Longitude 131°
Longitude 131° is the most innovative camp in Australia's Red Centre.
Catering to just 30 guests and set on top of an isolated sand dune close the border of Uluru-Kata Tjunta National Park, Longitude 131° offers luxury tented accommodation.
Each tent backs up to the slope of the dune with the bush underneath the floor and around the stilts. The bathroom has ingenious features like the long shallow sink suggesting a rock ledge.
If you feel like being sociable, the Dun House at Longitude 131° is a superb setting in which to enjoy a quiet drink, a fine lunch or dinner or to delve into the intriguing collection of books, maps and other artefacts of the Red Centre's rich heritage.
Activities on offer include day trips to Uluru and the Kata Tjuta and camel riding or helicopter tours.
Why We Love It
Guests sleep under the sweeping canopy of their tent and wake up with private views of the sun rising over Uluru (Ayres Rock).
Bullo River
Encircled by the coffee-coloured waters of a meander on the Victoria River and rugged hills inscribed with Aboriginal rock art, this homestead has 12 en-suite rooms located by the vast living areas of the homestead.
Guests can make use of the swimming pool, main verandah and dining room. Dinners are informal and the menu relies heavily on the two exceptional products of the property, namely fresh barramundi (a ferociously fighting game fish) and organic prime beef from the 7000 Brahman-cross cattle.
Local fauna species also include wallabies, dingoes, wild buffalo, a myriad of native and migratory birds, fish and the omnipresent crocodile. Learn some real Aussie bushcraft, from cracking a bullwhip to roping cattle from on board a 'bull catcher' - a stripped down Toyota with rubber tyres mounted on the front to deflect horns. Alternatively, there are tours of Aboriginal art sites, boat cruises down the gorge, bushwalks, bird and wildlife-watching or travel to scenic vantage spots to sketch or paint.
Why We Love It
Enjoy a fantastic helicopter ride to several large freshwater swimming holes and waterfalls high up on the escarpment away from the crocodiles.
Sails in the Desert
Sails in the Desert, named for its sail like structure, makes up part of the Ayers Rock Resort and is a mere half an hour from the spectacular Uluru, making it the perfect base from which to explore the Australian outback.
Sails in the Desert combines modern luxury with the history and culture of the Aboriginal land on which it is built. The 228 rooms contain all the usual mod cons and have a terrace or balcony, and the interiors draw inspiration from the surrounding desert colours and traditional aboriginal art.
After a day in the desert, Sails is the perfect place to relax. The hotel has a swimming pool, hair and beauty salon, shopping centre and the Red Ochre Spa, which offers an extensive list of treatments. Food wise, there is everything from Kuniya which serves gourmet food with an indigenous twist, to tapas at the Rockpool restaurant. Alternatively have a crack at the BBQ, Aussie style, or even eat al fresco under the stars.
The hotel boasts a gallery exhibiting aboriginal and indigenous art and offers guests the chance to watch local craftspeople at work. With an extensive list of tours to local points of interest including Alice Springs and Kings Canyon, guests can also learn about the flora, fauna and topography of the area. Other activities include camel rides, trips to Ayers Rock at sunrise or sunset and hot air ballooning.
Why We Love It
We think one of the best ways to see Ayers Rock is by helicopter, or for those who prefer to have their feet on terra firma, camels are excellent means of transportation.
Davidson's Arnhemland Safaris
Davidson's Arnhemland Safaris is built on a sacred aboriginal site comprising of rainforests, lakes and mountainous rock formations. As the honorary custodian of this vast area, Max Davidson invites visitors to stay in what would otherwise be a private wilderness.
Accommodation is in the form of cabins in the heart of the forest, all with en-suite bathrooms, Wi-Fi and solar power. A communal area includes a library, lounge, bar, pool and outdoor terrace for al fresco dining. Meals are relaxed affairs, served overlooking the bush.
The land surrounding Mount Borradaile is fascinating and tells stories of 50,000 years of aboriginal history. The activities on offer are endless, ranging from billabong cruises, Barramundi fishing and wildlife spotting, to visiting rock art galleries and exploring catacombs.
Why We Love It
Located on a registered aboriginal sacred site, the area around Mount Borradaile is steeped in history, much of it inscribed in the rock paintings.