Flinders Ranges, AustraliaHawker
Arkaba Homestead
Outback conservancy homestead
Hawker Flinders Ranges, Australia
Opened
2009
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Local Luxe HeritageOutside the door
Outback conservancy homestead
The 1850s sheep station operates as a conservation reserve, hosting ten guests for wildlife tracking drives and communal outback dinners.
“its homestead converted into a lodge where visitors can enjoy the outback as it was always meant to be.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Twice-daily safaris and guided walks track native wildlife across sixty thousand conservancy acres.
Notable
Bush-inspired dining served communally alongside an open cellar of South Australian wines.
Notable
An 1850s stone sheep station homestead preserving its original layout and historic woolshed.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
A 19th-century homestead in the Flinders Ranges of South Australia is now a private wildlife sanctuary covering some 60,000 acres of land.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Rugged red peaks and dry creek beds surround the property, and the massive rock basin of Wilpena Pound lies nearby.
The rooms
Bedheads are made from reclaimed fence posts and fleece. Doors open directly onto a wide verandah facing the red ranges.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
An outdoor pool sits in the homestead grounds, with loungers facing straight toward the outback hills.
At the table
Guests gather around an antique wool-sorting table on the terrace for communal dinners cooked with native bush botanicals.
Less-seasoned outdoorsy types should consider bunking down at Arkaba, a working sheep farm with five ultra-luxe, all-inclusive rooms onsite.
How it began
Pastoralists built the stone homestead in 1856, and its owners removed all livestock in 2009 to regenerate the native bush.
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.