Arkaba Walk

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 09:50 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.

Meals:  L,D

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.

Meals:  B,L,D

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.

Meals:  B,L,D

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.

Meals:  B,L,D

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.

Meals:  B,L