Voyages Ayers Rock Resort – at Australia’s red heart

Early photographs of Sails in the Desert and the surrounding hotels at Voyages Ayers Rock Resort, did little to endear one visually to the property, but when you see more recent photographs, you realise how well integrated these resorts have become into the desert today and how Voyages Hotels and Resorts takes the fullest account of the environmental issues that have to exist through running hotels in the middle of the of a highly eco-sensitive desert.

The Mole was very fortunate recently to be able to enjoy a stay at Sails in the Desert, the five star flagship of the main resort cluster (Longitude 131 is outside the core properties). 

Built in 1984 as a Sheraton property, with its neighbour Desert Gardens built at the same time as a Four Seasons property, Sails in the Desert was purchased in 1997, along with all the other hotels at the Ayers Rock Resort by the owners of Voyages Hotels and Resorts, General Property Trust

Just being at Ayers Rock Resort and Sails in the Desert in The Mole’s case, is a pretty surreal experience, simply because it is in the middle of Australia, thousands of miles from the conurbations of the East Coast, yet it offers guests everything a guest needs, not least of all lush gardens surrounding a pool and a bar nearby which is The Mole’s idea of a good time!

Not that things cultural and environmental should not be experienced, but there has to be balance.  Of course you have to do your fair share of cultural activity and The Mole suggest you make sure you take dinner in the desert at the award winning Sounds of Silence, which is a fabulous experience and the Desert Awakenings breakfast in the desert is also a must do!  A visit to the Camel Farm is also really great.

To get your bearings of the whole site, its historic and environmental context and everything to see and do, The Mole suggests one of the first things you do is visit the Resort’s Visitor Centre, where there is also an excellent display and interpretative centre that sets the whole of the Ayers Rock area in context.

Back to The Mole’s favourite pastime, dining!  Sails has three excellent restaurants to choose from with Rockpool, a seasonal restaurant having only just opened in its outdoor poolside location in early April. Winkiku is probably what one would consider to be the main restaurant and it is where breakfast and a buffet style dinner are served.  Fine dining can be experienced in the signature restaurant Kuniya. 

Each restaurant has it place and appeals to different people and budgets, but with the clear nights the red centre enjoys, the setting and food at Rockpool takes some beating on all counts, with the menu consisting of a very clever tapas style menu, unusually blending Western and Asian dishes, where you order smaller three dishes for a set price – excellent value for money for excellent quality and taste.

Kuniya as one would expect, is more expensive but again offers value for money with excellent food and service.

Having recently won a Brolga Award for Luxury Accommodation, Sails has 232 rooms, including 224 standard rooms, 6 de luxe spa rooms and 2 de luxe spa suites, that appear to have been recently refurbished, are well equipped and in excellent condition.  The Mole had an excellent Spa Room – if it is in your budget, make sure you book one of these, as the spa is outdoors on the deck screened behind some cleverly positioned plantation shutters.  Look out for a range of special Voyages deals at different times of the year.

Considering that they are in the middle of a desert, the staff were generally excellent and The Mole has to give “Star Performer” awards to Krystal on the front desk, Debbie, who seemed to work tirelessly and smiling just about everywhere in the restaurants and bars, Jules in Rockpool and Kuniya and Dominca in Ayers Rock Design, an excellent place to buy some really stylish souvenirs of your stay.

Further information on this spectacular, must stay location, Sails in the Desert and the Voyages Ayers Rock Resort can be obtained from http://www.ayersrockresort.com.au.

The Mole stayed at Sails in the Desert as a guest of Voyages Hotels and Resorts.

Watch out on Thursday for a TravelMole interview with Simon McGrath, GM, Sails in the Desert.

Report by The Mole

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