Journey Beyond confirmed as buyer of Ayers Rock Resort, set to be granted 90-year lease for land
A US-backed company will be granted a 90-year lease for the land Ayers Rock Resort sits on, as part of a new deal which has been confirmed in the wake of exclusive reporting by this masthead.
An American-backed company has acquired Ayers Rock Resort and other assets from Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia at Yulara under a 90 year lease arrangement.
The details of the lease were revealed on Friday, following exclusive reporting by the NT News which revealed Journey Beyond bid for the resort takeover.
Crestview Partners, based in New York, operate Journey Beyond, which operate iconic tourist trains in Australia, such as the Ghan and the Indian Pacific.
Currently, the government run Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) oversee Voyages, after they purchased the resort in Yulara in 2010 for $300m.
Yulara, located roughly 25km from Uluru, houses the bulk of tourist accommodation by the UNESCO heritage listed Australian icon, bar a few boutique operators who are located on the fringes of the town site.
ILSC will sell its shares in Voyages as part of the deal, in what the media release called “the first in a series of transactions that will, once completed, formalise the transfer of land and buildings at both sites”.
The release mentioning the latest developments did not disclose how much the deal was worth.
However, previous reporting has stated Journey Beyond was set to acquire the assets for around $300 million.
Journey Beyond will lease the Yulara land from the newly minted Yulara Anangu Corporation (YAC), the media release issued on Friday states.
In a statement, the YAC said the deal will be finalised in 2026.
“We look forward to working closely with Journey Beyond in the development of world class Indigenous tourism experiences that will share our language, our culture and our rich landscapes with visitors from all over Australia and around the world,” the statement said.
Also included in the deal is the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre (MGCC), located in roughly 77km form Cairns in Northern Queensland.
A 10-year lease is due to be granted for Mossman, according to the release, while a 90-year lease will be put in place in Yulara.
ILSC chief executive Joe Morrison projected the new deal will bring “more than $500 million in benefit” flowing to the communities in Central Australia and Far North Queensland.
“We are pleased to move closer to fulfilling the ILSC’s statutory obligations of returning land to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and in doing so, create benefit for traditional owners at both Yulara and Mossman Gorge, as well as Indigenous people at local, regional, and national levels,” he said.
Journey Beyond chief executive Chris Tallent said the company will continue initiatives already in place by Voyages, such as the National Indigenous Training Academy.
“This marks an exciting expansion and perfectly aligns with Journey Beyond’s central purpose of creating amazing iconic experiences, that are immersive, authentic and uniquely Australian,” he said.
The sale of Voyages was first floated in February last year, with the sale process formally commencing in August 2024.
“The transaction is expected to be finalised in early 2026 with the divestment of the Yulara land to Anangu also expected to be finalised in 2026,” the release states.
“The Mossman Gorge land divestment will follow once the native title application that embraces the MGCC site is determined.”
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