The Arid Recovery Reserve is situated approximately 20km north of Roxby Downs, in northern South Australia and is approximately 550km north of Adelaide. The fenced component of the reserve is currently comprised of 123km² of arid land. An additional 200km² of unfenced land adjacent to the Reserve is also being managed to control feral pests. Many habitats are present within the reserve including chenopod, (saltbush/bluebush) inter-dunal swales, sandhill wattle and hop bush dunes, native pine and mulga sandplains, canegrass swamps, canegrass dunes, gibber flats with gilagis and claypans.

The reserve is bordered to the north by Stuart Creek Station, the east by Andamooka and Mulgaria Pastoral Stations, the west by Billa Kalina and Roxby Downs Pastoral Stations and to the south by the Olympic Dam Special Mine Lease. The Dog Fence, which runs through the reserve, was re-aligned with assistance from the Dog Fence Board in 2000 and now forms part of the Arid Recovery fence.

The reserve is situated partly on the Olympic Dam Mine Lease (7km²) and partly on adjoining pastoral properties including Roxby Downs Station (49km²), Mulgaria Station (1km²), and Stuart Creek Station (66km²) leased by BHP Billiton.  The project is within the boundaries of three soil conservation board districts namely Kingoonya, Marla-Oodnadatta and Marree.

In order to facilitate manageable and effective rabbit control, the reserve was gradually fenced in sections until the first 60km² was finally enclosed in December 2000. This area is divided into a main 14km² electrified exclosure where endangered species are first re-introduced, two 8km² expansion areas adjoining the main exclosure and a northern 30km² expansion area. This area has been free of rabbits, cats and foxes since 2001.

An additional 26km² red lake expansion to the north of the reserve was completed a few years ago. This expansion has been fenced with a rabbit, cat and fox proof fence and all rabbits, cats and foxes are currently being removed. The expansion will reduce population pressure within the current reserve and provide unique opportunities for further research into rabbit control methods, predator prey-interactions and dispersal mechanisms from the current reserve, such as a one way gate system. In 2008, a further 37km² was fenced to the north of the red lake expansion and this area is currently being used as a dingo pen experiment to determine whether cats and foxes can be controlled naturally using dingoes. After the experiment is completed this area will also be subjected to cat, fox and rabbit removal.