Late afternoon light washes across the red sands of Central Australia, casting long shadows from the desert oak and spinifex that layer its gently rolling dunes. On the southern horizon sits Uluru – the ancient, inspiring sandstone monolith that has transfixed humans for aeons. To the west, the domed silhouettes of Kata Tjuta rise evocatively from the landscape. Sitting in relaxed comfort on Longitude 131°’s Dune Top deck, iced drink in hand, it is a vista to be replayed in your mind’s eye for years to come.
Longitude 131° is at the apex of accommodation offerings near the dual World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Opened in 2002 and folded into the renowned Baillie Lodges group in 2013, the Philip Cox-designed lodge comprises 15 individual luxury ‘tents’, each entirely self-contained and with its own view of Uluru, the central Dune House where guests dine, relax and share stories, and the Dune Pavilion – a premium two-bedroom retreat providing a unique outlook to both Uluru and Kata Tjuta. The lodge has undergone several significant refurbishments under the Baillie banner, most recently in 2024, and is a chic expression of laid-back luxe in the spiritual heartland of the continent.
For lodge manager Kylie Mansfield, this combination of a low-touch, high-end hub within an absolutely stunning natural environment – steeped in the rich tradition and history of local Anangu culture and in the endeavours of the early European explorers – is part of what makes the Longitude 131° offering so special. “People come here to experience the outdoors – to see Uluru and Kata Tjuta, and to gain some insight into this amazing place and its culture,” Kylie says. “We provide a serene base from which to explore, and we have the connections and the expertise to facilitate that. When people are done with their day exploring, they are able to return to the comfort of their private pavilion, or take a seat in the main lodge, relax in Spa Kinara or kick back around the pool.”
With Uluru itself just 10km from the lodge, Longitude 131° provides guests with a series of signature experiences that best enable them to foster an appreciation and understanding of the physical and cultural significance of the region. Experienced and knowledgeable guides lead exclusive excursions into the park. These take in the best places at the best times to maximise the immersive learning on offer, whether that’s dawn at Kata Tjuta, sunset at Uluru, or simply a quiet walk through nearby dunes highlighting the subtle nuances of the local flora and fauna.
The food on offer at Longitude 131° is another highlight. Guests embark on a culinary celebration of the flavours of Australia whether dining in the Dune House, beneath a canopy of stars at the signature Table 131°, or in the privacy of the Dune Top. The underlying food philosophy is tied to both exquisite sustenance and sustainability. The lodge works closely with producers and provedores who share this ethos and exercise mindful land and animal management practices, with an emphasis on organic and biodynamic farming. The focus is on freshness, flavour and the use of key Australian ingredients to deliver a sophisticated and fulfilling experience. Menus are created anew each day. At one meal you might enjoy roast chicken breast with sweet corn velouté, puffed grains, feta and jus gras, or confit of ocean trout with fennel, succulents and desert lime beurre blanc, on another day it might be beef tartare with macadamia, smoked egg yolk and quandong or tea-smoked duck with celeriac, hazelnut, sprouts and rosella.
Longitude 131°’s team members are attentive, personable and strike an ideal balance between providing excellent service while maintaining a friendly, relaxed informality. The lodge attracts an international clientele, and this goes for those hosting guests as well, with conversations taking place in a variety of different languages throughout the day. And always there is the magnificent presence of nature reinforcing a sense of being in one of the planet’s most remarkable places.
