“There is something very joyous about breathing in fresh air, watching kangaroos bounding along, soaring eagles, emus drinking at a spring on the property with their young.”
Guest
Slow down & witness the natural ebb & flow of the seasons.
As with everything in nature, nothing is scripted and sighting variations is where magic happens. This nature calendar barely touches the sides of what you’ll come across on your Wild Bush Luxury experience with us at Arkaba. It’s intended to serve as a good guide on just some of the species you might encounter. There are invariably a great many more! We are forever in awe of nature’s boundlessness.
In summer the days are hot, the landscape is dry and the red dirt of the outback is picturesque and dreamlike, making the quintessential Aussie outback experience a reality.
You’ll be surprised by the diverse range of wildlife that remain active at this time of year. Western Grey Kangaroos are hopping around with joeys in their pouches and if you’re lucky, you might even spot a rare Yellow-Footed Rock Wallaby.
Don’t forget to look up to see the array of colourful migratory bird species like budgerigars and cockatiels that stop in the ranges and marvel at vibrant sunsets created by residual dust in the air.
December’s theatrical storms bring life and motion to the skies around Arkaba, hear the reverberating drum of the thunder and watch sudden strikes of lightening in the distance. Nature, reminding you who reigns supreme in the outback.
The combination of warm days and cool nights make for a fantastic time to explore the Ikara-Flinders ranges.
Late rains bring much needed relief to life and land, with wildflowers beginning to bloom in response, bringing splashes of rainbow colours to the formerly sunburnt horizon.
View the wildlife becoming more active during the middle parts of the day, particularly the reptiles, such as the goanna and bearded dragon that can be seen roaming the land.
Due to the comfortable temperatures, the changing colours of the landscape, and the increased wildlife activity. As the end of the season approaches, the elusive echidna can be spotted venturing out of its burrow, as temperatures become more inviting.
Winter brings warm, dry and cloudless days, making spotting active wildlife an enjoyable experience.
Emus and Wedge-Tailed Eagles are pairing off building nests to accommodate their future offspring.
Male echidnas, as many as eleven, can be spotted in a line following a potential female mate closely. The regeneration cycle continues with the once red horizon, now forming a luscious green carpet covering the land, the environment flourishing with the new hydration.
As the afternoon approaches, the sky puts on a spectacular show, showcasing all the colours of an outback sunset. Come night, as it really cools down, you will be greeted at home with a roaring campfire. Which, paired with a glass of South Australian vino, compliments the evening perfectly.
With warm days and cool evenings, Spring is a spectacular time to visit Arkaba. The start of the season brings rainbows back to Arkaba. Although, to see them don’t look up, look down!
Wildflowers bloom once again and the horizon is patterned by hues of greens, yellows, blues, pinks, and reds of Paper Daisies, Early Nancies and Vanilla Lillies. The abundance and timing of the wildflowers depends entirely on rainfall throughout the year.
The vegetation is lush and signs of life can be seen everywhere. Spot emu chicks as they begin hatching and migratory birds begin to return. Watch as the Wedge-tail eagle chicks hatch between August and September, though starting small, the chicks will grow to become Australia’s largest bird of prey with impressive nest structures that can weigh up to four hundred kilos!
Whenever you experience the ancient landscape of the Ikara-Flinders Ranges and Wild Bush Luxury at Arkaba, you’re not only witnessing an environment in recovery. You’re actively participating in its revival. We adore four distinct seasons each bringing an abundance of flora and fauna at various life-cycle stages. We can’t wait to share the nuances of each with you.
