Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/1516204
P H OTO G R A P H Y: ( T H I S PAG E A N D O P P O S I T E) CO U R T E S Y O F L U X U RY LO D G E S O F AU S T R A L I A At Longitude 131, immersive art and glamping enhance the earthly magic of Uluru. SAFFIRE FREYCINET, TASMANIA BEST FOR: FOODIE PILGRIMS Tasmania's finicky micro-climates confer an unparalleled quality to its produce—the majority of the fish caught in its waters can later be found in Tokyo's famed Tsukiji market; notoriously hard-to-grow wasabi thrives here. The go-to gourmet hideout to enjoy all this and more is the 20-room Saffire Freycinet (say it Freh-ZHUN-ay), set in a breathtaking spot in Freycinet National Park: press a button to open the curtains each morning, and the views out across the craggy mountains seem CGI- enhanced. Idle on the beach in Wineglass Bay if the weather's warm—it's often chillier than most of the rest of the country here—or stroll out into the waters for lunch. Glug a glass of locally produced sparkling wine in your waders while a chef shucks fresh oysters right in front of you. Just save room for one of the multi- course dinners, anchored by local wagyu beef, organic venison, and small-batch cheeses. LONGITUDE 131, NORTHERN TERRITORY BEST FOR: NATUR AL WONDER–HUNTERS Yes, it's easy to think of it as just a rock—albeit a monumental one. But the moment you glimpse Uluru (or Ayers Rock, as Europeans dubbed it), it's easy to understand how the monolith became such a mythical talisman to indigenous Australians. Its colors shift and change in sunlight, bleaching in daytime to a pale ochre, and warming to rich reds and purples as the sun sets. Fly over it in a helicopter to see the seams that run over the ridge, the texture resembling seersucker carved from stone, or walk out at nighttime to experience the 52,000 twinkling pinpricks of Field of Light, the now-permanent installation here by immersive artist Bruce Munro. You'll also see it at dawn from your bed at one of the glamping tents on this property, the only luxury accommodation close to Uluru. Book a treatment at Kinara spa, which uses indigenous ingredients and techniques. AUSTRALIA Saffire Freycinet is located in the heart of Tasmania's wondrous Freycinet National Park. 210 BAL HARBOUR