Red Centre & Uluru
Australia’s Outback offers a riot of colours, contrasts and awe-inspiring natural wonders. The best-known area is the Red Centre, home to Kata Tjuta National Park – a sacred, sun-baked landscape of huge, red rock formations. Uluru (or Ayers Rock), Australia’s most iconic natural attraction, sprouts from the horizon – a landmark that’s of deep spiritual significance to the Anangu Aboriginal people. Watch it change colour at sunrise and sunset, over a bushman’s breakfast or sumptuous twilight feast with didgeridoo music. Other ways to see the rock include a guided walking tour or camel safari around the base, or by helicopter or plane to admire Uluru’s beauty from above.
Art, Culture & Heritage
Travel to the heart of spiritual Australia and learn about Aboriginal culture, an ancient way of life rich in history and art, inspired very much by the landscapes of astonishing rock formations. The Anangu people of Uluru have lived here for centuries, following a set of beliefs called Tjukurpa. Join them on guided short walks, listen to their tales and gaze in awe at their sacred sites. Don’t miss Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, brimming with artwork, artefacts and presentations on their culture or travel to Alice Springs and browse the fantastic Aboriginal galleries. Further afield, Kings Creek and Curtin Springs cattle stations showcase pioneering spirit dating back to the early 1900s.
Wildlife
Unusual birds, bush mammals and vibrant wildflowers dot this rugged desert region. Big names include kangaroos, wallabies, emus and dingoes, all roaming free on the sun-scorched sands. Reptiles include small, spiky lizards and around a dozen kinds of snakes. Look up for close-up views of Brown Falcons and kestrels, or nearer to the ground for the splendid Fairywren, the Singing Honeyeater and the rare Scarlet-chested Parrot – just a handful of around 170 species of birds.
Adventure
Get set for the ultimate Outback adventure! Pick from riding a classic Harley Davidson along Uluru’s sunset strip, 4WD safaris along centuries-old bush tracks and quad-biking tours over sand dunes. Soak up the scenery, look out for wildlife and brace yourself for an exhilarating ride! Alternatively, join a guided trek and weave your way along tracks meandering amid ancient landscapes – a deliciously slow and up-close encounter with this spiritual land – or enjoy scenic flights, dune-trekking by camel and Milky Way star-gazing.
Travel Planning
Our Travel Consultants can advise on, arrange and pre-book many things to enhance your holiday. This includes everything from spa reservations and dinner reservations, to a range of special experiences available in our featured resorts that you may not know about.
Flight Information
Please contact our Travel Consultants for flight details.
Travelling With Children or Without an Adult
Children travelling without both parents should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. Please contact the relevant Embassy for the county you are travelling to for further information.
Visa and Advance Passenger Information
All passengers must ensure they have a valid, acceptable passport, any required visa and any other documentation for both the final destination and any stop-off points en route. Please make sure that Advance Passenger Information is submitted in advance to travel for all destinations. Failure to hold correct documentation or submitting incorrect details with Advance Passenger Information or Visa applications may result in refusal of carriage or entry into a country. Please check with the relevant Embassy regarding visa requirements well in advance of your travel date. Charges may apply for some visas.
Visas are required for travel to Australia. Elegant Resorts can provide Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) for which we'll require: full name (including middle names), passport number, nationality, date of issue, date of expiry, place of issue, your date of birth, your home address in the UK and an email address in the UK as well as an address in Australia (this will be your first hotel or the Southern Crossings head office address, which our Travel Consultants will provide at the time of booking). Alternatively, you can apply for the visa online yourself through the Australian Government website at www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/ there is no charge for the visa but a service charge of approximately AUD$20 per person will apply. Please note, from 1 September 2015 a new Environmental Management Charge (EMC) will be introduced for The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. All visitors will be charged 6 AUD per person, per day up to a maximum of 18 AUD per stay.
Passengers not travelling on a British Passport are advised to contact their relevant Foreign & Commonwealth office for individual Visa requirements.
For up-to-date resort information, visit www.fco.gov.uk
Health facilities, hygiene and disease risks vary worldwide and you should take health advice about your specific needs from your general practitioner or a specialist clinic as early as possible before travel. Those planning to become pregnant should discuss their travel plans with their healthcare provider to assess their risk of infection with Zika. For information about Zika, other mosquito-borne diseases (such as Dengue fever and Chikungunya), Lyme Disease (caused by tick bites), and to receive advice on mosquito bite avoidance measures, please visit Insect and tick bite avoidance.
In addition, we highly recommend that you seek specialist advice from your doctor and, where recommended, obtain vaccinations or tablets for protection against, for example: Malaria, Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid. In some cases, treatments for Malaria should begin well in advance of travel. Travellers may also be required to show Yellow Fever Certificates on arrival in certain destinations i.e, some African countries. Please note that you are strongly advised against scuba-diving for 24 hours before travelling by air. We would also like to draw your attention to the risk of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) and recommend that you consult with your doctor before travelling.
Visit the FCDO website and select your destination country for the very latest travel advice: Foreign Travel Advice. Additional sources of information include: Public Health England, The National Travel Health And Network Centre, Foreign And Commonwealth Office and your General Practitioner or a specialised clinic.