Location
Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia

Set amid an oasis of lush native gardens, towering ghost gum trees and stunning natural landscapes, the Desert Gardens Hotel, a luxury property within the Ayers Rock Resort, offers a stylish and contemporary retreat in the heart of Australia’s Red Center. As the closest accommodation to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and Uluru itself, the resort provides unparalleled access to the region’s natural wonders.

The spacious guest rooms at Desert Gardens are equipped with reverse-cycle air conditioning, ensuring year-round temperature control, and come with either a balcony or courtyard. Amenities include either two double beds or one king-size bed, tea and coffee makers, minibar and safe, and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the property.

Operating on Aboriginal land, Ayers Rock Resort was sold in 2010 to Australia’s Indigenous Land Corporation, a government-owned corporation that acquires and then divests property to Aboriginal people. The resort’s renowned program to train and recruit Indigenous employees has drastically diversified its workforce—there are currently about 250 Indigenous staff members—and on-site art galleries and artistic programs, including an artist in residence and a storytelling project pay homage to native culture.

Equally impressive are the resort’s sustainability initiatives. The on-site Tjintu Solar Field provides up to 30% of average energy needs, and an extensive recycling and repurposing program includes resort-backed construction of an innovative recycling center nearby and pulverizing glass waste for a range of purposes, including making concrete and a moisture-retaining “mulch.”