After a leisurely breakfast, it’s all aboard our coach headed for the village of Arrowtown and its lovely setting. We have time to ramble the shops and snag a bite to eat and take in the autumn colors before heading off to the old mining town of Clyde on the Clutha River. There we check into our hotels, before walking over to Touch Yarns for some serious squish-time with their lovely fibers. We can relax for the afternoon and meet up for a welcome dinner at the Old Clyde Bank in town.

It’s ANZAC Day! An important holiday for Kiwis and Aussies alike. Our first stop is Templeton Flax Mill, currently operating as a museum to the once thriving flax industry in New Zealand. Called harakeke by the Maori, New Zealand flax is in the lily family, and not a flax plant per se. It was called flax by the European settlers as the fibers closely resemble those of the European  flax varieties. From Templeton, we head due East to Dunedin, to the Royal Albatross Centre. This is the world’s only mainland Royal Albatross breeding colony. Given that we are there during the time when adults fly in to feed their chicks, we have a shot at getting a glimpse of the great birds in full flight. 

We then go to check into our night’s accommodation. Larnach Castle was built by merchant baron William Larnach for his wife Eliza in 1871 in Scottish style. We are given a tour and have a chance to visit the beautiful gardens before heading to our own private dinner in the Music Room. 

From Dunedin we continue northwards, stopping to stretch our legs At Moeraki Boulders Beach. There we can check out the large spherical boulders exhumed by coastal erosion. After a bite to eat in their café, we go to Oamaru. Our first stop there is McLean & Co Weavers owned by Rod and Sue McClean. Rod and Sue work from home and that is where we learn about their restored Hattersley looms on which they produce unique fabrics from locally produced New Zealand wool. The rest of the day is spent exploring quaint and quirky Oamaru: Crafted art gallery, the Textile Emporium and the Steampunk Museum HQ! Pace yourselves though, as we have an evening date with a Blue Penguin Colony streaming past us to their roosts after a busy day at sea.

We head to Waimate to visit Stuart Albrey and his Polwarth flock. He will work his dogs and give us some bearings around the fleece wool trade in New Zealand. With any luck, we have a chance to watch him work his dogs as well. Then we head to Ashburton, home of Ashford Spinning Wheels. After lunch in their café we are given a presentation and a tour. There is ample time to spend in the Ashford shop as there is much of interest for us all, even if we are not spinners. From there, off to Christchurch to check into our hotel, before spending an evening with the Christchurch Fiber Guild. Bring your WIPs and be prepared to make some new knitting buddies.

At our guild gathering last night, we met Eleanor Patterson, and this morning we visit her at home at Starcrest Farm where she and her husband Jack breed Polwarth sheep and spin up some delectable fibers! From there, we head back into town to visit the beautiful gardens of Mona Vale and to treat ourselves to a High Tea. The rest of the day is left to explore all things Christchurch at your own pace - going for a punt along the Avon, visiting the Cardboard Cathedral or the International Antarctic Centre are among the picks.

A short drive out of Christchurch is the home of Wild Earth Yarns, owned by Jacqui and Graham McLaughlin who are leading producers of hand knitting yarn. They will give us a tour of the spinning operation as well as let us loose in the factory shop packed full of delectable fiber. After this, down we go to the beautiful coastline to Akaroa, where our first stop is the Giant’s House, home of the artist and horticulturist Josie Martin. We visit her remarkable gardens, followed by lunch in the house and hearing from Josie about her work. After our visit, we head into the small town of Akaroa and walk along the oceanfront with perhaps a chance to nab Hokey Pokey - the uniquely New Zealand flavor of honeycomb crunch ice cream.

We are off to Middlehurst Sheep Station in the Awatere River Valley! Owners Sue and Willie Mcdonald will be sending over special transportation to help us cross the rugged terrain of the Kaikoura range. On the way, we stop by Molesworth Station to visit the Cob Cottage and to learn about the shepherding history of the region. Once at Middlehurst, Sue and Willie and daughter-in-law Joy, have prepared a spectacular couple of days for us on their beautiful station in the Awatere River Valley. Sue Macdonald is a fleece specialist and micron guru. Willie tends the flock and the land. Both are stewards with a profound love, respect, and awe for this stunning part of the world. After a presentation by Sue and a tour of the Wool Shed, how about a gin tasting from a local still? 

This morning, after a hearty farm breakfast, we head out to watch the sheepdogs muster a mob of sheep into the yards. We are sheep deep in Merino wool by then and Sue will share her approach to breeding choices and genetics at Middlehurst. The afternoon is devoted to “fleece to fabric” with the possibility of a friendly challenge being set! After that exertion, hot tubs anyone? They are wood fired and just a short walk from your rooms. Before or after a scrumptious station dinner or both?!

We bid the Mcdonalds and Middlehurst a fond farewell, and board our Cessna Jets. Flying over the Cook Strait that separates the North and South Islands,  we put down in Wellington, the capital city. We have the day to explore Wellington,starting with a group visit to Te Papa Tongarewa (“Container of Treasures”), New Zealand's national museum. The rest of the day can be  at your own pace with a choice of activities. How about a WETA workshop tour to learn how Orcs are born (well, ok…made), or a stroll down the harbor? Just be back in time to head out to Zealandia for a night tour and a chance to spot some kiwi - the rare feathered variety!

Today, we wind our way up the east coast with our first stop at the Possum Factory for a tour and an opportunity to browse the shop. (Nipple warmers anyone? Really. It’s a thing). We then head to Opunake, the home of local artist Viv Davy. Viv will be there with accompanying fiber artists to welcome us and give us lunch before embarking on our workshops. We get a start on our work today, before heading over to relax at Ahu Ahu Beach Villas, our home for the next two nights.

Viv and her workshop leaders are coming to us today, so that we can get thoroughly stuck into our projects. We dye with native plants and each get to participate, on a rotation throughout the day, in three workshops: Muka Spinning (Muka is NZ Flax, which is actually in the lily family), Possum spinning on spindle, and Hareheke (also NZ Flax) weaving. All our meals are to be catered at Ahu Ahu today.

We head all the way over to the West Coast to take a closer look at the geological underbelly of New Zealand. Our first stop is Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland. After taking in the sights of the geothermal park, we settle into our accommodations in Papamoa. There we are met by the Poad family members, Glynis, Owen and Tony, the owners of Majacraft Spinning Wheels. They have projects for us to work on, focused on spinning with local fibers. Dinner is a short walk away.

We start the morning off with a visit to Majacraft to see their wheels in production. Then head out to Matamata, the home of Hobbiton for a tour and Hobbit lunch fare - so dust off your Elvish, Entish or best Hobbit parlance as we enter an entirely different dimension from our yarny experience. From there, up to Auckland. We check into our hotel and then find our way to Loopine Wool Co, owned by American expat, Alanna Penk. Lani will delight us with her Kiwi experience of all things wooly New Zealand, including the possum blends. She has a kit all ready for us as a parting gift to sink our needle-teeth into at home.

After a leisurely breakfast, we hop on the ferry to Waiheke Island. We are met by our coach to take us to  Cable Bay Vineyards for a special lunch and a wine tasting. This is our farewell, celebrating our Kiwi adventures, and regaling each other with our plans for our well stocked cases of Kiwi stash.

After breakfast, our trusty coach picks us up and drops us off at Auckland airport for flights home. Ka kite ano! We will see each other again!

Heather Radl loves designing and leading knitting and fiber tours. She’s fascinated with local traditions, unique yarns, and the modern twist added to both by current designers. Her ever-widening exposure to both has led to a long queue of patterns and a dramatic accumulation of stash!  She’s also been trying her hand at new wooly endeavors like felting and spinning. When not knitting, traveling or planning your next trip, Heather tends her small flock of chickens and ducks, volunteers in her local thrift shop, and spends time with her two dogs, her husband’s cat, her family, and friends in Dunbarton, NH.

Sydney Morrell is a knitter, spinner, crocheter, dyer, and felter. She loves to explore how different local cultures work with fiber.  At one time Sydney managed Quail Hill Farm including sheep for fiber and meat as well as pigs, goats, horses, donkeys, too many cats and dogs, plus various types of poultry. She took her sheep wool from shearing to dying, using her own dye plants, to spinning to knitted garments.  Sydney grew up in NYC and Switzerland and is fluent in French, Italian, and German. She worked for many years as a French teacher and mentor in Waldorf Schools. Before that she worked as a financier on Wall Street and she now uses those skills for strategic planning at Rowan Tree.