One destination, three ways: Uluru

FOR centuries Uluru and Kata Tjuta have entranced the Anangu people. Their beauty now brings visitors to Ayers Rock Resort, which offers accommodation and activities for all budgets.

Uluru Kata Tjuta national park: A journey to the nation’s spiritual heart is a must for all Australians. (Pic: iStock)

FOR centuries Uluru and Kata Tjuta, two ancient rock formations that jut from the Earth in the Northern Territory’s southwest, have entranced the Anangu people. And their mystical beauty now brings visitors to Ayers Rock Resort, which offers accommodation and activities for all budgets.

MINTED

The five-star Sails in the Desert hotel is home base for travellers ready to indulge in a bit of adventure. Book in for a private helicopter tour, an adrenaline-spiking skydive or a luxe treatment at the onsite Red Ochre Spa. Rooms start from $300 per night; ayersrockresort.com.au.

Enjoy dinner under the desert stars at Mayu Wiru, an exclusive outdoor experience on offer until March 24. Watch the sun set with bush tucker canapés and champagne before being treated to a gourmet four-course dinner.

The week-long Desert Dreaming Yoga Retreat (April 27 — May 4) combines yoga, meditation and dance in Uluru’s iconic outdoor settings for the health-focused seeking a getaway.

MID

You will want to escape from the sweltering desert heat around midday, so drop into Wintjiri Art and Museum for a heritage talk in the A/C. Or guests at the Outback Pioneer Hotel can follow a dip in the pool with a visit to the Outback Pioneer BBQ and Bar, a do-it-yourself grill where you can cook your own barramundi, steaks, kangaroo... even emu sausages.

Uluru at dawn is already unbeatable, but watching the desert come to life through the Sunrise Camel Experience is worth the early wake-up call. Follow your peaceful one-hour ride atop an adorable ungulate with freshly baked damper and coffee.

Bruce Munro’s otherworldly Field of Light installation — now extended until the end of 2020 — will leave you feeling like Alice down the rabbit hole as you walk amid a rainbow of 50,000 glowing flower-like spheres in the dark.

MODEST

No visit to Uluru is complete without a trip to the titular monolith and its lesser hailed (but just as spectacular) counterpart, Kata Tjuta — a group of soaring rock domes also known as the Olgas. Book a $25 three-day pass to the national park for a scenic hike through its stunning landscape, and visit cultural and arts centres.

An abundance of free activities such as astronomy talks, bush yarns, the Desert Gardens Hotel Garden Walk and a didgeridoo workshop bring the magic of Uluru to vivid life.

Little ones will love the twice-daily Red Desert Reptiles show, where they can get up close and personal with blue-tongue lizards, bearded dragons and friendly pythons.

TRAVEL NOTES

The Uluru Feastival, run quarterly, is a gastronomic weekend that showcases indigenous food and culture. Take in a masterclass and a tasting dinner curated by celebrity chef Mark Olive. From $285 per adult; next event March 9—10.

Originally published as One destination, three ways: Uluru