I did not guide all our overseas hikes, treks and cultural journeys. I was blessed with knowledgeable and professional office staff who were able to enhance their interests through guiding small groups in exploring our global community. Today's guest Blogger is Marilyn Miller who describes the New Zealand Wool & Weave which she organized and led.
Working for David at Folkways, I dreamt of traveling. When David asked me where I would like to go, I said, New Zealand; so an adventure was planned with the National Woodcraft Festival as the focus. A small group joined together in Christchurch on March 15, 1980 and we ventured out in a van traveling through the country.
Working for David at Folkways, I dreamt of traveling. When David asked me where I would like to go, I said, New Zealand; so an adventure was planned with the National Woodcraft Festival as the focus. A small group joined together in Christchurch on March 15, 1980 and we ventured out in a van traveling through the country.
In Christchurch we visited an art show, strolled through the Botanical Gardens, visited the Cathedral, and enjoyed an evening with the local spinner's and weaver's guild where we met an author writing a book on weaving.
After we left Christchurch, we stopped for a tour of the Ashford Handicrafts that still makes top quality spinning wheels. We arrived at Mt. Cook in the evening after making stops at a pottery shop, grocery store, a chapel and a sheep dog statue honoring early settlers to that part of New Zealand.
At Mt. Cook, we hiked 2 hours to Kea Point, to see the glacier and returned in only 45 minutes. You could hear the rumble of the glacier movement. One evening meal was at the lodge where I ordered the fish entree, not expecting to have a whole fish laid before me. Mt. cook was in full bloom with a multitude of lupines in a large variety of colors. What a thing of beauty. Yes, I tucked a few seeds in my pocket and, the next year, had them growing in my garden.
Then we were on to Queenstown where we took the gondola up the mountain for a beautiful view, enjoyed a day trip to Milford Sound and cruised across the lake to Walter Peak to experience a working farm with sheep demonstrations and tea time.
Leaving Queenstown we had a long and bumpy drive over Haast Pass. I took a sigh of relief once we reach Fox Glacier. It was a difficult driving day, but we made it without a problem. Along the road we met a herd of sheep and at the glacier we spotted the whimsical Kea birds.
Continuing along on a 7 1/2 hour drive to Nelson, we arrived just in time to have an afternoon tea with the Nelson Weavers and Spinners Guild. The next day we visited the Poly Tech School where many crafts are taught, then on to the South Street Gallery where we met another group of weavers. Next, via ferry to Wellington on the North Island and the New Zealand National Woolcraft Festival in Palmerston North.
The next three days were spent enjoying the ceremonies, the art show, classes in weaving, spinning and embroidery along with a tour of a wool scouring mill and to Lhanbryde Ranch for a shearing demonstration.
After leaving the festival and saying goodbye to new friends, we headed to the Waitomo Glow-worm Grotto near Otorohanga and to the Kiwi House to see live Kiwi birds.
Rotorua was next on our itinerary and we stopped at the Agrodome en-route for a show of sheep herding. That evening we met with the Rotorua Spinners and Weavers Guild. The next day's activities included Whaka Village, Forest Center and a Maori church and meeting house. In the afternoon we saw a demonstration of Taniko and basket making at the Arts and Crafts Center followed by tea at the Colonels Retreat. Our evening entertainment show was at the Maori Cultural Theater.
Our last stop before returning home was Auckland where we had time for shopping and exploring the city, including the War Memorial Museum which had a lovely Maori display.
What a special adventure for someone who had never traveled before to gather this small group together and explore another part of the world. I learned that if I could successfully do this and drive a van on the other side of the road, I could do just about anything.
The next three days were spent enjoying the ceremonies, the art show, classes in weaving, spinning and embroidery along with a tour of a wool scouring mill and to Lhanbryde Ranch for a shearing demonstration.
After leaving the festival and saying goodbye to new friends, we headed to the Waitomo Glow-worm Grotto near Otorohanga and to the Kiwi House to see live Kiwi birds.
Rotorua was next on our itinerary and we stopped at the Agrodome en-route for a show of sheep herding. That evening we met with the Rotorua Spinners and Weavers Guild. The next day's activities included Whaka Village, Forest Center and a Maori church and meeting house. In the afternoon we saw a demonstration of Taniko and basket making at the Arts and Crafts Center followed by tea at the Colonels Retreat. Our evening entertainment show was at the Maori Cultural Theater.
Our last stop before returning home was Auckland where we had time for shopping and exploring the city, including the War Memorial Museum which had a lovely Maori display.
What a special adventure for someone who had never traveled before to gather this small group together and explore another part of the world. I learned that if I could successfully do this and drive a van on the other side of the road, I could do just about anything.
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| Agrodome Farm Show - Rotorua (1980) |
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| Arrowtown Lunch (1980) |
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| Maori Craft Presentation (1980) |
