14-Day ~ New Zealand and Australia Knitting Cruise (Feb 2026)

14-Day New Zealand and Australia Knitting Cruise with Tanis Gray
February 1 - 15, 2026

Join Craft Cruises and Tanis Gray on a knitting cruise adventure Downunder! Cruise from Auckland to Sydney, visiting some of the most popular ports, including Tauranga (Rotorua), Napier, Wellington, Timaru, Dunedin, Fiordland National Park, Hobart, Burnie, and Melbourne. This cruise perfectly balances 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. Sample wines at local vineyards, shop for souvenir yarn or visit Piha's wild black sand beaches.

Shop for Happy Go Knitty yarn in Auckland at a pop-up shop featuring beautiful hand-dyed yarn using locally sourced merino and alpaca fiber. Learn about New Zealand sheep in Rotorua, and shop and tour Skeinz Natural Yarn Store and mill in Napier. Visit Ashford Wheels and Looms on the South Island, where you will find some of the best yarns produced in New Zealand. Visit Tasmania, one of the most remote destinations on earth, and Melbourne. From Melbourne, the group will enjoy a trip to the beloved Tarndie Homestead to learn about Polwarth sheep and what it is like to farm sheep in the rugged Outback.

After the cruise, extend your stay in Sydney to see the iconic Sydney Opera House, stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens, and shop for gorgeous yarn at Skein Sisters, Sydney's best yarn shop.

Tanis will teach a range of classes onboard, including an exclusive stranded colorwork class project designed specifically for this cruise using indie-dyed yarn from Happy Go Knitty in Auckland. Students will be able to preorder yarn to be picked up in Auckland. What a great souvenir!

Classes include Fair Isle 101, Estonian Inlay with Estonian Braids, Mosaic Fingerless Mitts, Double Knitting 101, 2-Colored Cables, Design Your Own Stranded Colorwork Cowl and Beaded Lace.

Tanis Gray is known for her innovative patterns and detailed knitting books. With several hundred published designs, Tanis has a diverse portfolio of garments, accessories, and themed patterns inspired by popular culture, architecture, and history. In her recent book, The Fellowship of the Knits, Tanis includes designs inspired by The Lord of the Rings.

14-Day New Zealand & Australia Knitting Cruise Highlights

• Visit Gumtree Gully Alpaca Farm, where you will learn about alpaca farming in New Zealand and shop for yarn.


• Shop for hand-dyed yarn at Happy Go Knitting just north of Auckland.


• In Rotorua, visit the Agrodome, a 350-acre working farm where visitors can learn about New Zealand's 26 sheep breeds.


• Learn about the beautiful Maori culture and how geothermal resources are used at Whakarewarewa, a Living Maori Village in Rotorua.


• Shop for yarn at Design Spun and learn about the Skeinz mill in Napier.


• Visit the Stansborough Historic Working Weaving Mill to learn about the NZ wool industry's past, present, and future. Learn about the farm side of movie costumes at Stansborough. This mill has produced wool for Narnia and Lord of the Rings wardrobes.


• From Timaru, spend the day at Ashford Wheels & Looms, touring the mill and factory, and shopping for yarn at the Ashford Craft Village.


• In Dunedin, the New Zealand city most reminiscent of Scotland, enjoy a tour of Lanarch Castle or visit the Royal Albatross Visitor's Center.


• In Fiordland National Park, you can experience dense rainforest, crystal clear waters, towering peaks, wilderness scenery, and marine wildlife.


• While cruising in Milford Sound, try to glimpse a Fiordland Crested Penguin in the wild.


• Delight in food, wine, and wool on Craft Cruise's Tassie Wool Lovers Tour in Hobart, Australia.


• Learn about Polwarth sheep and sheep farming in the Outback at the Tarndie Homestead. This working sheep ranch has been developing and adapting the genetics and color of its sheep's fleece so that it is best suited for Victoria's environment and the demands of hand-knitters.


• Enjoy a farm-fresh lunch at the Tarndie homestead, with a menu including rustic pies made with lamb and sweet potato and fresh-baked scones topped with clotted cream and homemade jam.


• Extend your stay in Sydney to see the iconic Sydney Opera House, visit the historic Rocks, or stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens.


• Shop at Skein Sisters, the best yarn shop in Sydney.