a little stronger, while enjoying the evening light on the Pound behind camp. Our camp is located between Bunbinyana Range and Wilpena Pound, on a site previously occupied by a shepherd in the late 1850s. His stone chimney place still exists and we camp overlooking the creek where he used to take his water. Our guide and camp assistant will prepare a three-course camp dinner, taken al fresco under the evening sky and accompanied by fine wine and some interesting tales about Arkaba and the Flinders area. Turn in to our deluxe swags and enjoy a night under a canopy of stars.
Day 3 - Black’s Gap Camp to Elder Camp, approximately 14-15km, 6-7 hours
Today’s walk covers a magnificent 14-15km of distance - again, depending on fitness and interest we will vary the route accordingly. This day is arguably the most scenic, as we move out from Black’s Gap into the rolling hills and more open vistas.
The first 2km of the hike will follow the famous Heysen Trail through Black’s Gap itself. Today’s section of the walk provides fascinating insight into the pastoral history of the region, passing through areas that once were cultivated for wheat, pausing at old shepherds’ camps and mustering yards, with Red and Grey Kangaroos and emus all regular sightings. The last leg of the day will take us slightly West into the hills and up to the very base of the Elder Range among beautiful stands of Native Cypress Pine trees.
Our luggage and swags will have been transported by vehicle to our new camp - Elder Camp - and we will again expect to arrive into camp around 5.30pm in time for a hot shower, a 3 course dinner and another beautiful night under the stars.
Day 4 - Elder Camp to Homestead, approximately 14-15km, 6-7 hours
Wake to the glorious morning light on the Elder Range directly ahead and above you. After a nourishing breakfast and pack up, set out on the next leg of the journey. Depending on the group’s fitness and ability, the day will cover a minimum of 10km – with some diversion to points of interest and lookouts, this is more likely to be around 14-15km on the day. The pace will be unhurried, with plenty of time to stop for photographs, bird watching, botanising and discussion. We will again traverse multiple habitats today, as we move south east – the first few kilometres will be amongst the hill country at the foot of the Elder Range, traversing mature Mallee and Native Pine forests as we cross Slaty Creek. This creek holds water well into the dry season and sometimes offers the opportunity to drink from crystal clear, ice cold springs. From here, we progress up to the ridge top of the beautiful Red Range before beginning our descent to Arkaba Creek. The riverbank is home to hundreds of magnificent River Red Gums, and is quite spectacular. With strategic stops along the way for rests and relaxing lunch in a shady spot, we will expect to arrive at our final destination – Arkaba homestead, in early-mid afternoon.
Once again our luggage will precede us into the homestead. Enjoy a taste of wild bush luxury at Arkaba homestead: a beautifully prepared meal and some excellent South Australian wines in a quintessentially Australian outback setting before retiring for your final night.
Day 5 - Arkaba Homestead, return transfer to Adelaide
Enjoy breakfast at the Arkaba Homestead before departing at 8:30am for your scenic overland transfer to Adelaide via South Australia’s Clare Valley wine country. We’ll make our way through the historic outback towns of Quorn, Wilmington, Mount Remarkable and Melrose, all famous for their nature filled valleys and riverbeds. Lined with massive River Red Gum trees, the land around these towns is home to a multitude of native Australian animals and birds.
Head from Melrose into the beautiful Clare Valley, a region famous for its wines. We enjoy lunch and some wine tasting (naturally!) before continuing south through the Adelaide Hills, arriving at Adelaide Airport at approximately 5pm. Please arrange your departing flights from 6pm, to allow enough time for check-in. Alternatively, if you are staying on in Adelaide we are happy to arrange to drop you at your city located hotel with our compliments.
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