It’s definitely worth waking up early to watch the sun rise at Uluru in the Northern Territory. Photo: Rama Gaind.
The winter solstice – the year’s shortest day, in June – has come and gone, but the prolonged cold snap has not. In particular, eastern Australia has continued to shiver through unusually low temperatures.
As much of Australia plunged into sub-zero temperatures, some cities experienced their lowest temperatures in two to four years.
That’s when we start looking for the ultimate warm getaway that’s also secluded. You don’t need to leave Australia to escape the cold snap. While much of the nation shivers, the sun is shining and the great outdoors beckon in the Northern Territory. Queensland is certainly not sultry, but it has a pleasant, subtropical climate with mild winters.
‘’Different in every sense’’ is certainly true when it comes to the Northern Territory. A personal favourite is revisiting Uluru, also called Ayers Rock. It’s definitely worth waking up early to watch the sunrise as the first rays of light start to appear and see Uluru and the surrounding areas come to life. There’s something mesmerising about watching the terracotta-coloured surface bathed in flaming red. Observing those vivid colours change at sunset, the monolith glows with blue and purple hues. Spectacular!
Another must-do experience is dining under the Southern Desert sky. Delight the senses with an unforgettable meal: ”Tali Wiru”, meaning ”beautiful dune” in the local Anangu language, has the courses of the table d’hote dinner being expertly paired with iconic wines.
The magic of fine dining under the Southern Desert sky is encapsulated by Tali Wiru, meaning ”beautiful dune” in the local Anangu language. Photo: Supplied.
This open-air restaurant, instead of walls, has magnificent views of Uluru and the distant domes of Kata Tjuṯa. The stillness of the desert at night adds a unique ambience.
Tali Wiru has been awarded an Australian Good Food Guide Chef Hat for 2024 and a Readers’ Choice Award, becoming the highest-rated restaurant in the NT and the only entirely outdoor dining experience in Australia to be recognised.
Tali Wiru is part of Ayers Rock Resort’s Bush Tucker Journeys program. By far, a highlight was an unforgettable meal to delight the senses. This experience is available for travel until 15 October, 2024.
There’s a lot going on in the NT, in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs, as you explore new landscapes and towns, go on a self-drive adventure, laze on unforgettable beaches or rediscover old favourite haunts. The endless choices are bewildering.
Opt to visit NT on holiday packages to Kakadu, the Red Centre, The Alice and Kings Canyon, a family getaway in Darwin or a Top End Explorer.
Go on an 11-day Red Centre Spectacular tour – aboard The Ghan Expedition from Darwin to Adelaide, including all meals, beverages and off-train experiences. Cruise through ancient Nitmiluk Gorge in Katherine. Explore the outback town of Alice Springs. Visit Kings Canyon for a guided scenic walk and journey through the West MacDonnell Ranges, visiting Standley Chasm and Ormiston Gorge.
Go to World Heritage-listed Uluru and enjoy a guided base tour. Dine under the stars at the ”Sounds of Silence” dining experience. Explore the rock formations of Kata Tjuṯa (The Olgas) and Walpa Gorge. Admire the internationally acclaimed ”Field of Light” display at Uluru and watch as it illuminates the desert night.
A Coral Sea-view balcony at the Reef View Hotel on Queensland’s Hamilton Island. Photo: Supplied.
Explore Australia’s final frontier, connect to Country and marvel at the most spectacular places in the Kimberley on an all-inclusive 4WD adventure. Travelling from Broome to Darwin, you’ll experience the remote natural beauty and breathtaking landscapes, from a visit to Horizontal Falls, the inspiring Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek National Parks, and cruises along gorges and rivers.
Experience the Kimberley at its most dramatic with swollen rivers, gushing waterfalls and tropical thunderstorms. Discover the breathtaking Mitchell Plateau by helicopter and marvel at the majestic Mitchell Falls in full flood. View ancient rock art galleries at the lower falls not visited on dry-season itineraries.
Enjoy three nights at the Ngauwudu Safari Camp on the Mitchell Plateau, and two nights at the exclusive Faraway Bay on the North Kimberley Coast.
In the tropics of North Queensland, Cairns is a popular destination for the winter school holidays in Australia. Alternatively, set your sights on the tropical shores of Hamilton Island with a Winter Saver deal. Reef View Hotel on Hamilton Island is famous for its breathtaking views of the beautiful Whitsunday Islands.
If you stay three nights or more in a palm bungalow or the Beach Club Resort at the hotel before 15 September, 2024, you will save 20 per cent on accommodation costs.
As George, a fellow hotel guest, said: “It’s an escape to a sanctuary where rejuvenation and reconnection wash over stress like the tide.”
Absolutely true!
