Monday 24 May 2027 – Off to Sydney
For our New Zealand guests who have chosen to have flights included, the journey begins with a departure from Auckland, where you’ll be welcomed by your Travel With Lesley Whyte tour escort — from this point on, everything is taken care of for you.
For our guests who have organised their own airfares, simply make your way to Sydney and meet your Travel With Lesley Whyte tour escort at our centrally located hotel at approximately 10.30am, perfectly positioned in the heart of the city to experience the energy and colour of VIVID Sydney.
And then… we begin exactly as we mean to go on.
Today is all about style, sparkle and indulgence, with a private lunch with bubbles at the iconic Ralph Lauren Australian flagship store. As a special treat, each guest will receive an AUD $500 Ralph Lauren shopping voucher — because no elegant girls’ getaway is complete without a little retail therapy.
This afternoon is yours to relax, settle in or explore Sydney at your own pace before we come together this evening for dinner at the much-loved China Lane, one of Sydney’s favourite hidden gems.
After dinner, step out into the glow of VIVID Sydney, wandering through illuminated laneways, waterfront installations and spectacular light displays around Circular Quay and Darling Harbour — colourful, creative and utterly unforgettable.
Tuesday 25 May 2027 – Sydney, Served Fresh
After breakfast, we head somewhere wonderfully Sydney — the Sydney Fish Market — for a three-hour hands-on cooking class.
We’ve chosen something special, and once the cooking is done, it’s time to sit down, clink glasses and enjoy what we’ve created together. Food, fun and fabulous company — tick, tick, tick.
The afternoon is free to recharge before a show-stopping evening.
Tonight, we transfer to Darling Harbour to board a Captain Cook dinner cruise, where a six-course degustation menu with matched wines awaits. As Sydney sparkles around us, watch the VIVID light displays dance across the harbour — a magical view from the water that few ever experience.
After docking, it’s a short transfer back to our hotel — full, happy and glowing.
Wednesday 26 May 2027 – All Aboard the Indian Pacific
After breakfast, we check out and store our bags, then stroll across to the iconic Queen Victoria Building for a spot of last-minute shopping.
Late morning, we settle in for a beautiful high tea, complete with a glass of bubbles (of course), plus tea and coffee — a relaxed and elegant send-off before our great rail adventure begins.
This afternoon, we transfer to Central Station and step aboard the legendary Indian Pacific.
Settle into your Gold Service cabin, toast the journey ahead, and watch as the city fades into the Blue Mountains and the wide-open Australian interior.
Life Onboard the Indian Pacific – Gold Service
Gold Single Cabin (5 cabins available)
Perfect for solo travellers, with a comfy seat by day and a cosy bed by night – shared bathrooms are at each end of the carriage.
Gold Twin Cabin (3 cabins available)
For friends travelling together, featuring a lounge by day, upper and lower beds by night, and a private ensuite.
Off-Train Experiences – Choose Your Adventure
Broken Hill – Silver City Stories
A Miner’s Journey
Explore the heart of Broken Hill at the striking Line of Lode Miners Memorial, with local storytellers bringing its rugged past to life. Enjoy morning tea with sweeping views before a guided coach tour through heritage streets and outback landscapes.
Fitness Level: Low
Broken Hill on Show
Kick things off at the Tipsy Camel with the fabulous Shelita, Broken Hill’s legendary drag queen, followed by a hands-on cooking experience with award-winning chef Lee Cecchin, celebrating native ingredients and outback flavours. Finish with a scenic coach tour that reveals the town’s creative soul.
Fitness Level: Low
Adelaide – Food, Wine & Hillside Charm
Taste of McLaren Vale
An indulgent evening at the iconic Star of Greece, featuring guided wine tastings paired with local delicacies and breathtaking coastal views where vineyards meet the sea.
Fitness Level: Low
Adelaide Hills & Hahndorf
Travel to charming Hahndorf, choosing between:
- Udder Delights cheese tasting with cider, or
- Ambleside Distillers gin flight paired with artisan chocolates
Wrap things up with a lively Bavarian-inspired dinner at The Haus, before returning to the train.
Fitness Level: Low
The Nullarbor – Big Skies & Bonfires
Cook
Step into the eerie charm of Cook, a ghost town with a fascinating railway history deep in Australia’s interior.
Rawlinna – Outback Under the Stars
Disembark at remote Rawlinna Station for drinks and canapés beside a glowing bonfire, under the vast Nullarbor sky — one of those pinch-me travel moments you’ll never forget.
Saturday 29 May 2027 – Perth, We’ve Arrived
Arrive in Perth and transfer to our centrally located hotel. Enjoy some downtime before we gather for a celebratory dinner, sharing stories, laughs and memories from our incredible coast-to-coast adventure.
Sunday 30 & Monday 31 May – Perth & Surrounds
Over the next two delicious days, enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner as we explore:
- Margaret River — wine, chocolate and nougat
- Swan Valley — gourmet produce and boutique wineries
A relaxed, indulgent finale to an unforgettable journey.
Tuesday 1 June 2027 – Homeward Bound
After breakfast, our New Zealand guests will transfer to the airport for return flights home to Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch, while our Australian guests can continue their onward journey from Perth.
As the tour comes to an end, you’ll head home with wonderful new friendships, unforgettable memories, and a smile that lingers long after the suitcase has been unpacked.
