AUSTRALIA 2027
23 Night Small Group
Knit Adventure
featuring
Adelaide * Bendigo * Blue Mountains * Great Ocean Road * Hunter Valley
Kangaroo Island * McLaren Vale * Melbourne * Mornington Peninsula
Phillip Island * Sydney
06 - 29 July, 2027
Fully Hosted by Michelle Streicher
SPJ Retreats - CANADA
SMALL GROUP (Maximum 20 Participants)
DOUBLE OR TWIN ROOM - $15,999CAD per person based on double occupancy
SINGLE ROOM - $19,649CAD
Don't have a roommate?
No worries, we can pair you with another solo traveller looking to share a twin bed room!
Join SPJ Retreats on an unforgettable fibre-rich journey through Australia's picturesque landscapes, spanning South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales.
This exclusive experience immerses you in the heart of Australia's wool industry, where over 90% of the world’s fine Merino wool is produced—prized for its softness, durability, and breathability.
Throughout our journey, we’ll explore vibrant fibre-rich destinations, from sheep farms to artisan workshops, connecting with Australia's thriving indie-dyed yarn scene. Discover small-batch, hand-dyed brands that have gained international acclaim and meet the talented makers behind them.
Get ready for an inspiring adventure celebrating the artistry of fibre in one of the world’s premier wool-producing regions.
NOTE: ALL PRICES ARE IN CANADIAN DOLLARS - EXCEPTIONAL VALUE FOR THOSE FROM USA OR EUROPE
Included In Your Retreat
- 23 Nights Accommodation in 3.5 and 4 star accommodations
- 23 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches and 5 Dinners, 2 Morning Teas and 2 Afternoon Teas
- Wine Tastings in McLaren Vale & Mornington Peninsula
- Australian Wildlife Encounters
- Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo
- Knitting Workshops & Talks
- Farm Visits
- Visit local yarn shops in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney
- Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise
- 4 x Workshops & Talks Patty Lyons
- Tour of Sydney including the Sydney Opera House
- explore Kangaroo Island, Australia's Galapagos
- Tour of Melbourne's quaint Laneways
- Tour of Sydney Opera House
- Travel along the Great Ocean Road
- Price quoted based on 20 participants
* $16,599CAD if we get 16 participants based on twin share
* $20,249CAD SINGLE room if we get 16 participants
* $17,999CAD if we get 14 participants based on twin share
* $21,649CAD SINGLE room if we get 14 participants
Meet Our Guest Knit Instructor
We're delighted to introduce to you our guest knit instructor!
PATTY LYONS
Knit Designer, Teacher and Author
Patty Lyons is one of those knitting instructors who has developed a cult following among serious knitters, and for good reason. She is an American knitting teacher, designer, author, and technique expert whose particular gift is explaining why knitting works, rather than simply telling you which steps to follow.
Her teaching philosophy is essentially “learn the why, not just the how.” She calls this developing the “mindful knitter.” Rather than having you blindly follow a pattern, she teaches you to understand what's happening with your stitches, gauge, fabric, shaping and fit.
Her particular specialties include:
- Gauge including how to make gauge work for you rather than treating it as an annoying preliminary chore.
- Sweater construction and fit
- Pattern reading and pattern troubleshooting
- Fixing knitting mistakes
- Blocking
- Cables and other stitch techniques
- Circular knitting
- Brioche
- Customizing patterns
- Understanding your knitted stitches
Her approach is notably practical. Student testimonials repeatedly emphasize that she gives them the information needed to diagnose problems and make their own decisions rather than simply rescuing them from mistakes.
Her upcoming book, Patty Lyons' Knitting ER, is scheduled for October 2026. The concept is wonderfully Patty: a knitting “emergency room” full of repair tutorials and solutions for everything from dropped stitches to problems discovered after binding off.
Patty will be teaching at our Weekend Knit Retreat in the Hunter Valley followed by this delightful 23 Night Knitting Adventure in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.
Don't miss your chance to learn from Patty and travel with her Downunder. Space is strictly limited to 20 for our 23 Night adventure.
Meet Your Host
MICHELLE STREICHER
Owner, Retreat Organiser and Host
SPJ Retreats, CANADA
Michelle is the creative heart behind SPJ Retreats, bringing together memorable knitting and fibre adventures in some of the world's most inspiring destinations.
With more than 26 years of experience in the travel industry across Australia and Canada, Michelle enjoys creating thoughtfully curated South Pacific holidays and knitting retreats that celebrate the creativity, traditions, and culture of fibre arts from around the world. Her greatest pleasure is connecting like-minded people through shared experiences and a love of travel and making.
One of the questions she's asked most often by retreat guests is, "Do you knit?" The answer is an enthusiastic yes!
Michelle discovered her love of knitting when her eldest child was just six months old while living in Australia. Keen to build a solid foundation, she enrolled in two three-month knitting courses at the local college in Armidale, where she developed the skills and techniques that continue to shape her knitting today. What began as a desire to learn the craft well gradually grew into a lifelong passion, one she now enjoys sharing with knitters from around the world through every retreat.
