The Red Center of Australia

We were picked up at our hotel and taken to 5 important spots in Alice Springs. Every town in Australia boasts Anzac Memorial. It is a memorial to all Australians who served and died in wars in the 20th Century. Then we went to the main offices of the School of the Air. This is the school system that connects the many families across the outback to school from their remote ranches. After the School of the Air, we toured the historic Telegraph Station which tied together all of Australia by telegraph. It is also where Alice Springs is found. Named for the founder's wife. Then to the Royal Flying Doctor Service. We saw how medical aid reaches those who live in the remote outback by airplane and helicopter. Our last stop was the Alice Springs Reptile Centre. This is where we saw endangered reptiles, mysterious and scary ones and a 12 foot Crocodile that would gladly kill anyone given a chance.

The panoramic landscapes of the West MacDonnell Ranges are extraordinary for their immensity and the spectacular array of sunburnt oranges, maroons and purples on display. We started with a walk at Simpsons Gap to see a natural rock amphitheater that is home to endangered black-footed rock wallabies. Next, we went to Standley Chasm for morning tea and a stroll along trails lined with acacias, cycads, ghost gums and cypress pines. Then to Ochre Pits, where rock walls are covered by white, yellow and red ochre, used for sacred ceremonies of the local Arrernte peoples. We enjoyed a picnic at Ormiston Gorge, a large waterhole surrounded by red rock. From there we drove to Mt. Sonder lookout for views of a towering sandstone wall and Mt. Sonder, one of the highest points in Australia. Last stop was Ellery Creek Big Hole, one of central Australia's most pristine waterholes.

Travel with from Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock) aboard a luxury vehicle. It is a 4 hours drive with a couple of short stops. . Tonight, enjoy the Sounds of Silence Dinner. Dine under the canopy of the desert night, while your very own storyteller shares tales as told in the stars and an evening of dining under the sparkling outback sky. The Sounds of Silence experience begins with canapés and chilled sparkling wine served on a viewing platform overlooking the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. As the sun sets and darkness falls, listen to the sound of a didgeridoo and join your table for an unforgettable dining experience and an introduction to Aboriginal culture with a traditional dance performance under the outback sky. Settle back and listen to the resident star talker decode the southern night sky. Locate the Southern Cross, the signs of the zodiac, the Milky Way, as well as planets and galaxies that are visible due to the exceptional clarity of the atmosphere.

Take a 20 minute flight with Ayers Rock Aviation to get a bird's eye view of Uluru. Take in Uluru and the stunning surroundings. See Uluru from above and on each side. Transfer to Longitude 131 Lodge. Luxurious, eco-sensitive and romantic, Longitude 131° offers immersion in the wilderness of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, complete with 5 star luxury. This award-winning luxury wilderness camp in Australia's Red Centre has achieved new heights in ecotourism the world over. Longitude 131° is a deluxe camping experience like no other and set atop an isolated sand dune close to the border of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Take our first hike at the base of Uluru. See our first a close up of the caves and crevices of Uluru. Capture the changing lights reflected over Uluru’s many faces as the sun slips below the horizon during the Uluru Sunset experience. The essential outback experience enjoyed with chilled glass and canapé in hand!

We joined the Longitude 131° guide for a walk in the early dawn light through Walpa Gorge and the many heads of Kata Tjuta and discover how eons of weathering and continental upheaval have created today’s landscape. Later, a visit to the Culture Centre completes a morning of discovery in the Red Centre. In the afternoon we journeyed to the base of Uluru to learn about the history of the ancestral Mala people on the Mala Walk. At dusk, enter Kantju Gorge illuminated in the light of the setting sun for evening drinks and canapes. In the evening we experienced Bruce Munro’s magical Field of Light art installation as darkness descends over Australia’s spiritual heartland. The installation blooms and appears to sway as darkness descends over Australia’s spiritual heartland. The evening seamlessly segues into the lodge’s signature outdoor dining event at Table 131°.

The Mutitjulu Meander takes in a peaceful waterhole at the base of Uluru as the sun rises over the ancient monolith. Delve into the Aboriginal creation story of Kuniya Piti for a deeper connection. After lunch we were transferred to the airport for a flight to Sydney.