Good For You

There are few landscapes in Australia as striking as Uluru and there are few experiences as memorable as watching the dawn light shift and change as the sun rises over this enormous red rock.

Although there are a number of accommodation options within striking distance of Uluru, there are none quite like Longitude 131°. This luxury tented resort sits atop an isolated sand dune close to the border of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, and offers five star accommodation the likes of which you've never seen before.

A sweeping white canopy of elevated tents sits in the heart of the red centre with private views of the sun rising and setting over Uluru. Each of the fifteen tents is named after an early Australian pioneer and is decorated accordingly with contemporary and antique furniture.

At the centre of the camp lies The Dune House where guests gather to savour the incredible cuisine and fine wines, share stories and lament that they didn't book to stay a couple of extra nights.

Good For Australia

Longitude 131° is owned and operated by Voyages Hotels & Resorts (VHR) who are committed to nurturing and sharing Australia's sensitive and complex eco and cultural destinations and also to protecting them for generations to come.

At Longitude 131°, VHR demonstrate this commitment by educating guests on the history, culture and flora and fauna of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

Qualified guides conduct a range of guided walks and activities that explore both the natural beauty of the area and the history and geography that has shaped it. Walking tours of the local bushland explore the dynamic ecology that exists in this harsh environment while tours to Uluru examine the significance of this famed monolith in Aboriginal culture. Longitude 131° respects the wishes of the traditional owners and asks that guests to not climb Uluru.

Rooms

Food

Features & Facilities

• Dune House Restaurant and Bar
• 24 Hour Bar
• Outdoor pool
• Guest Libraryl
• Dry cleaning servicel
• • Wheelchair access to all areas of propertyl

Private Touring Subject to availability, Longitude 131° can offer private touring for all guests. Pre-bookings are recommended and additional charges apply.

INSIDER TIPS Desert climate, average temperatures range from approximately 22°C (72°F) in winter to 35°C (95°F) in summer. Nights and mornings during winter are cold and guests are advised to pack appropriate warm clothing. Daytime temperatures during summer can exceed 40°C (104°F).

Guests are advised to bring solid walking shoes, comfortable casual clothes, and some layers of warmer clothes if you're travelling in the cooler months. Hat and sunscreen are essential all year.

Local Info & Activities

At Longitude 131° guests take the road less travelled, sharing exclusive and authentic experiences with only a few others. The resort's touring program has been developed with the aim of sharing an authentic experience that will allow each guest a chance to immerse themselves in the mystery and spirituality of this remarkable desert region.

Tours are scheduled on a rotational basis for a specific time and date. Therefore for short stays at Longitude 131°, some tours may not be available during your stay. To avoid the disappointment of not being able to participate on some of the tours, Longitude 131° recommend flights are arranged to arrive into Ayers Rock Airport on the first available flight and depart late afternoon.

Uluru Sunrise Walk Experience the remarkable changing colours of the entire desert landscape and the spectacular sight of Uluru and Kata Tjuta at dawn. Departing Longitude 131° before sunrise, guests are transported to the Uluru base walk. As the sun slowly rises, guests will hear the dawn chorus of birdcalls greeting the sun, and discover the prints of animals that have foraged during the night. As day breaks over Australia’s heartland, the guide discusses the history of this unique area, including the plights of early explorers and their interactions with Anangu, the traditional owners of this spectacular wilderness.

With a greater understanding of one of the world’s truly ancient cultures, guests walk around the base of Uluru and see for themselves the sites which are so sacred to the Traditional Owners. A walk into the Mutitjulu waterhole offers each guest a unique insight into the sheer physical and spiritual enormity of Uluru. During the walk, the guide will point out cave paintings and other relevant sites important to Anangu and the early explorers.

A sumptuous hot breakfast awaits your return to Longitude 131° approximately three hours after departure.

The Traditional Owners of Uluru discourage guests from climbing the world's largest monolith.

This tour is designed to be flexible per guest requirement, and can cater for those guests that either wish to do a half circuit or an unguided climb of Uluru.

Kata Tjuta - Valley of the Winds This is the most strenuous walk on offer at Longitude 131°and guests are advised to bring appropriate footwear and should be moderately fit.

Departing Longitude 131° after a sumptuous buffet breakfast (at approx. 7.30am - subject to season), this experience heads to Kata Tjuta, also known as the Olgas and comprising 36 majestic domes. Along the way the tour will briefly visit the Kata Tjuta Viewing Area with expert commentary of the ecology, fire management, flora and fauna of the area.

From the viewing platform guests continue to Walpa Gorge where the natural history of Kata Tjuta is explained in great detail, learning how eons of weathering and continental upheaval have created what is seen today, as well as how these discoveries were made and the dynamic interaction between the stark landscape and ecology.

The approximate duration of this tour is four hours and includes a morning tea before returning to Longitude 131° at approximately 11.15am for a delicious gourmet lunch.

NB: This tour operates in the cooler months only.

Cultural Centre Tour & Kantju Gorge Depart Longitude 131° for the Cultural Centre where guests will be given an insight into the creation of Uluru and what significance this monolith has to the Anganu people. The Cultural Centre Tour also includes a visit to Kata Tjuta Views.

After arrival at Uluru, there is a short walk into Kantju Gorge where guests will be served refreshments 'inside' Uluru and watch the sunset. Guests will return to Longitude 131° in the early evening and dinner will be outdoors at Table 131 (subject to weather conditions)

Mulgara Gallery and Township Tour Enjoy a visit to Mulgara Gallery to see authentic Aboriginal art and meet the artist in residence. Guests will also have the opportunity to stroll around the Town Centre perhaps to visit the bank, post office or newsagency.

Mulgara Gallery opens a rare window into the unique world of Australian and Indigenous arts and crafts. Located in the foyer of Sails in the Desert Hotel at Ayers Rock Resort in the Northern Territory, Mulgara Gallery offers a superb selection of Australian hand-crafted glassware, pottery, textiles, metal and leather work, featuring renowned artists such as Chris Pantano, whose glass work has won numerous awards and received national and international recognition.

The Gallery also showcases an extensive range of Central Australian Indigenous art representing different regional styles, including Central Desert dot painting from Papunya and Mt Allen, colourful body art from Utopia and artefacts such as Didgeridoos, rainsticks and other tribal instruments.

Uluru & Kantju Gorge Sunset Departing Longitude 131° two and a half hours before sunset, guests will travel into Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and stop at the sunrise viewing platform. As guests drive around Uluru your guide will explain the World Heritage values, as well as the geology and tourism history of the region.

Journey along the Mala Walk from the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Cultural Centre and as day transforms into night, guests walk into Kantju Gorge to witness the gorge walls ablaze with the light of the setting sun.

For thousands of years Kantju Gorge has been a place of quiet. Respect is paid to local customs and the peace of Kantju Gorge remains paramount throughout this tour. Guests will hear birds in their last flurries before the sounds of frogs and other insects erupt throughout the gorge as night closes in.

Vivid colours remain on the vast gorge walls in a vision that only Longitude 131° guests can experience. Sipping champagne and nibbling on canapés, guests enjoy the silence and solitude of Kantju Gorge as the sun slowly disappears for the day.

Sustainability

Longitude 131° is owned and operated by Voyages Hotels & Resorts (VHR) who are committed to nurturing and sharing Australia's sensitive and complex eco and cultural destinations and also to protecting them for generations to come.

At Longitude 131°, VHR demonstrate this commitment by educating guests on the history, culture and flora and fauna of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

At Longitude 131° guests take the road less travelled, sharing exclusive and authentic experiences with only a few others. The touring program has been developed with the aim of sharing an authentic experience that will allow each guest a chance to immerse themselves in the mystery and spirituality of this remarkable desert region.

Qualified guides conduct a range of guided walks and activities that explore both the natural beauty of the area and the history and geography that has shaped it. Walking tours of the local bushland explore the dynamic ecology that exists in this harsh environment while tours to Uluru examine the significance of this famed monolith in Aboriginal culture. Longitude 131° respects the wishes of the traditional owners and asks that guests to not climb Uluru.

AWARDS April 2005: HM Award for Hotel & Accommodation Excellence Voyages Longitude 131° won the Overall Accommodation category at the 3rd Annual HM Awards for Hotel & Accommodation Excellence. The property also won the Unique Accommodation category, beating home three of its sister properties Cradle Mountain Lodge, Wrotham Park Lodge and Silky Oaks Lodge.

2003: NT Brolga Award Unique Accommodation

Getting There

Ayers Rock Airport is conveniently located just six kilometres from Voyages Ayers Rock Resort (10 minutes' travel). A complimentary return 4wd transfer will take you from Ayers Rock Airport to Voyages Longitude 131°, the short transfer meets every scheduled flight.

By Car There is no better way to explore Central Australia than at your own pace. Pre-booking of hire cars is recommended. Alternatively, you can organise a hire car at Ayers Rock Airport.

Visit our Transport section for flights, hybrid car rentals and train bookings.

Rates & Bookings

Luxury Tent

Twin Share $990.00

Sole Use $1602.00

*Extended Stay Rates (Minimum 3 Night Stay)

Twin Share $841.00

Sole Use $1304.00

• Rates shown are valid for travel from 1st April 2007 - 31st March 2008
• Pricing is per person, per night, including all meals, a selected range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, a touring program designed exclusively for Longitude 131° guests, entrance tickets to Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park and return airport transfers.
• A minimum of two nights stay applies to all bookings.
• Children 12 years and under are not catered for.
• All prices are quoted in Australian dollars, inclusive of GST

booking & cancellation policy

• A 20% deposit is required to secure the booking
• Full payment is required 60 days before arrival

• No cancellation fees applie if cancellation occurs 30 days or more prior to arrival
• 29 - 15 days prior to arrival: cancellation fee equivalent to one night's accommodation (per room cancelled) applies, based on original booked date
• 14 - 0 days prior to arrival: cancellation fee of all nights' accommodation (per room cancelled) applies, based on original booked date

Want to avoid cancellation fees? Visit our Insurance section for information on travel insurance.