New Zealand is a country of rich contrasts. From the spectacular snow capped mountains to the cosmopolitan cities, blue ice glaciers and golden sandy beaches, New Zealand provides a vast array of new experiences. We’ve planned the 2007 Journey itinerary to give you a glimpse of the many faces of the country as well as opportunities to pursue your fibre craft interests. The Journey includes a cooked breakfast at the beginning of each day. Other meals included with the trip are indicated for each day.
The itinerary below summarizes our trip. A detailed, printable versions is available in PDF format below. You can get Adobe Reader free.
- Downloadable Itinerary (PDF, 880kb)
Friday April 6
Fly from your home city and meet Jane Fournier at the Los Angeles International Airport for the group departure to New Zealand tonight.
Saturday April 7
Cross International Dateline – lose 24 hours.
Sunday April 8 (Lunch)
Auckland – 2 Nights
Kia Ora! Welcome to New Zealand. We arrive in Auckland in the early morning and upon completion of customs and immigration formalities, we are joined by Nola Fournier. We’ll board our private coach and take a brief introductory tour of Auckland, including a visit to the War Memorial Museum which has a particularly fine collection of Maori and Polynesian artifacts. Later we will join the Pride of Auckland yachts for a luncheon cruise on the Waitemata Harbor. At the end of the cruise we will transfer to our hotel with the remainder of the day at leisure.
Monday April 9 (Dinner)
This morning is free to explore Auckland city. This will be an opportunity to visit the Auckland Art Gallery or browse the city shops, the Victoria market or many of the host of attractions the city offers. In the evening we will celebrate the start of our journey with a welcome dinner.
Tuesday April 10
Rotorua – 2 Nights
We travel today to Rotorua, the centre of an extensive thermal region of geysers, bubbling mud pools and sulphurous lakes. On arrival, we will visit the Agrodome, where we’ll see 19 different breeds of sheep and New Zealand sheep dogs at work. On the same site are several other places of interest – woolcrafts, a fudge factory and a paua pearl growing exhibit!
Wednesday April 11
Today we are given a guided tour of the Te Puia center where Maori carvers are at work, and enjoy a performance by the Maori Concert Party. An expert Maori weaver will teach us one of her traditional crafts using New Zealand flax, a native fibre plant. The rest of the day will be at leisure to wander by the lakeside, visit the Government Gardens or the nearby Orchid Gardens and Polynesian Pools.
Thursday April 12
New Plymouth – 3 Nights
Our destination is New Plymouth, the venue for the Creative Fibre Festival 2007. We will travel via Lake Taupo the largest inland lake in New Zealand and a favoured trout fishing area. For three days we will take part in the Festival’s many activities and offerings –fashion shows, national exhibitions, shows and sales of fibrecraft supplies, displays, classes, tours and skill competitions. The wide range of class topics embraces weaving, spinning, felting, knitting and design. If you wish to attend only part of the festival and take optional tours the other days, we’ll arrange these also. Complete class and optional tour information will be sent to you at the time of your registration for the journey. You may like to check out the Creative Fibre web site www.creativefibre.org.nz and click on ‘Festival’ at the bottom of the home page.
Sunday April 15
Nelson – 2 Nights
Late in the afternoon we will transfer to the New Plymouth airport for our flight to Nelson, a small city lying in a sheltered bay at the top of the South Island. It has a strong tradition in arts and crafts, is a major fishing port and boasts many charming city walks.
Monday April 16 (Lunch)
Today we will visit various arts and crafts studios in the area. We will lunch at a local vineyard, visit the exciting World of Wearable Art Museum and later in the afternoon meet with the textile craftspeople running a cooperative gallery in the heart of the city.
Tuesday April 17 (Lunch)
Christchurch – 3 Nights
We travel south today, to Christchurch the Garden City. We’ll drive through beech forest and enjoy a picnic en route. The charm of Christchurch derives from the beautiful Avon River that runs down through the suburbs and provides an almost rural atmosphere in the heart of the city.
Wednesday April 18 (Dinner)
After breakfast we will be entertained by a storyteller. The rest of the day will be at leisure, to explore Christchurch and its many attractions. A visit to the Christchurch Arts Centre is highly recommended. Here you will see craftspeople at work – weavers, woolcrafters, woodturners, potters, carvers to mention a few –and it is a great place to find gifts to take home. In the evening we will visit Willowbank, a native wildlife park (kiwi viewing guaranteed!) where we will be treated to some Maori culture and dinner.
Thursday April 19
This morning we will have an Alpaca Picnic and learn more about this luxurious fibre and yarn at one of the country’s pre—eminent producers. For the afternoon we are taking a two—hour wildlife cruise on the Lyttelton Harbour to experience the local marine life and watch the rare Hector’s dolphin, found only in New Zealand.
Friday April 20 (Dinner)
Fairlie – 1 night
Friday we travel to Ashburton where we tour the Ashford Spinning Wheel factory and explore the rest of the complex — a treat for spinners, weavers, and knitters. Richard and Elizabeth Ashford always have an exciting programme for our visit. After a brief stop at the Tin Shed for some surprising shopping, we will continue on to Geraldine where we meet with the local spinners for afternoon tea, before making our way to Fairlie, there to meet our farm stay hosts for dinner and overnight stay. (We will be staying with different families.)
Saturday April 21 (Lunch)
Queenstown – 2 Nights
After breakfast with our farmstay hosts, who will then return us to our coach, we’ll travel to Stuart and Sue Albrey’s farm. With the handspinner in mind, Stuart has developed an exceptional little flock of coloured sheep and his fleeces are for sale! He also has a new range of yarns spun from his own fleece. After lunch with Stuart and Sue, we travel to Queenstown, the South Island’s year round prime resort, located beside the deep blue waters of Lake Wakatipu, at the foot of the Remarkables Range.
This is a breathtakingly beautiful location and a playground for all seasons – bungee jumping, botanical gardens, waterfalls – they are all here. You may choose to enjoy a scenic flight over the spectacular Remarkables Range or take a cruise on the grand old steamship TSS Earnslaw to a high country sheep station. Other options include the Kiwi Birdlife Park or a gondola ride to Bob’s Peak for panoramic views of the Remarkables and Wakatipu Basin, bungee jumping or jet boating. A trip to Milford Sound is another great option. It is also very pleasant to sit in an outdoor café in the mall or on the lake front to watch the world go by.
Sunday April 22 (Dinner)
This morning we visit the historic gold—mining settlement of Arrowtown. While there you’ll be free to wander among the many historic buildings and sites or browse the small local shops. The afternoon is at leisure to explore Queenstown or take advantage of its many attractions and this evening we will enjoy our farewell dinner.
Monday April 23
Time for last—minute packing, posting of parcels or shopping before our transfer to Queenstown airport to connect with our departure flight. On arrival in Auckland we transfer to the International Departures Terminal for the flight to Los Angeles.
- Cross International Dateline – Gain 24 hours
- Arrive in Los Angeles in the morning of April 23.
- Optional Extension to Australia April 23 – April 30
Over the years, there have been requests for extensions to Australia. This year, we are offering an extension, escorted by Nola Fournier, to Melbourne, Cairns and Sydney.
Monday April 23
Melbourne – 2 Nights
On arrival in Melbourne and completion of custom and immigration formalities, we will be met by private coach and transferred to our hotel.
Tuesday April 24
This morning we cross the Westgate Bridge on our way to Geelong, Victoria’s largest provincial city where we will visit the National Wool Museum. Located in a century—old, beautifully refurbished building, this museum showcases the wool industry from early settlement to present day. Displays, including a 1910 Axminster Jacquard carpet loom, sock knitting machine, and a 1928 AA Ford wool truck, provide an informative view of Australia’s rich wool heritage. After lunch we visit the Victorian Tapestry Workshop in South Melbourne. Later, there will be time for some shopping in Melbourne.
Wednesday April 25
Cairns – 3 Nights
After breakfast we will board our coach en route to the airport for our flight to Cairns. On arrival, we will be transferred to our hotel. Cairns, with its population of 100,000, is Australia’s major gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and one of the oldest settlements in northern Queensland. Timber homes on stilts line the wide, tree—lined streets, and charming pubs and restaurants survive among the modern buildings.
Thursday April 26 (Lunch)
After breakfast we will transfer to the wharf for our full day tour to the Great Barrier Reef aboard the Ocean Spirit. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world and one of its natural wonders. More than two thousand species of fish and many varieties of both hard and soft coral are found in its waters. A buffet lunch, and snorkeling is included. We will return to the hotel late afternoon and have the evening at leisure.
Friday April 27 (Lunch)
Today is a full day Kuranda Rainforest tour that includes Kuranda scenic rail over the range with views of Stoney Creek, Barron Falls, and Barron Gorge. You’ll have free time to explore Kuranda Village and its famous markets or visit the magnificent butterfly sanctuary before taking the sky rail rainforest cableway from Kuranda to Carovonica. Lunch and entry into the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park to view performances by the Tjapukai Aboriginal Dancers is included.
Saturday April 28
Sydney – 2 Nights
After breakfasting at the hotel we will be transferred to the airport in time for the flight to Sydney. We will be met on arrival and transferred to our hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Optional: This evening you may choose an optional tour of the Sydney Opera House followed by dinner and a performance.
Sunday April 29 (Dinner)
A coffee cruise on sparkling Sydney Harbour will be the highlight this morning. The afternoon will be free to explore The Rocks market, visit the Museum of Contemporay Art or shop till you drop in the city. You may choose to visit Darling Harbour, ride the Sydney Monorail, or visit some of the many great sights of Sydney. Our Farewell dinner is included tonight.
Monday April 30
After breakfast at the hotel, we will be transferred to the airport in time for the flight to Los Angeles.
- Cross the International Dateline–gain 24 hours.
- Arrive in Los Angeles early afternoon