Destination spotlight
Uluru, different by definition
As incentive travel planners get bolder in their destination choices, attention is turning to the Australian outback.
At 5.6 million square kilometres, the Australian outback is vast by definition and home to Uluru, the 600-million-year-old monolith formerly known as Ayers Rock in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Yulara.
Yulara is 267 kilometres from Alice Springs, the closest major town to Uluru – a destination that can only be described as ‘remote but spectacular’.
Uluru towers over the ochre-sand desert at 348 metres above ground and tunnels another three kilometres below the red-sandy landscape. ‘It’s the iceberg of the desert’ Georgie, a tour guide at SEIT Tours tells us as we enjoy a sunrise breakfast at the base of Uluru as part of Business Events Australia’s pre-fam trip for UK buyers and trade press.
Uluru has been the ancestral home of the Uluru family and the Anangu (pronounced arn-ang-oo) people for 35,000 - 65,000 years. Now recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Area for cultural values, Uluru is an inimitable location that instils a profound wonderment.
Whether you’re spiritually inclined or scientifically inclined, Uluru’s mighty geological formations, rare plants and animals and breathtaking natural beauty are something your group will undoubtedly admire.
After all, Uluru is “the Spirit of Australia,” as Mike O'Shaughnessy, managing director at Wallace Travel Group DMC described it when he visited ahead of Dreamtime 2023.
Sunrise to sunset
The exclusive experiences for groups elevate Uluru’s natural appeal as a unique destination. There are plenty of ways to experience Uluru, from watching the sun rise in all its pink and orange glory while sipping great coffee and sampling a bushtucker breakfast, to being guided around the sacred rock by a local who will entrust their knowledge to you.
Dreamtime 2023 UK group on a sunrise tour of Uluru.
Dreamtime 2023 UK group on a sunrise tour of Uluru.
As the sun peaks high in the sky, the hotel pools at the nearby Ayers Rock Resort will siren you back to cool off. But as the sun sets, Uluru embodies a striking beauty and there are plenty of ways to witness its changing hues from red and pink to gold and green as the sun goes down.
Clamber to the top of Uluru’s tallest dune for a fine dining feast under the stars at the exceptional Tali Wiru (beautiful dune) experience. Here, local experts will educate guests on Southern Hemispheric astrology while they tuck into canapes and champagne followed by a table d'hôte four-course dinner with premium Australian wine.
Tali Wiru private dining experience.
Tali Wiru private dining experience.
Or stroll through the Field of Light installation, a 50,000-LED light art installation curated by English artist, Bruce Munro.
Like fairies dancing on a desert plain, the light instillation mirrors the stary night sky twinkling over Uluru and can be admired at sunrise with a warm breakfast and hot coffee, or during sunset, followed by a drinks or dinner reception at the accompanying blank canvas event space, with full catering facilities, ideal for larger groups wanting a true wow experience.
Sounds of Silence Dinner located next to the Field of Light installation.
Sounds of Silence Dinner located next to the Field of Light installation.
The Wintjiri Wiru drone show offers another sunset treat. The world’s longest, continuous, nightly drone show provides a visual interpretation of ‘Mala’, the creation story of Anangu people who are the traditional landowners of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. So settle in under the stars with a luxury bush tucker picnic and watch the traditional-meeting-modern storytelling experience unfold.
Wintjiri Wiru drone show.
Wintjiri Wiru drone show.
There's more
At nearby Ayers Rock Resort, managed by Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, delegates can settle into one of six properties each suiting a spectrum of budgets, requirements, and desires from the uber-luxurious Longitude 131 operated by Baillie Lodges three-four- and -five-star hotels and even a outback campground.
With a total of 700 rooms, from the five-star Sails in the Desert to the explorer-style Outback Pioneer Hotel, glistening pools, seven food and beverage outlets and an on-site wellness spa, Ayers Rock Resort makes an ideal base to go forth and explore all the red centre has to offer.
Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia is also a partner of the National Indigenous Training Academy (NITA) which aims to change the lives of Indigenous Australians by providing market-leading training and employment programmes.
“Ayers Rock Resort is about giving back to the land and respect for the people,” adds O'Shaughnessy. “So, when they come to Uluru, guests can be safe in the knowledge that they are contributing instead of just taking.”
Emma Baker, account manager of brand engagement agency, XSEM, also attended the Dreamtime fam trip to Ayers Rock Resort and Uluru and said the destination was an ‘unexpected, luxurious but authentic experience’. “Not many venues and destinations get that balance right. The attention to detail, the smiles and warmth and the clear passion everyone has for their work.”
The resort hosts daily cultural workshops including digeridoo playing, dot painting, botany walks, and bush food experience.
“The iconic red centre also has the product to serve business events and incentives. Whether you’re looking for high-end accommodation or budget-friendly options,” adds O'Shaughnessy.
“But the deal clencher is the iconic experience that embraces the indigenous culture. For me the private dinner at Tali Wuri was an unforgettable experience and it also showcased incredible ingredients using locally sourced products and delivered to a very high standard.
“My clients would be intrigued about the Centre of Australia because it showcases authentic Australia at the highest levels. Sunrise to sunset, everything is an individual, tailor-made experience.
Getting there
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Yulara can be reached directly in around three hours from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Cairns Virgin Australia, Qantas and Jetstar all fly into Ayers Rock Airport.
Uluru’s remoteness is alluring and daunting in equal measure. But once you arrive at Ayers Rock Resort you’re only a maximum of 20 minutes away from all the major sites and activities.
“It’s worth the travel because discerning incentive clients are always looking for an untapped market and that’s exactly what Uluru is, beyond expectations,” adds O'Shaughnessy. “Incentive travel is about creating uniqueness, and we’ve discovered that in Australia.”
Barker adds that Uluru surpassed her expectations of what’s achievable in that environment, “I was blown away and I believe my clients will be too.”
Consider Australia’s red centre if you’re looking for a destination that impresses and delights your clients.
Who to contact
- Kelly Maynard, Business Events Australia head of distribution development & partnerships - [email protected]
- Rebecca McCaig, director at NT Business Events - [email protected]
- Peter Graham, director of sales & partnerships at Voyages Indigenous Tourism - [email protected]
Built with Shorthand