Mr & Mrs Smith

Dining alternatives are, unsurprisingly, rare in the desert, but if you make the trip into Yulara – the small resort town that serves as a base for Uluru visits, you’ll find a cluster of bars and eateries spread among the hotels of Voyages Ayers Rock Resort. The elegant Kuniya Restaurant at the Sails in the Desert hotel serves fine Modern Australian cuisine washed down with an excellent selection of native wines. Reservations are a must. Its sister restaurant, Winkiku offers a seafood buffet in a brasserie-style setting. White Gums in the Desert Gardens Hotel is a little more low key, and the neighbouring Arnguli Grill serves tasty flame-grilled seafood and steak.

Longitude 131º is ideally placed for wilderness treks around the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the Red Centre and a schedule of free adventure tours operates daily. Take a guided excursion to Uluru and Kantju Gorge to learn about the history and mythology of the two monoliths, catching incredible sunset views as you go, or – if you can face it ¬– tear yoruself out of bed at 5am to glimpse sunrise over Uluru and enjoy breakfast at its base. If you prefer your diversions less physically demanding, try an aboriginal dot-painting workshop with Anangu Tours, or book a helicopter, 4x4, Harley Davidson or camel ride around the area (all of which cost a bit extra).

January brings spectacular lightning displays as the clouds build with the threat of rain. June Mulga bushes come spectacularly into flower.