Glamping in the shadow of Ayers Rock..

My front row seat to Uluru or the Ayers Rock in the red heart of Australia was the ultra stylish luxury tented property Longitude 131, with palatial tents named after famous  Australian pioneers or explorer in muted shades of beige and brown.

Voyages which owns the hotel claims to have the best environmental practice in the Australian tourist industry.  I hear that there was great care taken during construction-   most of the work was done by hand without using heavy earth moving equipment and care was taken to see that there were no sacred sites in this area. 

The tents are actually steel structures on stilts, with polyester roofs to reflect heat and rain. The ceiling dome supported by a tall pole has white flowing material billowing in graceful folds to give that illusion of camping.

I loved the contemporary colonial decor inspired by the luxury tented camps of Africa with  each room themed on a Outback Explorer with hand drawn maps, paintings, photographs and memorabilia dotting the walls.

The Dune House in the middle of the resort is the ‘living room’ of the resort a communal space where you can meet other guests or relax. Where you can lounge in comfy leather  couches the cosy library stocked with maps, books and games and have a few drinks or chat with friends.

All 15 rooms of the hotel look out into Uluru. The rooms have rustic stone floors, solar water heating and floor to ceiling glass doors that can be opened to let in the desert air with a mesh to keep out the creepy crawlies.

The room combines old world charm with the joys of technology with a I pad in every room loaded with Australian movies, books and games like monopoly as well as Bose speakers. The wardrobe and mini-bar have metal mesh-work doors which attempt to replicate early settlers meat chests. 

In keeping with the eco friendly motif of the resort. I find branded stainless steel bottles for carrying water with a Royal Doulton pottery urn for refills. The resort makes the maximum use of the contrast between the wildernesses outside the creature comforts inside. The bathroom has a large sink inspired by the watering troughs for horses of early Australians.

 The resort has no gym or spa- only a petite pool where you can soak with views of the red beauty. But the hotel offers myriad activities around the red centre ranging from walks and treks with a guide to explain the unique eco systems to a swish Table 131- a a candlelit five-course feast held in the desert under the stars.

 There is no television in the room: why on earth would you want one when the ultimate in room entertainment is of course watching the changing colours of the iconic rock change from deep russet to purplish black-  from sunset to sunrise from the artfully positioned king sized bed with white linen,. Even the bathroom offers views of the rock with an artfully placed sliding mirror.

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REACHING FOR THE SKY-THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE’S HIGHEST VIEWING PLATFORM

I am on the Edge...on the Sky Deck of the 88th Floor of the Eureka Tower in Melbourne, Australia- the second tallest residential building in the world. Each apartment had an original price tag of A$7 million just for the empty space; purchasers were required to fit out the apartment at additional cost.

On the last ten floors is gleaming 24 carat gold lining the windows reflecting the sunlight on to the glass. A lift hurtled me here in 38 seconds... it’s like being in an aircraft and your ears go pop! Two lifts exclusively service Eureka Sky deck 88. The fastest lifts in the Southern Hemisphere, they travel at over 9 meters per second. For a white knuckle ride I get in to a 10 feet cube of frosted glass cantilevered THREE METRES outside the building. There are a lot of fearsome noises and dramatic soundtrack, after which the glass clears and whew- I find myself suspended on the edge of the building looking down at the abyss- the futuristic galleries of Federation Square, the lazy meander of the Yarra River and the Victorian enclave with leafy gardens.

Why the name Eureka? That was the rebellion that took place in 1854, during the days of the Gold Rush in Ballarat, when the miners rose against repression and sowed the first seeds of democracy. The gold crown represents the Gold Rush and the red stripe the bloodshed. The blue and white of the Eureka flag runs across the building. The top of the building can flex in the winds up to 600 mm. And there are two gargantuan water tanks on levels 90 and 91 to counter any swaying… As I walk out of the building I notice a swarm of giant golden bees above the entrance.. art work representing people living in a community like a hive?

Sky deck 88 strongly recommends that you do not ride 'The Edge' if you have any of the following conditions: 

• Fear of Heights

• Fear of Enclosed Spaces

• Sensitivity to Loud or Sudden Noises

• Pregnancy

• Heart Problems

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NOTHING BEATS QUEENSLAND!

I was in Queensland, Australia after many, many years and it was truly a wonderful experience filled with new friends, good wine and food and exciting travel. The global media famil was to dispel the fears about damage due to floods and to tell the world that Queensland was back in business.

I snorkelled for the first time, breaking a barrier on the Barrier Reef (!!)... I was amply rewarded: the the most astounding underwater life to see. A must- do is the scenic helicopter ride over the reef which gives you an entirely different perspective and the most spectacular views. The Whitsundays, a group of 74 islands where resort development is restricted to just eight islands, is an interesting playground to explore the Barrier reef as well as some pristine beaches and rainforest. Every Queensland itinerary should have these islands on it. Hamilton Island was our first stop (remember the Best Job in the world frenzy?)-where a person was to be appointed as the caretaker of the island, living and travelling these islands and blogging about it. Well now they have something called the Million dollar memo...Do check it out if you are a company and have at least three employees..You can win trips to Queensland Jhttp://milliondollarmemo.com/. Hamilton Island has just golf buggies for transport and the uber luxurious qualia on its northern tip. The island which is just the ultimate escape is however, on Long Island called Paradise Eco Bay. Just twenty people at a time, a central gazebo cum restaurant, thick jungles and a stretch of private beach...this is the most amazing place that I have seen! The only way to reach here is by helicopter transfers and the cost is all inclusive (meals, drinks, accommodation and daily activities like snorkelling trips or island visits). You can base yourself out of Airlie Beach, a party town on the mainland too; we did this for a couple of days. An enjoyable way to see the islands is to hire a sailing ship like the Solway Lass, a turn- of- the century sailing craft. There are good packages for two- three nights with food, drinks and excursions to islands, snorkelling, etc. If you want a taste of adventure try ocean rafting: these inflated vessels were originally rescue boats. Check out http://www.oceanrafting.com.au/. The most enjoyable part of the trip was a sea plane ride to the rock star of these islands called Whitehaven Beach, and a trek to this look out from where we saw a palette of multi- hued sands created by the shifting tides. Our visit to the Sunshine Coast was in adifferent genre and the two high points there was our stay in Hyatt Coolum (a world in itself) and our visit to Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo. The Hyatt Coolum is a great destination for those looking for good accommodation, food, golf, and a private stretch of beach. The Australia Zoo gives you all the animal experiences that you may look for. Both highly recommended!

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