Eco-<strong>Travel</strong> GuideThe world famous Uluru is locatedin the southwestern cornerof the Northern Territories,in the center of Australia. The centerof Australia, like the UAE, is hot, dry,desert. But don’t let that put you off,because the beauty of the Australianoutback, is beyond measure. Uluru isa massive rock formation, known asa monolith. Uluru is the name givento the rock by the native Aborigines,who consider it sacred. Aborigineshave lived in the area for thousands ofyears. Today, Uluru is contained withinthe aptly named Uluru National Park,which is overseen by the Anangu andAustralian Government. The park lies463km by road southwest of AliceSprings. The 300 million-year-old rockformation is comprised of sand, feldspar(various crystalline materials) andUlururock, and originally hailed from a seafloor. There are several noted caves inthe flanks, although parts are off limitsas they are particularly sacred to theAborigines. The town of Yulara, justnorth of the park, provides facilities fortourists, as there are none within thepark itself.www.ziwira.com
““Longitude 131°Sure the desert may be hot and dry, but there are waysto experience spectacular sites such as Uluru, whilstliving in sustainable luxury. Take Longitude 131°,for example. Standing at the gateway to Uluru-KataTjuta National Park, Longitude 131° is the closest accommodationto the red rock formation. The resortconsists of an intimate fifteen luxury tents, elevatedatop rust-red dunes, and complemented by the pristinenatural environment. The tents are built on stiltsthat leave the desert sand undisturbed, and the entireresort runs on solar power. Showers are heatedby solar power (there are no bath tubs), and reverseheater-air conditioning units reduce energy wastage.As a guest, you can sip Australian wine and dine onOutback cuisine under the magnificent stars. Guestscan also take part in several resort tours that haveachieved Ecotourism status through Ecotourism Australia,the country’s national body for the Ecotourismindustry.“Glamping”This rock appears more wonderful every time I look atit, and I may say it is a sight worth riding eighty-fourmiles of spinifex sandhills to see.William Christie GossStaying in a tent in the desert, technically you arecamping. But because of the luxuriousness andglamor of Longitude 131°, it’s more like “glamping”(glamor camping). The tents are more like luxurycabins, draped in flowing white fabric, than the canvascrash-pads the word “camping” suggests. Eachtent is named after a celebrated Australian explorer orwilderness pioneer, and the walls are decorated withrelevant memorabilia. Although the tents are identicalin terms of facilities, they differ by location. 1 and15 (“Sir Sidney Kidman” and “Jane Webb”) are themost private, as they are set at either end of the resort,so very few people tend to wander past. 6, 7, and 8(“John Flynn”, “Ernest Giles”, and “William ChristieGosse”) have the most inspiring uninterrupted viewsof Uluru. The Dune House is Longitude’s reception,bar, lounge, library and restaurant.In terms of dining, the modern Australian menuchanges daily, served on solid timber communal tables.Every other night, guests are whisked off to asecret location to dine alfresco at Table 131, with athree course meal followed by a talk about the vastdesert star-scape and the opportunity to gaze throughstrategically sited telescopes. Ayers Rock ConnellanAirport receives daily flights from most major Australiancities. Coach transfers are available and operateservices between Ayers Rock Resort, which isadjacent to Longitude 131°, and Kings Canyon andAlice Springs.<strong>August</strong> Issue 1 2015
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