A SPECIAL INVITATION FROM OUR AUSSIE TRAVEL MANAGER-
 
Hi, I’m Margie Westlake, your Aussie Travel Manager, and I’m thrilled to extend a warm invitation to join me on a crafting escapade of a lifetime! Hailing from the picturesque shores of Hobart, Tasmania, I live a life that revolves around the sea, sharing my cozy abode, a Beneteau 473 yacht, with my adventurous husband, Craig, and our trusty four-legged companion, Molly.

Managing unforgettable travel experiences is not just my profession; it’s my passion. I understand the nuances of a journey – the joy of discovery, the camaraderie of fellow travellers, and the little hiccups that can occur along the way. It’s my commitment to ensure that your adventure is seamless, memorable, and exceeds all expectations.

As your dedicated Travel Manager, I specialize in making the unexpected disappear – whether it’s a misplaced suitcase, a tour cancellation, or a medical emergency. Your comfort, safety, and enjoyment are my top priorities, and I’m here to transform your Craftours trip into a worry-free and joy-filled experience.

Beyond logistics, I’m genuinely interested in people and their stories. Every traveller brings a unique perspective and set of experiences, and I relish the opportunity to connect with each of you. Whether you’re a seasoned explorer or a first-time traveller, together we’ll craft moments that become cherished memories.

So, join me on our Craftours adventures listed on the Aussie webpage, featuring Craft Alive trips and other exciting tours. Let’s embark on a journey where creativity meets camaraderie, and every stitch, brushstroke, or craft becomes a part of your extraordinary travel tale.

Pack your bags, unleash your creativity, and let’s head off on a crafting adventure like no other!

Cheers,
Margie Westlake

Testimonials from clients who live in Australia and New Zealand:

Sue Wadley, Cedar Grove, Australia – “South India tour was an amazing tour with a good mix of culture and textiles.”
 
Elaine Barrett, Bangor, NSW Australia – “Interesting tour as there is something for everyone due to the combination of gardens and castles.”
 
Nola Pearce, Rostrevor, Australia – “My Indian Experience far exceeded my expectations. Our Tour Leader was excellent and her textile knowledge was invaluable. The Indian Guide, was amazing. His knowledge and love of his country was inspiring and his network is vast. Our every need and all of our wants were attended to immediately. We had some down time most days so we could enjoy every aspect. The leaders interacted well and were very flexible with the programme. The coach driver and travel manager’s helper were friendly, courteous and very helpful. Our small group of 4 nationalities integrated at our first meeting. We all looked out for each other. A wonderful, wonderful experience.”
 
Helen Fox, Blackburn, Victoria – “Loved going to the local markets… meeting the local people and bargaining. Language was no issue when buying and selling… calculators are a great communication tool! We saw or participated in many special moments… Riding horses up the mountain, riding the chicken bus or just eating local food.”
 
Elaine Shepherd, Little Mountain Caloundra, Australia – “I first traveled 3 years ago with Craftours to Ireland via McCalls Magazine. That trip was awesome so I knew I would not be disappointed traveling with Craftours to Tuscany. I was right. The trip was absolutely awesome and I will have no problems traveling with Craftours again. Tuscany was everything I was expecting and even more. Beautiful, breathtaking, and awesome is the only way I know to describe what I saw, experienced and ate.”
 
Vikki Bendle, Lakes Creek, Queensland – “Really enjoyed this tour… great company… made many new friends… great itinerary… great guide and great teacher. It was truly memorable. I loved the Grande Hotel in Montecatini Terme and the lovely staff who looked after us.”
 
Adrianne Perry, Waitara, NSW – “I found the content of the tour was excellent. The places we visited, the monuments we saw and the hotels we stayed at were all wonderful.”
 
Les and Karen Mersiades, Brisbane, AU – “The tour to India was the best group tour we have ever experienced. The leaders, Jinny and the travel manager were excellent and went out of their way to ensure our journey was a memorable one. We experienced more activities than were promised and certainly spent adequate time visiting the highlights of the tour. All the accommodation were excellent, the meals delicious and the tour bus comfortable. What more could you want? We will certainly be traveling with this company again.”
Leonie Hillier, Blacktown, NSW – “I loved every minute of it! Even when i was totally exhausted and overwhelmed I would not have missed anything. I would love to see some other areas of India!”
 
David Rattigan, Lesmurdie, AU – “The Africa Expedition was eagerly anticipated, so much so that I had probably created an impossibly high expectation. To visit Kenya had always been a wish of mine since first meeting Karen in 1979.”
 
Dr. Jo Barnes, Hamilton, New Zealand – “This was my very first organized tour and I was a little apprehensive about spending 15 days with people I did not know with a tour company I had found by accident on the internet. BUT my friend Bev and I had an amazing time we had fun, we saw lots of new and exciting places, we visited some quilting stores and met some really nice people. The hotel accommodation were excellent, the bus was comfortable, and the meals were varied and of good quality. I would recommend Craftours tours every time and I am looking forward to the South American Expedition in 2015.”
 
Kerri Cargill, Garran, Australia – “For me, it has been the best, most fun, coolest, and uniquest trip ever! On the Sound Of Music tour with Angela we had amazing opportunities to visit most sights from this iconic movie. Sights the average tourist just don’t get to see, either because they are closed to the general public or are located in areas unknown to most. We dubbed this tour as “the tour that kept on giving”. Because every night we would reflect on our day and comment “it just can’t get any better than this” … and the following day it was! More fun, more adventures, more memories with Angela and more fabulous locations to explore. Not only did we criss cross Salzburg and it’s surrounds visiting all the iconic sights, we also had a cooking class, shopping excursions, history lessons, an evening where Angela signed memorabilia for us and endless opportunities for our questions to be answered. How awesome is that?!”
 
Manuela Silbach, Underdale, South Australia – “Loved Mexico – the colours, the food, the places and the fun time with the group”
 
Helen Potts, Athelstone, South Australia, Australia – “The tours was great, the travel manager and our lovely bus driver Guru and his assistant were wonderful.”
 
Judith Kirk, Unley, S. Australia – “China was great with so many new experiences in such a short time. And such a joy to meet Ali!”
 
Elaine Shepard, Little Mountain, Queensland – “Most enjoyable tour and crocheting experience.”