ROCK OF AGES

Visiting Australia’s Red Centre is like travelling to another planet, writes JOANNA HUNKIN.

- JOANNA HUNKIN

When it comes to visiting Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, there are some things you can prepare for. The heat, for example, is a given. If you are visiting any time between the months of October and April, it will be hot. Every time you step outside during daylight hours will, more often than not, feel like stepping into a fan-forced oven. It’s why most tours and activities take place first thing in the morning or as the sun starts to set.

Which brings us to the second thing you need to prepare for: being tired. Thanks to the early morning starts and late finishes, you will be tired. At Longitude 131°, the day’s activities begin at 6.30am, with breakfast served beforehand. Most tours return mid-morning, before your itinerary resumes in the late afternoon, from 5pm onwards. If you enjoy a midday siesta, you’ll be fine. If not, you will need a post-holiday lie-down when you return home.

You should also be prepared for the flies. It’s the first thing everyone warns you about when you tell them you’re heading north. “Ugh, the flies!” they exclaim, before insisting you pack fly nets and repellent. And it’s true, there are a lot of flies and they are quite annoying. But honestly, they are manageable. Helpfully, Longitude provides you with both nets and repellent, should you be particularly irked by insects.