Surfing Programs in Sydney, Australia

Joining the surf instructor course in Australia at 40 was an unexpected yet unforgettable life chapter. I found myself learning just as much from the younger crowd as they did from me. The camp’s atmosphere was all about kindness, no judgment, just people living in the moment. From early sunrise surf sessions with dolphins to deep late-night conversations, every day was filled with meaning. The training was intense but rewarding, and the instructors were passionate and supportive. I made lifelong friends, reconnected with nature, and came home with a fresh perspective. I’d go back in a heartbeat, no hesitation.

Doing my surf instructor training in Australia was honestly one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Starting from zero made it all the more rewarding, every wave was a small victory. A typical day ? Waking up with the sun (and the tides), grabbing a quick breakfast, then heading straight into the ocean where stingrays might glide beneath you and dolphins often joined us for the sunset sessions. Lunches were fresh wraps on the beach, followed by lazy naps under the sun and fireside evenings with surf films, theory lessons, and chats over tea or beers. We lived in tipis or beachside cabins just a few steps from the water, a dreamlike setup. The instructors were incredibly passionate, not just about surfing, but also about the ocean and preserving the environment. Their support in and out of the water was unmatched. Beyond the surfing, this experience immersed me in a whole new world. I met inspiring people from all over the globe, improved my English dramatically, and fell in love with a lifestyle I didn’t know existed. It wasn’t just a course, it was a reset. Now, there’s a list of dream waves pinned in my room, and a whole new life mindset that came with them.

Professional surf instructor training in Australia was a real-life lesson for me. At 40, I learned as much from 20-year-olds as I could have given them. You don't go to the other side of the world for no reason, but there, no one judges; everyone just wants to have a good time, and everyone adapts. Getting up at 4 a.m. to film the sunrise, surfing from 6 a.m. until sunset, is a privilege. This interlude in my life will undoubtedly be one of the indelible memories.

Pacific Discovery gave me one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. The 10-week gap year program was a perfect mix of adventure, learning, and personal growth. The staff were very knowledgeable, and always there to encourage us. I left with lifelong friends and memories, plus a newfound appreciation for nature and different cultures. If you're looking for a meaningful, eye opening adventure, I can't recommend Pacific Discovery enough!

The Australia and New Zealand semester was the most amazing trip I’ve ever been on! From the beautiful beaches of AUS to the stunning southern alps of New Zealand, every single activity and view on this trip was amazing. There is nowhere I would rather have spent the last 70 days, and no group I would rather have been with!

I had an amazing time with amazing people on the Australia New Zealand Gap semester! It was an incredible program that showed us how to live and travel more sustainably, make the most of our time with every experience, and learn from others we meet along the way! I definitely recommend this program!!

My son went to Australia with GoBeyond when he was 15. He had an unforgettable experience. GoBeyond is an amazing company, extremely well organized. They even help with booking the flight and all the details, and I didn't have to worry about anything. I can't say enough good things about them.

When I went into this semester I was expecting things to be easy breezy and for us to just travel around look at some kangaroos and laugh. While that did make up a lot of the time this semester, I was happily surprised at the challenges that were presented to me during this semester. I was challenged physically through backpacking in Nelson Lakes in the middle of a wind and rain storm, I was challenged mentally with learning how to coexist with 14 other people who I had never meet before. Through all these challenges I learned so much about myself and my limits and about other people and how to respect but also push there limits a bit. I met some people on this trip who continue to impact my life, I stay in touch with lots of them and have even traveled to visit them here in the US. My instructors, Richard and Karlee, have also continued to influence me even after leaving the program. The Australia and New Zealand semester really brought me down to my raw form and the help rebuild me into someone who I wanted to be and I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to meet all these people and see all these things because without that experience I know I wouldn't have the courage to go after the things I want now.

Pacific Discovery is a great company staffed by passionate, wonderful people who are great at what they do. The trip was incredibly well planned and allowed for a broad range of activities and learning experiences.

After searching through countless gap year programs, I had finally settled on one - Pacific Discovery Australia & New Zealand. I loved the balance it had between service projects and adventure activities. Going into it, I knew I was about to have a great adventure, but I could have never expected the extent to which the program would impact me. It wasn't just seeing new places and meeting new people - it was being in awe of places you couldn't have imagined, finding connections to different cultures, and becoming more aware of yourself in the process. And there would be no better way to experience all this than with the group of people you come to call your closest friends. Going through all these experiences together, growing together, allows you to become connected on a whole other level. The mission of Pacific Discovery really does come to life as the program fosters awareness for yourself and the world around you.

I had always wanted to go Australia and New Zealand, and this program gave me the amazing opportunity to do so! Going into the program, I wasn't really sure what to expect. The website and pictures I had seen looked amazing, and I expected and wanted to grow as a person from this experience, but how and by how much, I had no idea. From the very start, Pacific Discovery taught us that the greatest learning comes from outside of our comfort zones. This trip was the first time I was continuously pushed out of my comfort zone, whether it was being away from home for 2 months, being with 13 other people from all different backgrounds, abseiling down a 30m waterfall with my heart pounding outrageously in my chest, jumping out of a plane from 13,000 ft and soaring like a flying squirrel, and countless other occasions. I learned that to really make the most of an experience, I have to take what I experienced and internalize it so that I can learn from it and come back to it for future reference. There were ups and downs and ins and outs, but at the end of the day, I'm a physically and mentally stronger person than I was at the beginning of the trip - because I internalized and learned the lessons from experiences outside of my comfort zone, thanks to the way that PD runs the trip.There is so much emphasis on personal growth, learning more about your own identity, and getting the most you as yourself can get out of the trip. Along the way, I met incredibly wise and incredibly eccentric people; I learned about genius designs that revolutionized my view of "eco-friendly," I became aware of so many other lifestyles than mine own, I developed and grew as a photographer, and most of all, I came out of this program with a stronger sense of who I am and how I want to live my life. All of this personal growth in a land that some people only dream of coming to, the beautiful vistas and great cities of Australia and New Zealand. Gazing up at the millions of stars visible in the night skies there, I was reminded of just how large the world is, and how much we all have to learn from different places and from each other, something that this Pacific Discovery program definitely emphasized very well. For that, I thank you so much, PD. With love, -Ashley Yu

What an amazing program this is. Not only was the program well established and run, the trip itself was great in every way as well. There are many parts that work together to make this trip great, whether it is community service, adventure travel, or urban exploring. And I personally think thats what makes it so great, every single day is different and every day you are pleasantly surprised at what you see at do. I made friends that I know that I will continue to talk to for months to come, saw things that I would only dream of seeing, and had experiences that have and are going to continue to shape me and help me grow as a more aware and global person. Pacific Discovery is a great program, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to travel abroad.

This program is amazing! It far exceed my expectations in every way. I made life long friends with the other participants and our program leader. Our program leader was great about giving us enough freedom to have responsibility and share in leadership rules, but not so much that we were unsafe. The adventures I had on the program were exhilarating. Some times it was challenging however everyone worked really well together to make it all run smoothly. I am very pleased that I decided to go with Pacific Discovery because no other program could have gotten me a better experience for my first time out of the country. The program did a wonderful job of inspiring me to travel more and to be confident in the skills that I got, and worked on during the program. I recommend this program to everyone!

I recently returned from the 9-week Australia and New Zealand trip with Pacific Discovery. The trip itself is fantastic; the travel and sites you get to see on this trip are on point in trying to gain an adventurous and cultural experience of the lands down under: from surf camps to canyoning in Australia, to multi-day hikes and canoe trips, white water rafting and rock climbing in New Zealand. Further, the volunteer conservation projects offer a unique perspective into sustainability and environmental maintenance that is rewarding for any type of traveler. I myself had completed a bachelor's degree and was in the midst of applying to medical school when I decided to join this trip. It was an amazing and inspiring experience that opened my eyes to an entirely different aspect of the world, and reminds us not to overlook the natural adventure all around us. Finally, the coordination of the program is perfected to the tee. The trip coordinator acts as more of a peer than a supervisor, and the trip encourages the participants to take initiative to make the most of the own travel experience. It also promotes leadership and social skills over a number of different tasks, from coordinating bookings, to organizing dinners, or leading expeditions. Not to mention, you'll make some of the greatest friends of your life on the trip, and you'll never want the adventure to end. Quite a life-changing few months for myself, and a re-inspiration about all the amazing things life has to offer.

I had a few months in between graduating college and starting graduate school, and I knew I wanted to travel abroad. I could have chosen to go abroad with my college program, but I decided to take a risk and go with a group of 13 people from all over the world that I did not know. I am so glad that I chose Pacific Discovery! Thanks to this program, I have made friends all over the world that are now a family to me, and the experiences that we were able to have together were unforgettable. I did so many things on this trip that I never thought I could do, and I feel like a stronger person because of it. Pacific Discovery inspired me to keep on exploring and to seek out adventure, whether it may be across the world or just around the corner in my own town. If I were to do it all over, I would choose Pacific Discovery over any other program because their main purpose is to help you develop as a person by immersing you in different cultures, pushing you out of your comfort zone a little bit, and surrounding you with awesome people through it all. Couldn't be more grateful for this experience of a lifetime.