“We start with references to Country with the seasons, we see the clouds form, listen to the storm, and then comes new life in the desert,” Mandylight chief executive Rich Neville explains.

“Doing justice to the original artwork was always in the back of our minds. It’s easy with the amount of technology that’s out there to get carried away and go crazy with it – but our aim was to pull it back and continuously reference the artwork, with every laser cue based on the actual dots in the painting.”

The two-hour ‘Sunrise Journeys’ experience – which includes a native ingredients-inspired breakfast on the viewing platform as licks of sunlight bring Uluru to life – complements Ayers Rock Resort’s first commercial collaboration with Anangu traditional owners, a sunset drone and laser show called “Wintjiri Wiru″⁣.

Launched in May 2023, Wintjiri Wiru tells a chapter of an ancient Tjukurpa creation story through the use of 1200 drones, seven projectors and six lasers, with the artistic collaboration raising the bar for respecting and remunerating Indigenous cultural intellectual property.

While technologically impressive, this spectacular show is far from a Disneyfication of a traditional story, with the esoteric imagery and evocative, languid Anaṉgu narration allowing pause for reflection against a natural backdrop that refuses to be outshone by artificial means.

“When guests come [to Uluru], we feel the responsibility that they go away changed, enriched, understanding a bit more about Culture and the Anangu way of life,” says Matt Cameron-Smith, chief executive of Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia that operates Ayers Rock Resort, Uluru.

“Sunrise Journeys elevates our commitment to authentic, meaningful and responsible cultural tourism. It’s a real honour and privilege to be able to work with leading artists of the region and share their unique connection to the natural environment.”

With more than 100 guest experiences listed on Ayers Rock Resort’s website, there’s no shortage of activities for visitors to the Red Centre to keep themselves occupied. Sunrise, sunset and evenings under a starry sky are clearly the hero hours, but in the heat of the day, particularly in the warmer months or the rainy season, relaxing activities that take place indoors are a little thin on the ground.

And so a new culinary experience has been launched at Ilkari Restaurant at Sails in the Desert – an Australian Native High Tea. Celebrating the Indigenous flavours of Central Australia and beyond, this daily offering is a fabulous introduction to ingredients found in the desert, the unusual flavours integrated into traditional High Tea sweets and savoury bites.

After being greeted with a rosella-tinged bellini, executive pastry chef Graciela Jonen places a three-tiered silver platter before me. Starting from the bottom up, the savoury selection includes a barramundi lemon aspen and saffron tart, a finger sandwich with brie and prosciutto-wrapped anise myrtle fig, a slider topped with roasted pumpkin, warrigal greens and bush dukkah Persian fetta, and a mini-wrap with Barossa smoked chicken, lemon myrtle and sun-dried tomatoes.

But it’s the sweet temptations that have me salivating … scones flavoured with lemon myrtle and topped with a tangy quandong jam and cream; a chewy saltbush caramel “Tim Tam” a divine finger lime almond tart; and a sweet burst of heaven in a wild rosella flower mousse. It’s served with a cup of Kakadu Sunset tea from Blak Brews, an Indigenous-owned tea company who were the recent winners of Australian Food Stars with Gordon Ramsay.

Jonen’s “kitchen garden” from where the ingredients are plucked from, is, in fact, the desert wilderness outside.

This red-dirt country – painted green after several years of unseasonal rainfall – is bountiful, bringing together families and communities to feast and to connect.

Artist Denise Brady best encapsulates this in her narration for Sunrise Journeys: “We gather at special places across the Country. Nganamampa waltjapiti winkinguru, our families from all different places, come together.

“Together we dance, we sing, we heal our spirits. We feel connection in our heart… We sit together and share food and knowledge. We share with love and respect.”

THE DETAILS

FLY
Jetstar flies daily from Sydney and Melbourne to Uluru, see jetstar.com

STAY
There are multiple accommodation options at Ayers Rock Resort, from luxury glamping at Latitude 131 to apartments, hotels and camping facilities. Rates at the four-star Desert Gardens Hotel from $420 a night, with a minimum three-night stay. See ayresrockresort.com.au

EXPERIENCE
The daily two-hour Sunrise Journey experience is priced at $125 adults; $75 for children. It includes return coach transfers and a seasonal native ingredients breakfast. See ayresrockresort.com.au/sunrise-journeys

The Australian Native High Tea is offered daily at Sails in the Desert from $75 for adults and $45 for children. See ayresrockresort.com.au/experiences/high-tea

The writer was a guest of Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia. See voyages.com.au