May 24, 2027 - June 1, 2027
Girls on the Road Again | 9 Days | 24 May – 1 June 2027
From sparkling city lights and champagne lunches to outback legends and star-filled skies, this is Australia turned all the way up.
We kick things off in Sydney during the dazzling VIVID Festival, then roll west aboard the legendary Indian Pacific, crossing the continent in effortless style. Think incredible food, unforgettable scenery, laughter-filled lounges and experiences you’ll still be talking about years from now — all shared with a fabulous group of like-minded women.
Prepare for Sydney to shine! Your stay coincides with Vivid Sydney — the largest festival of light in the Southern Hemisphere — transforming the city after dark into a spectacular world of light, colour, creativity and sound. Watch Sydney’s most iconic landmarks become enormous illuminated canvases, wander amongst breathtaking installations and soak up the incredible atmosphere around the harbour. It’s a dazzling finale to Rails, Red Dust & City Lights — and an experience that truly has to be seen to be believed.
This isn’t just a holiday. It’s an adventure with flair, flavour and a whole lot of fun.
Travelling solo? Perfect — you’ll be in great company! This women-only journey is all about sharing incredible experiences, plenty of laughs and those spontaneous moments that often become the best memories of the entire trip. Arrive on your own and quickly become part of a small, welcoming group of like-minded women.
Enjoy the best of both worlds — your own room and cabin throughout, with a wonderful group of women to share the adventures, meals, laughs and memories with along the way. Come for the journey, stay for the friendships, and don’t be surprised if you head home with a whole new circle of travelling friends.
Your journey begins in the heart of Sydney, where you’ll meet your Travel With Lesley Whyte host at our centrally located hotel at approximately 10.30am. From the moment you join us, settle in, meet your fellow travellers and get ready to experience the energy, colour and excitement 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.
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.
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.
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
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:
Wrap things up with a lively Bavarian-inspired dinner at The Haus, before returning to the train.
Fitness Level: Low
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.
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.
Over the next two delicious days, enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner as we explore:
A relaxed, indulgent finale to an unforgettable journey.
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.
Centrally located 4-star accommodation in Sydney and Perth – own room
Everything is taken care of — simply pack your essentials and bring your credit card for any personal purchases along the way.
A low level of fitness is required for this tour.
This journey has been designed at a relaxed and comfortable pace, with much of the travel aboard the Indian Pacific, private transfers and coaches. Off-train experiences are also rated as low fitness.
Guests should be comfortable with:
There are no strenuous hikes or high-fitness activities included. Regular opportunities to sit, rest and relax are built into the itinerary, making this an ideal journey for travellers who enjoy exploring at an easy-going pace.
Meet Your Host – Fiona FenwickYour host for Rails, Red Dust & City Lights is the wonderful Fiona Fenwick, Tour Leader and Ambassador for Travel With Lesley Whyte’s women-only tours.
A true global traveller, Fiona was born in Scotland, educated in Hong Kong and began her corporate career in Europe before making New Zealand home in 2001. Travel has been part of Fiona’s life from an early age, and she brings warmth, confidence and a genuine love of connecting with people to every journey she hosts.
Fiona is passionate about great food, wonderful wine and memorable experiences, and was recently recognised by Cuisine Magazine as one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s influential and inspiring women in food and drink.
Throughout your journey, Fiona will be there to make sure everything runs smoothly, from welcoming you at the beginning of the tour to sharing the experiences, laughs and adventures along the way.
Travelling solo? You certainly won’t feel alone. Fiona has a wonderful ability to bring a group together, creating a relaxed and welcoming environment where new friendships can naturally form.
So pack your bags and get ready to experience Rails, Red Dust & City Lights with Fiona leading the way!
Want us to take care of a little more of your journey?
✈️ Flights + Sydney Arrival Transfer – Add AUD $1,400 per person
Include your flight from Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch to Sydney, your airport-to-hotel transfer on arrival, plus your return flight home from Perth to Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch.
🏨 Additional Pre-Tour Night in Sydney – Add AUD $450 per person
Prefer to arrive a day earlier? Add an additional night at our Sydney hotel, including breakfast, giving you time to relax, settle in and be ready for your adventure to begin.
Booking terms & conditions – please click this link
For questions or bookings: mail lesley@travelwithlesleywhyte.com