Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary

Another destination ticked off my bucket list and will be back. Seriously out there with all the comfort you may need to have a great stay. Our chalets were very well equipped and our beds comfortable with air conditioning. After a fantastic trip through the mountains on back of UTE the large, clean pool was a very welcome sight. An evening barbecue under the stars was magical and a meal ta their restaurant the next day was specially made and you could taste it. My favourite thing were the Yellow Footed Wallabies that pop out every night.

Terrible, we went to stay recently for 1 night initially. Drove in and went to reception area to book unpowered site which was $41 for 2 adults and 16 year old. Price not great, considering the aged ammenities. With that said it wasn’t a ridiculous price. During the book in process we specifically asked if there were showers and toilets, to which we were told yes. We also initially asked the pricing of an unpowered site to be told it was about this (no concise price given just a rough price). However when we went ahead to book in it was strange that the staff member then knew the exact price which was slightly dearer than he had just told us. So we just paid for the unpowered site and went to a site, which was simply a rocky patchy area. Understand that is the terrain, but the camping areas could have a road base material there for tents and camper trailers. We initially parked up and went to go to the toilet before setting up, to find every single toilet male & female were out of order. Also every shower was out of order. Upon coming out of the toilets another guest advised that they had been out of action all day. The time was 4.45pm when we found this out. There were staff huddled around an area that was dug up, but no activity happening that would give the impression they were going to have the problem fixed any time soon. Bare in mind we specifically asked if there were showers and toilets, we then went back to reception to find out what the situation was with the toilets and showers, too which remarkably the same staffer then said Oh they are out of order and being worked on. Like it had just slipped his mind when we specifically asked about them. He knew they were not operating when we asked and when we he took our money simply neglected to tell us. We then decided to not stay and get a refund due to there not being any ammenities. To which he was forthcoming with the refund, but then slipped back to the rough pricing when he refunded us. And tried to refund us only $30 of the $41 we paid. When pointed out, made a silly joke about it and then refunded us the full amount. All the meanwhile several other staff were in The vicinity, and numerous other travellers were coming I. To book sites, approx 10 lots of people lined up. No one was in any rush to help at the counter and get people through the line up. The display area with merchandise and few grocery items etc was poorly stocked, with next to nothing on the old shelves looking very second rate. Would not recommend the place to stay, they seemed happy to take your money regardless of whether they had the facilities they were charging you for there and working or not. No instructions even given to get to the site, had to ask for them. For a place so hyped up on tourism it was disgraceful the outdated facilities there working or not. A couple of days later we stayed at Wilpena Pound and got to see the difference between the professionally run Wilpena Pound to the second rate amateur run Arkaroola.

Landscape is spectacular, but don’t camp or caravan at this caravan park. Facilities are extremely tired, bathrooms are filthy, no water pressure to shower. No hot water in camp kitchen. Very much below standard to what is expected in a caravan park. Upon arrival had to move our camp in the powered section due to the neighbouring caravans grey water flooding our area. Amenities very ordinary, lack of cleaning and maintenance. Caravan park is sitting on a hill, not sure how a large van would even set up there. After an horrific night of 80km winds combined with the poor facilities opted to leave after one night. Requested a refund due to inadequate facilities, was told too bad we don’t offer refunds. Asked for maps and advice on drives and walks, but as the customer service is run by backpackers - received no help at all.