Longitude 131°, Beckons

Style

Safari-style desert camp

Setting

Up close to Uluru

Surrounded by the rugged wilderness of the Simpson desert, Red Centre boutique retreat Longitude 131º, Beckons is the only place in the world where you can admire the inimitable postcard vista of Uluru (Ayer's Rock) without lifting your head from the pillow. White-tented cabins, luxurious dining and tailor-made exploring make for an unbeatable escape.

Facilities

Rooms

15 luxury tents and one tented pavilion.

Checkout

10.30am. Check-in, 2pm.

More Details

Rates include all meals, most alcoholic and soft drinks (with the exception of the Cellarmasters wine list) and drinks from the in-suite bar.

Also

'Roughing it' is an abstract concept here, but if your bed isn't quite as close to nature as you'd wish, unroll one of the retreat's bespoke swags (a luxurious take on a bushman's bed-roll), and after a few snifters of port and Cognac, snooze under the stars on your balcony, by a crackling fire.

Free Internet Access

Pool

On-Site Restaurant

Spa

At the Hotel

Boutique and a guest lounge. In rooms: iPad, sound system, luxury swags, climate control, free gourmet minibar with premium Australian wines, safe and free WiFi.

Our Favourite Rooms

Longitude 131º’s tents are more luxury cabins draped in flowing white fabric than the canvas crash-pads the word suggests. Bespoke furnishings include an organic-linen-draped Baillie bed, facing panoramic views of Uluru from floor-to-ceiling windows and each tent showcases indigenous artwork. Each tent is named after a celebrated Australian explorer or wilderness pioneer, and the walls are adorned with relevant memorabilia (cuttings, letters, sketches, etc). The tents are identical in terms of facilities but differ by location: 1 and 15 (aka ‘Sir Sidney Kidman and ‘Jane Webb’) are the most private as they’re 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 Christie Gosse’) have the most inspiring uninterrupted views of Uluru.

Poolside

The curvy pool outside the Dune House is not heated – although, in summer, it’s a deliciously surreal experience, floating on the cooling water in the searing desert heat.

Packing Tips

It can get chilly at night and in winter, so pack extra layers and warm headgear.

Also

Two-night minimum stay.

Children

Over-10s are welcome. Tents sleep up to three guests, and an extra bed is available on request.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Table 131 can be a spectacular experience, but, for an extra charge, you can also arrange to dine privately atop a dune.

Dress Code

Cool and casual – just don’t wear white on account of the red desert dust.

Hotel Restaurant

The Dune House is Longitude’s reception, bar, lounge and restaurant. A daily changing Modern Australian menu is served at solid timber tables with rattan lounge chairs. Every other night, guests are whisked off to a secret location to dine alfresco at ‘Table 131’, with a three-course meal followed by a talk about the vast desert starscape.

Hotel Bar

There’s a self-service bar at one end of the Dune House, where you’ll find a selection of wines, beers and spirits from which to help yourself. You can sink into one of the comfy couches and thumb through the intriguing Australian history books piled high on coffee tables.

Last Orders

Meal times are flexible, depending on the tours scheduled for the day.

Room Service

Not available, although you may be able to dine in your room if you arrange it in advance.

Planes

Fly to Ayers Rock Connellan Airport via most major Aussie cities. The airport is a 10 minute drive from Longitude 131° (free return 4WD transfers are included in booking). Call our Smith24 team to book your flights and arrange transfers.

Automobiles

You can hire a car at Alice Springs or Ayres Rock Airport where you will find all the usual car rental options, but pre-booking your car is recommended – our Smith24 team can arrange a set of wheels for you to pick up. The drive from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock is 450km (about four and a half hours). You can park your car at the Ayers Rock Airport or at Sails in the Desert hotel close to the complex. Someone from the resort will come and meet you at your location with a complimentary shared return transfer to Longitude 131°.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Longitude 131º is ideally placed for wilderness treks around the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the Red Centre and a schedule of free adventure tours operates daily. Take a guided excursion to Uluru and Kantju Gorge to learn about the history and mythology of the monolith site, catching incredible sunset views as you go, or – if you can face it – tear yourself out of bed at 5am to glimpse sunrise over Uluru and enjoy freshly baked pastries from the lodge at its base. If you prefer your diversions less physically demanding, try an aboriginal dot-painting workshop (arranged through the lodge), or book a helicopter or camel ride around the area (all of which cost a bit extra).

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .