Welcome to The Detour: Your food and travel guide to the best flavours, hidden haunts, insider tips and unforgettable new experiences that reward those who wander off course.
It’s true what they say: you have to experience Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park for yourself to understand why it impacts those who visit so deeply.
It’s the kind of place you’ll return from and urge everyone you know to go – and whether you’re based in Australia or further afield, this is a journey worth making at least once in your lifetime.
I recently touched down at Ayers Rock for the first time after a surprisingly swift three-hour Qantas flight from Sydney – one that doubles as a scenic tour in its own right.
The reason for my 48-hour visit? The 10-year anniversary of the world-famous Field of Light – the now-iconic installation that, as of this month, has been extended to remain in Uluṟu until at least the end of 2029.
This is a remarkable feat considering it was originally conceived as a one-year project.
I checked into Sails in the Desert, part of the well-known Voyages Ayers Rock Resort which is a 10-minute drive from the airport. Instantly recognisable by its soaring white sail structures, the property still manages to blend in beautifully with the landscape.
It’s understated but the hospitality cannot be faulted. Make sure to book in for the Australian Native High Tea at Ilkari too… you haven’t lived until you’ve tried one of their lemon myrtle scones here.
It’s true what they say: you have to experience Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park for yourself to understand why it impacts those who visit so deeply
Pictured: The lit-up scenery following Wintjiri Wiṟu, a cultural drone and light show developed with Aṉangu to share a chapter of the ancient Mala story
It’s the kind of place you’ll return from and urge everyone you know to go – and whether you’re based in Australia or further afield, this is a journey worth making at least once in your lifetime
Then, of course, there’s the main event.
The Field of Light by Bruce Munro is set on Aṉangu Country, with Uluṟu as its backdrop. It is made up of more than 50,000 solar-powered stems that, come dusk, ignite into an enormous sweeping landscape of colour.
As sunset begins the desert transforms into a display of ochres, violets, blues and soft whites, stretching across a space the size of seven football fields.
It’s simply stunning. And for anyone used to the pace and noise of city life, it’s a welcome escape.
Guests are invited to wander through the installation at their own pace, tracing paths of light under a vast, uninterrupted sky. It’s made all the more extraordinary by the resort’s status as Australia’s first DarkSky-approved lodging.
To truly do it justice, book the Field of Light dinner.
At $360 per person, the three-hour experience pairs the Sounds of Silence dinner with the installation. I truly believe this one is worth every cent.
The evening begins with a hotel transfer into the desert, where guests are welcomed with the music of a didgeridoo, canapés and chilled sparkling. From there, it unfolds into a three-course menu infused with native ingredients, accompanied by a resident star talker who decodes the night sky.
The Field of Light dinner begins with a hotel transfer into the desert, where guests are welcomed with the music of a didgeridoo, canapés and chilled sparkling
Pictured: The sunrise breakfast buffet overlooking Uluṟu
Highlights of the sensational meal included the coastal rosemary lamb cutlets, wattleseed falafel and a desert lime macadamia cheesecake. Unbelievably tasty.
The milestone anniversary, which also marks more than 750,000 visitors since its 2016 debut, has also reignited interest in the resort’s broader offering of immersive light and storytelling experiences.
Among them is Wintjiri Wiṟu, a cultural drone and light show developed with Aṉangu to share a chapter of the ancient Mala story.
It’s a striking and powerful piece of storytelling; I didn’t reach for my phone once, despite having special permission to film. That probably says it all.
Like so much of this place, words don’t do it justice… so go and experience it for yourself.
We’ll compare notes after because it will make perfect sense the moment you step off the plane.
Guests are invited to wander through the installation at their own pace, tracing paths of light under a vast, uninterrupted sky
To truly do it justice, book the Field of Light dinner (pictured)
It’s understated but the hospitality cannot be faulted. Make sure to book in for the Australian Native High Tea at Ilkari too… you haven’t lived until you’ve tried one of their lemon myrtle scones here
Join the discussion
What place in Australia has left the deepest impact on you and why do you think everyone should go?
Sydney Common: A ‘hotel restaurant’ that deserves your attention
For some reason, hotel dining in Australia still carries a bit of a stigma. Why? Hard to say.
But Sydney Common inside the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park is one that could rewrite that narrative – and it has become something of a ‘best kept secret’ among those in the know.
Having now dined there, it makes perfect sense. The setting may lean more airy than intimate, but what’s coming out of the kitchen is some of the most impressive and genuinely delicious food in the city.
And it tracks. This one-hatted standout champions ingredient-led woodfire cooking with subtle Japanese influence, under the direction of the very talented Dylan Bennett.
The menu doesn’t muck around.
Standout starters included delicate tuna tartlets, Abrolhos scallops with nduja vinaigrette, and kingfish crudo lifted with yuzu honey, pickled fennel and tarragon – each one a work of art.
Sydney Common inside the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park has become something of a ‘best kept secret’ among those in the know
Pictured: Kingfish Crudo Yuzu Honey, Pickled Fennel, Burnt Orange, Tarragon
Pictured: Tuna Tartlet Yellow Fin Tuna, Sheep’s Milk Labneh, Bonito Gel, Furikake
Then came the star of the show: the signature 400g, 36-day dry-aged Hereford sirloin, finished with kombu butter and Wagyu fat dressing. Rich, tender and totally indulgent.
The grilled Murray cod also held its own, paired with pickled radish, grilled pea purée and bursts of salmon roe.
It’s a menu designed for sharing. Generous, high-quality and satisfying from the first bite – while the relaxed, understated setting and warm, high energy service keeps things unfussy.
And if you’re in the mood to turn dinner into a proper night away, the rooms upstairs are surprisingly accessible, with park-side stays starting from around $250.
Add a visit to the On The Park Rejuvenation Day Spa or a dip in the rooftop pool and you’ve got a full weekend reset – and a seriously cracking meal.
Then came the star of the show: the signature 400g, 36-day dry-aged Hereford sirloin, finished with kombu butter and Wagyu fat dressing. Rich, tender and totally indulgent
And if you’re in the mood to turn dinner into a proper night away, the rooms upstairs are surprisingly accessible, with park-side stays starting from around $250
Add a visit to the On The Park Rejuvenation Day Spa or a dip in the rooftop pool and you’ve got a full weekend reset – and a seriously cracking meal
PSA: The event BBQ enthusiasts cannot afford to miss
Sydneysiders are about to get a taste of Texas in the best way.
Travel Texas has teamed up with Firedoor for a landmark pitmaster series in May, bringing together Firedoor’s Lennox Hastie and Austin’s acclaimed Kareem El-Ghayesh (aka KG BBQ) for the first time on Australian soil.
Running from May 1-4 across Sydney Brewery Rozelle and Firedoor, the four-event series is a love letter to live-fire cooking spanning a honky tonk feast with live country music, a brisket masterclass, a Texas-style public cookout and an intimate five-course collaboration dinner.
It also marks KG’s first visit to Australia – and Sydney’s first real taste of his cult-status barbecue.
Travel Texas has teamed up with Firedoor for a landmark pitmaster series in May, bringing together Firedoor’s Lennox Hastie and Austin’s acclaimed Kareem El-Ghayesh (aka KG BBQ) for the first time on Australian soil
Running from May 1-4 across Sydney Brewery Rozelle and Firedoor, the four-event series is a love letter to live-fire cooking – spanning a honky tonk feast with live country music, a brisket masterclass, a Texas-style public cookout and an intimate five-course collaboration dinner
It also marks KG’s first visit to Australia – and Sydney’s first real taste of his cult-status barbecue
Born in Cairo and now one of Texas’ most celebrated pitmasters, his style blends classic low-and-slow technique with bold Middle Eastern flavours: think brisket with sumac onions, pomegranate-glazed ribs and smoked lamb.
The collaboration was sparked in 2024 when Hastie travelled through Texas, immersing himself in its smokehouse culture and meeting KG – a connection that’s now come full circle.
Expect smoke, fire and serious flavour… and a rare chance to experience two masters of the craft in one place.
Seats are limited, and I am certain they won’t last long.
Find all you need to know here.
