NEW ZEALAND

craft lovers ADVENTURE to NEW ZEALAND ​
February 13 - 24, 2024
​CAUCUS MEMBERS ONLY
$5,345 PER PERSON DOUBLE ROOM
​$6,567 PER PERSON for SINGLE ROOM

Swoon over the contemporary craft of New Zealand in this unique craft lovers trip! Art Travel NZ organizes this one-of-a-kind 12 day trip, featuring stops in some of New Zealand's most popular cities including Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. With input from JRACraft caucus member, craft collector and NZ resident, Peggy Greenfield, this trip is sure to delight the craft lovers in all of us.

Cost includes accommodation in 4 star hotels in central Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, domestic flights on Air New Zealand from Auckland to Wellington, to Christchurch and back to Auckland and some meals.

trip itinerary

tuesday, february 13- Auckland

​Welcome to Aotearoa New Zealand. Arrive today and transfer to your hotel in downtown Auckland to stay for the next 2 nights.
Your hotel is available for immediate check in this morning.
Welcome cocktail and city introduction.
EVENING Free

wednesday, february 14- auckland

MORNING ​Visit Objectspace for a talk on the place of New Zealand craft and object art on the world stage.
AFTERNOON Enjoy an orientation tour of Auckland including a local maker or two
along the way. Auckland Art Gallery and Fingers – one of New Zealand’s longest running contemporary jewellery collectives.
EVENING Enjoy a group welcome meal.

thursday, february 15- auckland to wellington

MORNING Hotel check out and transfer to the airport for a one hour flight to Wellington. Visit Te Papa Tongarewa and enjoy a behind the scenes tour.
AFTERNOON Visit a local maker and gallery.
EVENING Free

friday, february 16- wellington

MORNING Enjoy a visit to Lower Hutt and the Dowse Art Museum which has a focus on craft and object art.
AFTERNOON Lunch at La Bell’Italia before returning to the city to visit a local studio and a local collector.
EVENING An evening meal is included tonight

saturday, february 17- wellington

MORNING Visit Avid Gallery, one of the local dealer galleries specialising in Craft and Object art and Jhana Millers Gallery where we learn about the work of local up and coming artists.
AFTERNOON Free to visit local galleries or wander the waterfront.

sunday, february 18- wellington to christchurch

MORNING Hotel check out and fly to Christchurch.
On arrival we visit the Christchurch Art Gallery and Arts Precinct for a city orientation. Christchurch has changed substantially since the 2010 earthquakes devastated the city.
Learn about SCAPE – the annual sculpture festival as we travel around the city.
EVENING Free 

monday, february 19- christchurch

MORNING AND AFTERNOON Today we take in some of Christchurch’s cultural highlights. Spend time hearing from Caroline who runs The National, the local craft, object and contemporary jewellery galleries.
Visit Dilana Rugs and learn about their bespoke artist carpets.
Visit a local studio and dealer gallery.
EVENING meal is included.

tuesday, february 20- christchurch

​MORNING Travel over the Port Hills to visit the home and gardens of architect Sir Miles Warren at Governers Bay, spend time in Lyttleton
AFTERNOON Return to Christchurch after lunch via a local studio.
We conclude our time in Christchurch with a local collector visit.
EVENING free

Wednesday, February 21- christchurch to auckland

MORNING Hotel check out and fly back to Auckland for the last leg of our tour. On arrival we visit Pah Homestead, an original 1880s home turned into a local gallery hosting the Wallace Collection.
AFTERNOON Visit a local home and collection.
EVENING  Free 

thursday, february 22 auckland

MORNING ​Return to Objectspace for a talk before heading out west to Titirangi, and Te Uru Gallery, part of a local village in the bushclad hills of West Auckland. The nationally celebrated Portage Ceramic Awards are on show. This is a diverse range of New Zealand’s contemporary ceramics practice.
EVENING Free 

friday, february 23- auckland

MORNING Today we meet some locals, spend time at Masterworks Gallery learning about local makers and visit nearby Anna Miles Gallery. Anna specialises in a lovely cross over of artists and makers.
AFTERNOON Free time to shop or revisit any of the galleries around downtown Auckland.
EVENING A farewell dinner is included tonight.

saturday, february 24- onward

​We check out and say farewell today. Take a connecting flight to Auckland and back home or to your next travel destination.

Trip Itinerary

SEE THE FAQ

REGISTER EARLY!

This is expected to be one of our most popular trips in recent history. Become a Caucus Member and register today!

All cancellations must be made in writing to the James Renwick Alliance for Craft at admin@jra.org at least one month in advance of the trip start date. Refunds, less a cancellation fee of $150 per person and the non-refundable JRACraft contribution of $500 per person. No refunds will be made after this date except in the case of a medical emergency, in which case all funds less the cancellation fee, donation and incurred expenses by JRACraft will be refunded. In the case that JRACraft cancels the trip for any reason, a full refund will be issued.

Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory. Further guidance about this will be sent as the trip nears. 

You may be asked to produce a Covid vaccination certificate and adhere to any and all New Zealand government regulations and requirements around Covid, if any at the time of travel.

​You are responsible for any visa’s to enter New Zealand such as the NZeTA