When people think of luxury travel, the Australian Outback probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But Longitude 131 is seeking to change all that. A first-class luxury lodge set against the backdrop of the magnificent Ayers Rock, this is a place to come and enjoy the sheer contrast of luxury vacation living and gorgeous wilderness experiences.

The lodgings are some of the most unique in the world. Again, a tent doesn’t exactly scream “luxury,” does it? However, Longitude 131′s luxury tents are just that. Comfortable beds, climate control — all the appointments that make a hotel experience worthwhile are present and well-implemented. A unique feature is the ability to raise and lower the walls of the tent by remote control, allowing guests to take in the beautiful Uluru sunrises and sunsets. Each tent is named after a famous figure from Australian history, allowing a personal connection with those who have come before.

The lodge offers a number of communal amenities as well, allowing guests to get to know their fellow visitors in comfort and splendor. There’s a 24-hour bar for those who like to mix drinks and company, and an outdoor pool for the sort who want to experience warm sun and cool water at the same time. Tours of the area can be arranged in short order for a number of destinations, and there’s even a guest library for those who want to enjoy a classic while relaxing in comfortable chairs.

Dining is given special attention at the lodge, as is true of all the best luxury experiences. Breakfast is provided a la carte, as is lunch. Lunch in particular is a fun treat, as the menu changes with the seasons and is always provided with carefully-selected inclusive drinks. However, it is Table 131 that provides the absolute best dining experience anywhere in the world. A huge table set up for all guests, out under the stars of the Uluru sky, with the finest in Australian foods and wines for the sampling of the guests of the lodge, it is truly an experience rarely had in this world.

Australia travel vacations are all about seeing the sights, exploring the country and having an adventurous experience while in the comfort of pure luxury. The Northern Territory is one of Australia’s largest states, and holds many unique attractions for the travel-minded vacationer — many of which are accessible by luxury-equipped travel accommodations.

First and foremost is the city of Darwin. Possibly an entire vacation in itself, Darwin is a great place to begin exploring the Northern Territory. A self-described “melting pot of food and culture,” the city has a unique and exciting history to explore, with stories from World War II and beyond. A number of museums and art galleries exist to be explored, as do restaurants ranging from cozy cafes to extravagant establishments.

Ranging outside Darwin are the Northern Territory’s starkly beautiful national parks. Arnhem land in particular is a place of excitement. Owned in totality by local aboriginal people, the park encourages visitors to fish from the cliff side, visit thriving aboriginal communities and learn about the native culture going back to a time the locals simply call the Dream.

There also is the outback community of Alice Springs, a place made for exploration and adventure. First on the list should be a four wheel drive tour, many of which are available with luxury SUVs that make all the difference while exploring the beautiful, vast terrain of the Outback. For those eager for a bit of exercise, bushwalking and even biking tours can also be arranged in order to explore this exciting place.

Perhaps the most iconic portion of the Northern Territory, however, is the vast monument Uluru. Rising nearly 350 meters from the desert floor, this huge rock formation stands at the center of much aboriginal mythology and culture. A native guide is often available to offer a tour of the rocks, sharing stories going back thousands of years and offering an insight into the mystical heritage of Australia.

It has been said before, and remains true: A city festival makes a great setting for an Australia travel vacation. Festivals are extraordinary events, bringing together great food, outstanding entertainment, first-class accommodations and a party-like atmosphere where people can mix and mingle with newly found friends, or lose themselves in the press of the crowd of strangers just for the thrill of being amid so many excited people.

Australia’s cities have a number of unique festivals, each with its own regional flair while still retaining that strange sense of cheerful unity that makes Australia what it is.

There’s the Sydney Festival itself each January. Mingling the visual and performing arts such as street theater, film, music and dance, it is a cultural event without peer. It lasts a full three weeks every year, putting the absolute best of Sydney on display.

The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival puts the best of Aussie cuisine out for people to enjoy during the cool Australian March season. The reason for Australia’s well-deserved fame in wine making becomes readily apparent when paired off against the delicious food of this marvelous event.

For a more intellectual but no less party-minded event, there’s the Adelaide Writer’s Week. While it might sound obscure, this gathering is the largest literary event in the entire world. Writers both famous and new to the scene meet up for a chance to rub shoulders with publishers, producers of plays, screenwriters and other members of the elite Australian literary set. Those with a love of a festive atmosphere and the written word will find this the perfect event for a vacation experience.

Australia travel vacations are exciting for a number of reasons. Whether a stay involves a specific series of tours or a self-guided exploration of a particular region, there is always plenty to do. One thing that discerning guests have learned over the years is to be sure to incorporate the local cuisine into their efforts. Australia is rightly famous for its foods and wines, and there are a number of places that can be visited as part of a tour or even made the point of a journey.

First, there’s the Top End of Australia in the Northern Territory near Darwin. Darwin is the cultural hub of the Northern Territory, and has a series of weekly markets from May to October. These Thursday night meets are a clearinghouse of assorted foods and wines, allowing guests to sample everything in the southern Pacific menu. The setting is a near-tropical one, with warm air, soothing breezes and swaying trees to relax among as dinner is served.

Further south in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, there is a host of winemaking sites at which one can indulge and enjoy oneself. Fifty-five wineries, many of them world-famous award winners, are within easy traveling distance for any guest of the valley. Ranging from large, near-industrial operations with guided tours of high-class facilities to the personal service of cellar door-style depots, there are wines for every palate to be found here.

Of course, many people have one favorite place to enjoy their vacation — the beach. Good food at the shoreline is a wonderful experience for the holidaymaker, and Bondi in New South Wales offers some of the finest beaches in Australia. Less bustling and crowded than the more iconic shores near larger cities, these beaches offer a picturesque setting and some of Australia’s fantastic signature seafood. Start the day at an exquisite little cafe, have gelato for dessert at a little trateria and enjoy a martini on the shore as the sun slides behind the waves.

Remote locations with their own special charm are a central feature of many Australian family vacations. Getting the whole family away from the hustle of crowded urban areas to a place where everyone can unwind by reading, talking with the locals, enjoying regional delicacies and touring the countryside is just about the ideal experience for some. Located in Australia’s Northern Territory about 400 miles from Darwin, Bullo River Station is one such destination and a spot coveted for familial getaways and reunions.

The Tropical North of Australia is host to two seasons: the dry and the wet. During the wet season, around December and January, Bullo River is closed because of heavy rains. This leaves the station open during the dry season, but don’t let the name discourage. This season features cool summer nights and warm days, perfect for lazy mornings, fun-filled afternoons and festive evenings.

The beauty of Australia is on display on all of Bullo River’s 500,000-acre property. Wildlife abounds, from the local species of crocodile to wallabies, native and migratory birds and many other animals. The local flora is beautiful, too, with plants of all sorts to captivate the eyes and the senses during the gorgeous days.

The accommodations are simple but comfortable, with well-made furnishings. Of particular note is the lack of televisions or telephones — Bullo River is place to escape from being tied down, and guests here take their privacy seriously. The food is some of Australia’s best, served in simple and delicious fashion after being cooked over open grills. Dinnertimes are memorable events, with staff and guests mingling among each other and sharing stories of their homes, experiences and professions.

The experience at Bullo is ideal for a modest family get-together or reunion. Friendly staff and a beautiful backdrop combine to create an unforgettable experience centered purely on relaxation and freedom from any pointless distractions.

Spirit, Emotion, Intellect, Task: These are the things that are involved in a SEIT tour of the Outback. The Outback is a singular location, a massive stretch of untamed wilderness that stretches across the center of Australia. Much of Australian civilization is spread along the coasts of the country, with access to trade and shipping lanes. But the Outback is the largest part of the land, and is home to some of the world’s oldest indigenous legends, the customs and ways of the aboriginal people and a diversity of wildlife not to be found anywhere else on earth. Taking a tour with SEIT allows a combination of primal wonder and educational involvement that can rarely be replicated in other offerings, and is worth the addition to an Australia luxury vacation.

First there are the group’s iconic tours, focused on visiting the most visible and famous natural structures to be found in the Outback. These tours include such famous landmarks as Uluru, one of the most amazing sights in the world. A huge monolith structure rising from the plains around it, it is a mysterious formation that captivates the mind and the soul alike. It still plays a central role in the culture and spirituality of the local aboriginal people, and aboriginal guides are often quite eager to share stories of it that date back to the mysterious time they call the Dream.

Alternatively, there are the cultural tours that SEIT offers as well. Rather than focusing on a specific place, they follow a theme of exploring the local culture and its mysteries. Popular sites include the Hill Caves and the Alice Caves, homes to famous aboriginal cave art that dates back millennia. The Outback is home to many such wonders and a cultural heritage all its own that dates back before the colonies that were first established there.

Of course, the tours can also be arranged for private as well as public consumption. If you prefer the true luxury of a tour set up all for yourself and your family, this can easily be arranged as you explore the mysteries of the last great frontier on earth.

Travelers who are searching for an authentic outback experience during their Australian luxury vacation need look no further than Longitude 131.

Here is where the rustic luxury traveler can spend their days exploring the wilderness and their nights wrapped up in posh suites and surrounded in modern amenities. Longitude stands right at the gateway of the wilderness that is known as the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. These accommodations come complete with your own private views of the landscape where you can witness the sun rising and setting over Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock).

The wilderness surroundings of Uluru and Kata Tjuta are those that few ever get to see. Your Australian luxury vacation to the outback offers you specialized tours of the Cantju and Walpa Gorges. These tours are perfect for those who want to hike the areas and even ride camels through the beautiful desert. These tours let you relax in a dune house as you take in some refreshments or you can take the sunrise base tour that lets you drink in the landscape as you learn about the local culture and participate in the spirituality of the region.

Gourmet meals served a la carte will provide your palette with an unforgettable meal. Each meal consists of local fare that is indigenous to the region. Your dinner is served with a glimpse of the southern stars when you opt for Table 131. If the weather is right, you will never have a meal served to you that can offer you a better view while you eat. Should you prefer to eat your gourmet meal in private, you can always choose to dine in the dune house.

This is one Australian all-inclusive vacation package that will give you the best outback experience you can have. Not to mention you will have an experience that almost no one else ever gets.

Bullo River is the Australian luxury vacation experience for the experienced traveler with varied interests. Days are always different at Bullo — nothing is ever the same twice.

From the start of your Australian luxury vacation, you will get to see what the real Australian experience is. You have the choice to be picked up in Darwin by plane with Bullo Air or you can chose to drive yourself to Bullo River and take advantage of the local landscape. You will realize luxury travel at its best here.

Bullo River is located in the northwestern corner of Northern territory; this provides you with a spectacular glimpse of the Australian outback — one that you can’t see anywhere else. You can lounge at the beach or rustle up some cattle if you’re looking for a distinctly outback experience. Here are just a few of the exciting things you can expect to do at Bullo:

• Horseback riding along the rugged landscape while enjoying the scenery;
• Fishing for some of the region’s most famous species;
• Cruising the Gorge on foot and helicopter;
• Take a full-on helicopter tour that shows you key aspects of Bullo River that you can’t see any other way; and
• Take a Bungle Bungle National Park tour.

This is the perfect tour for those travelers that want to take advantage of the best luxury travel in the world. This authentic Australian luxury vacation is one that is jam-packed with rural activities to suit the guests that want to bear witness to the beauty that locals get to see every day while still feeling all of the relaxation and tranquility of home. This is the perfect all-around vacation spot for the outdoorsy traveler.

Suffering from writer’s block? Having a tough time getting the brain moving? Well, how about adding a little inspiration to your all-inclusive Australia vacation?

Writing Under the Stars is an event for writers that simply cannot be missed. The three-day seminar will take place on July 9 through July 11 at Australia’s ultra-luxurious Longitude 131. Longitude 131 is known as the destination for glamorous camping (also known as “glamping”); this event proves how special and unique the resort is. Australian author and living legend Thomas Keneally will be on hand to share stories about how growing up in the landscape has inspired his many novels and plays.

The mornings begin with a storytelling session while guests are invited to create their own short stories. After a delicious breakfast, participants in Writing Under the Stars are invited to see Australia from the eyes of Aboriginal artists. One artist will be on hand to teach the history and technique of “dot painting.” Participants also are given complimentary tickets to the stunning Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to get their creative juices flowing. Still not feeling moved to create? Then hop aboard a helicopter or fixed-wing flight to see Australia like never before. The flights will take guests on a one-of-a-kind aerial tour of the iconic Ayers Rock and the breathtaking landscape as the sun goes down. Back at Longitude 131, Thomas Keneally will play host as you dine on five-star cuisine under the stars.

Keneally is best known for his Booker Prize-winning novel Schindler’s Ark, which was adapted in to the Oscar-winning film Schindler’s List by Steven Spielberg. He also has written plays and nonfiction. His latest work of non-fiction, Australians: Origins to Eureka, is an acclaimed history of the uprising that changed the country’s political landscape forever. Keneally will chose a winning short story from the attendees at Writing Under the Stars and give them a chance to read for the other participants around an evening campfire.

So stop banging your head against the keyboard! Go experience first class luxury, incredible nature and some rare one-on-one time with a literary legend.