Reservations 877·97·CRAFT  (877·972·7238)

13-Day ~ Australia & New Zealand (Mar 2017)

Holland America Line


Start Date:

   

March 26, 2017

   

End Date:

   

April 8, 2017

Australia & New Zealand (Mar 2017) ~ Knitting Cruises Description

13-Day New Zealand & Australia Knitting Cruise w/ Chris Bylsma

 

Join Craft Cruises and Chris Bylsma on a knitting cruise adventure Downunder! Cruise from Auckland to Sydney visiting some of the most popular ports including Tauranga (Rotorua), Napier, Wellington, Akaroa (Christchurch), Dunedin, Fiordland National Park, Hobart, Melbourne and Sydney. This cruise offers the perfect balance between time in port and relaxing days at sea.

 

New Zealand is ideally seen from a cruise ship since you only need to pack and unpack once. Arrive early to explore Auckland and its surrounding areas including the Bay of Islands and Waiheke Island. Sample wines at local vineyards, jump off the Sky Tower or participate in an Auckland yarn crawl. Visit Tasmania, one of the hardest destinations to reach within Australia, and Melbourne, where you can visit a wool museum and a working sheep farm, ending your adventure in Sydney. After the cruise, for those wanting to fully experience Australia, let us help you plan an extension to the Great Barrier Reef, Australia's famous Red Center or some of Sydney's top attractions such as the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Blue Mountains, or the Hunter Valley wine region.  Onboard enjoy classes with Chris Bylsma where you'll learn a range of new knitting skills. In addition to the onboard class program, participants may choose to join in on the fun knitalong project Chris is designing specifically for this cruise.

 

13-Day New Zealand & Australia Knitting Cruise w/ Chris Bylsma

 

  • Arrive early and visit neighboring Waiheke Island where you can sample local delicacies and sip local wines at the Mudbrick Vineyard overlooking the Auckland harbor

  • Visit Mt. Eden, the highest volcano in Auckland overlooking One Tree Hill, made famous by U2 in their album Joshua Tree

  • Shop at Robyn Egge Yarns, visit an alpaca farm and stop at a scenic beach north of Auckland along the Matakana Coast

  • In Rotorua go to the Agrodome, a working farm, where visitors learn about New Zealand's 19 sheep breeds while watching shearing, carding and herding demonstrations

  • Experience New Zealand's geothermal attractions and the indigenous Maori culture at Whakarewarewa where visitors learn about local arts and crafts at the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute

  • Shop for yarn at Holland Road Yarn Company's newest location in Wellington and learn about their role in creating the costumes for Lord of the Rings

  • Spend the day at the Ashford Wheels & Looms with a tour of the mill and factory plus yarn shopping at their craft Village

  • Learn about alpaca farming, shop for yarn and meet the characters from Shamarra Alpacas in Akaroa

  • Indulge your senses in taste, sight and smell at Cadbury World while touring the Dunedin Cadbury chocolate factory

  • Take an entertaining and informative tour of the Speight's Brewery in Dunedin

  • Visit the Larnach Castle on your way to the Albatross Visitor Center and Penguin Beach outside of Dunedin

  • Experience dense rainforest, crystal clear waters, towering peaks, wilderness scenery and marine wildlife in Fiordland National Park

  • Meet the friendliest fiber artists in Australia in Hobart while shopping for Tasmanian wool

  • Food lovers can delight in cool-climate wines, handmade cheeses and the freshest seafood in the world in Tasmania

  • Visit the National Wool Museum in Geelong where you'll also have the chance to shop for yarn from Lara Downs family farm specializing in angora and merino

  • Learn all about sheep farming in the Outback at the Tarndie Homestead working sheep farm

  • Enjoy a farm-fresh lunch of rustic pies made with lamb and sweet potato and fresh baked scones topped with clotted cream and homemade jam

  • Learn about the Australian Tapestry Workshop and its production of hand-woven tapestries created by the best weavers and artists in the world

  • Extend your stay and knit the colors of Australia with Jane Slicer-Smith in a workshop at her studio in Sydney

  • Have breakfast with koalas at the Featherdale Wildlife Park on a Blue Mountain adventure just outside of Sydney