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with Seamester Study Abroad at Sea
80 Gap Year Programs in Australia & Oceania
International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ]
4.68
828
At International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), we unite people from over 96 countries who want to make a meaningful difference while exploring the world. With 300+ projects in 40+ destinations, IVHQ offers the widest selection of volunteer programs globally from Teaching and Childcare to Wildlife Conservatio
See All 7 ProgramsThe Intern Group
4.68
57
Jumpstart your career in Australia. Partnering with leading companies and NGOs, our Melbourne internship program provide students, graduates, and early-career professionals with international work experience, professional skills, and global networking opportunities. Intern in Melbourne, one of the
See All 3 ProgramsGoEco - Top Volunteer Organization
4.76
41
GoEco is one of the world’s top volunteer organizations, with award-winning and ethical programs selected by sustainable travel experts. Since 2006, tens of thousands of volunteers have taken part in projects and internships worldwide, focusing on wildlife and marine conservation, education, and med
See All 7 ProgramsSeamester Study Abroad at Sea
4.76
51
Seamester is the educational adventure of a lifetime! For more than 40 years, we have offered unparalleled educational voyages where students spend a semester at sea sailing between islands, countries, and even continents. We design our programs to provide engaging learning experiences with real out
See All 4 ProgramsGapforce
4.29
21
This Gapforce program is an action-packed, six-week tour combining travel and adventure with volunteering on Australia's famed East Coast. Your journey begins in the awesome city of Sydney before heading north to Brisbane via the legendary Byron Bay. You will spend two weeks volunteering on an envir
Pacific Discovery
4.65
40
Experience an unforgettable 10-week Gap Year Semester through New Zealand and Australia, two of the world’s most amazing travel destinations. This Pacific Discovery program is designed for students taking a gap year, seeking an alternative study abroad, or looking to combine travel with purpose. Jo
See All 7 ProgramsEA Ski and Snowboard Training
3.5
6
EA Ski and Snowboard Training is looking for skiers to join us in New Zealand on a winter gap year. If you love the outdoors, travel, and have a passion for skiing, then this ski instructor internship program is for you. What is the ski instructor internship program? The internship is a course des
See All 3 ProgramsINTERNeX Pacific
5
3
Work and live in some of Australia's epic tourism locations and have it all arranged before you arrive. You could be working on islands on the Great Barrier Reef, in bustling tourism towns, in wilderness lodges, or in unique luxury outback lodges. We have partners throughout Australia offering w
See All 2 ProgramsGlobal Work & Travel
5
11
Craving something bigger than the same routine at home? Imagine spending your year hiking mountains, exploring glaciers, discovering hidden beaches and road tripping through one of the most scenic countries in the world, all while getting paid to travel. A New Zealand working holiday is the perfect
See All 3 ProgramsLinguistic Horizons
5
1
Take a life-changing gap year abroad with Linguistic Horizons! We offer internships in various fields, volunteer, study abroad programs, foreign language immersion, nutrition, and alternative medicine programs. Our program destinations include South America, Europe, and Oceania. Choose from Spain,
Travel For Teens
4.5
2
On this extended version of our 13-day Fiji program to the land of smiles, you get a little more of everything with a full 40 hours of community service and more sensational days to really savor Fiji time in paradise. See the direct positive impact of your hard work and earn service credits as you s
Love Volunteers
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Whether you want to support vulnerable communities in developing countries, help conserve the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, or protect animals in the Amazon, Love Volunteers has a program for you. With over 200 projects in 40 countries there's something for everyone! For over 7 years Love Volu
JENZA
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Live the high life as a ski lift attendant, play the field working in a vineyard or cause a stir as a barista with a working holiday in New Zealand. Why Work New Zealand Home to spellbinding scenery, rich Māori heritage and a laid-back ‘too easy’ attitude – Aeoteroa (New Zealand) is a magical plac
Intern Abroad HQ
4.8
10
Launch your marketing career with confidence through Intern Abroad HQ, the world’s most affordable and top-rated provider of Sales & Marketing internships. Designed to provide practical, real-world experience and boost your resume, these internships help you build creative, analytical, and communica
Volunteer World
4.29
17
Looking to apply your talent and expertise to a good cause? Find a program that matches your interests and skills through Volunteer World! We are the largest volunteer abroad comparison platform around the globe, enabling you to seek and compare offers from major travel agencies as well as smaller g
See All 4 ProgramsRooted Life Adventures
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Participate in this gap year program in Queenstown, New Zealand, with therapeutic support for young adults ages 18-22. Spring | Feb 18 – Apr 28, 2025 Fall | Sep 17 – Nov 25, 2025 Embark on the ultimate gap year adventure with our transformative program, designed to support your mental health and we
See All 2 ProgramsInstitute for Global Studies
4.57
7
IGS has placed students in some of the world’s most exciting museums. Our internship placements typically fall into two categories: working on the floor or conducting research and marketing behind the scenes. Floor work includes assisting the docent in the setup and interpretation of current exh
See All 19 ProgramsAcademic Programs International
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Sydney is the oldest and largest city and the economic and financial hub of Australia. Located on the southeastern coast, it is home to over 4.6 million people and is known worldwide for its stunning landmarks, such as the Sydney Harbor Bridge, Opera House, amazing cuisine, and diverse populace.
Rustic Pathways
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Sign up for one of our Rustic Pathways Gap programs, which run for a semester. No matter what you join, we guarantee incredible opportunities for travel, service, non-cognitive skills development, and cultural immersion. Our gap programs integrate several options and activities. You can immerse you
ARCC Programs
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Journey to the far reaches of the Pacific Ocean where we immerse ourselves in the island lifestyles of Sumatra, Bali, and Fiji. Students will have the opportunity to assist in native mangrove and coral reef restoration, help restore age-old Bataknese houses in a Sumatran village, and gain insight in
A Guide to Gap Year in Australia and Oceania
Best Countries
Oceania comprises many countries, providing outstanding travel opportunities. From working in the Australian outback to helping to conserve marine reefs in Fiji, the possibilities are endless!
Australia. If you want to experience local life, work and travel programs are the way to go in Australia. Australia offers Working Holiday Visas that allow young people to travel and work in the country for one year. Here you will find a blend of spectacular beauty, thriving cultural life, and opportunities to engage in a variety of gap year experiences.
New Zealand. If adventures and nature are your cuppa, there is no better location than New Zealand for gap year programs in Australia and Oceania. From hiking to skiing, snowboarding to climbing, New Zealand is a paradise for adventure-seekers. Many gappers also choose to work in the tourist or hospitality industries—when they’re not flinging themselves off cliffs, that is.
Fiji. Who hasn’t dreamt of finding a new life on a remote island in the Pacific? Imagine a country with not one, but 300+ islands of white sand surrounded by sapphire waters...that’s Fiji. The capital of this remote archipelago is Suva, where you will enjoy its colonial architecture, tropical climate, and marriage of cultures.
Popular Activities
It will be easy to get caught up in the daydreaming and adventure of a gap year in Australia and Oceania, so don’t forget to choose what you’re actually going to do when you get there.
Working Holiday. Choosing to spend your gap year in Australia and Oceania on a working holiday is not only fun, it’s logical too. With this option, you can freely travel Australia or New Zealand, as well as the surrounding area, as it’s a year-long, multiple-entry visa.
Volunteering. While it won’t be particularly cheap to volunteer during Australia and Oceania gap years, it will absolutely be worth the monetary cost. There are a plethora of unique locations and worthy causes all around the region—just spin and point, and you’ll be on your way to a fulfilling gap year experience.
Au Pair. Life as an Au Pair during Australia and Oceania gap years will be similar to that of a working holiday, with the added benefit of guaranteed cultural immersion. You’ll spend your days taking care of children, and your nights getting to know a local family at the dinner table. We suggest avoiding this option if you don’t like kids.
Everything Else You Need to Know
Costs. Australia and Oceania gap years tend to be a teeny bit expensive. This elusive part of the world is on the pricey side, so make sure to fill up your savings account before you leave, or consider raising money for your trip with FundMyTravel.
Accommodations. Accommodations on gap year programs in Australia and Oceania will really depend on chosen activities. For working holidays, winding up in hostels is common, while au pairs often live with the family they work for. Many gappers also decide to rent flats with other travelers. It’s all up to you!
Visas. If you want to spend your gap year in New Zealand or Australia, we recommend the Working Holiday Visa no matter what your activities will be once you arrive. For other countries in the region, work with your program advisor to find out what the process entails. Check out the GoAbroad embassy directory for more information.
Safety. There’s no need to worry about health and wellbeing in Australia and Oceania, but that doesn’t mean you should leave your common sense at home. Stay vigilant while in areas that are unfamiliar to you and avoid traveling alone at night to easily stay out of trouble.
GoAbroad’s Inside Scoop
A gap year offers you the opportunity to satisfy your wanderlust and at the same acquire new personal and professional skills. If you want, you will also be able to explore different professional fields to help you make wiser decisions in college and adulthood. And of top of that, you’ll have a lot of fun and make friends around the world, possibly for life! Just make sure to push yourself and step out of your comfort zone as often as possible to really make the most of your gap year in Australia and Oceania.
Keep in mind that the seasons are flip-flopped (jandaled, perhaps?) in the Southern Hemisphere, home of Australia and Oceania. If you’re headed down under between May and September, make sure to bring warm clothes, especially if you’re headed to the South Island of New Zealand, or southern Australia. However, if your destination is closer to the equator, like Fiji or northern Australia, bring a lot of sunscreen and a hat instead, and stay hydrated! And don’t worry, the water is safe to drink in almost every corner of Australia and Oceania.
No matter how you plan it and organize it, a gap year in Australia and Oceania will change your life forever: You’ll gain invaluable, practical skills, but more importantly, a new sense of yourself.
Keep reading! Check out this article about the pros and cons of organized gap year programs abroad.
Latest Program Reviews
It Was an Incredible Experience I Ever Had!
June 10, 2026by: Malakhi M - United KingdomProgram: Working Holiday in New Zealand | Your Kiwi Adventure
New Zealand is an amazing place, the sights and landscapes are absolutely incredible. From the time i arrived and even before i arrived i was guided through everything i needed for the trip and had things waiting for me. Although only a few weeks into my trip i feel that global work and travel have made this incredible trip feel amazing and i feel like I'm at home already.
The Warmth Was So Real
June 10, 2026by: Serena S - United StatesProgram: Working Holiday in New Zealand | Your Kiwi Adventure
My travel agent was amazing! She was so sweet and kind, she cared and made talking about this fun. She gave me ideas and is so good at what she does! She made me feel very comfortable and we laughed a lot and had fun. My experience was so awesome. I feel like i want to know her in person. I loved her!
They Just Made Sure I Didn't Mess It Up
June 10, 2026by: Steven S - AustraliaProgram: Working Holiday in New Zealand | Your Kiwi Adventure
I mainly used global work and travel to keep me on track for going to NZ. This was because I was already on a visa in another country not through glabal work and travel and I also wanted to meet/know people before hand. Global work and travel did both just swimmingly! I was able to meet the 5 other global work and travel people coming in to Auckland right when they arrived. I talked to 2 of them prior to me landing. We hung out and did activities everyday! It was cool to see pictures of the inclusion with All the Global work and travel people together. Even though our jobs are in different towns we still plan to meet up somewhere along the way! Also Hannah was very good at keeping me on track.
Didn't Think I'd Be This Settled This Fast
June 10, 2026by: Amelia A - United KingdomProgram: Working Holiday in New Zealand | Your Kiwi Adventure
I booked pretty much everything with with Global Work and Travel which took a big stress off my shoulders. From the flights here which were really good to getting to the Attic it was really smooth. The Global team were really helpful and had good response times to any emails for questions. The team set me up with an interview for a job which I've now been at for almost a month and I'm loving it. I also decided to join the rugby team in the town I work and I'm really enjoying playing for them. I decided to keep the Sky walk in Auckland towards the end of my trip which I'm really happy i got the option to do. Overall I've had a really good experience in New Zealand and would highly recommend a visit.
Worth Every Penny
June 10, 2026by: Jason J - CanadaProgram: Working Holiday in New Zealand | Your Kiwi Adventure
"For my first long-term international solo trip, Global Work & Travel has been such a reassuring asset that provided excellent support throughout the entire travel process. Without them, I would've hesitated at every step while planning my trip, questioning whether I checked every box I would need to or found the most suitable options. Their coordinators really streamlined the entire thing and set me up for success! Not only did they ensure that I followed a good time-frame to acquire all the necessary documentation, they would even arrange some of the transactions on my behalf after going over the service details and price with me, much of which I would have been poorly informed on otherwise. If you would prefer to obtain any of these things yourself, then they are more than willing to work with you. For example, you may want to secure a job and a place to stay way ahead of finalizing your trip as it was a bit nerve-racking having to wait until I was only a couple weeks out from my departure before they set up an interview. However, for me the most intimidating aspect of living abroad for an extended period is finding a reliable source of income. So I really appreciated how they work as liaisons for various businesses, though of course they can't work miracles as you'll still have to compete with other applicants. Many employers are looking to hire rather quickly and expect you to already have all that's required for you to begin working including your visa, bank account, and tax number. So GW&T gives you the best chance of landing a gig by ensuring you've covered all your bases, that you apply to opportunities relative to your experience and to companies that are familiar with hiring foreigners, and do so all on a timeline that's feasible for them to meet their workforce demands. Having put my complete trust in GW&T, it all worked out as they helped me find a real sweet position that fit my interests and came with accommodations! The initial hostel arrangement for when I first landed was also great and very convenient! They chose a clean, reputable place in a prime location and booked it alongside plenty of other travelers using their program so it was easy to make a lot of friends. Now that I've been through the planning procedure once myself, I could likely book another trip of this duration again on my own, but all the resources they provided and activities included were well worth it! I was able to learn about the culture and get a taste of what it has to offer while engaging in enjoyable experiences I likely wouldn't have bothered to organize personally. Although I can't guarantee you'll get as much as I did out of their services, I would definitely recommend them and would certainly work with them again myself!"
Such an Amazing Experience!
June 10, 2026by: Cameron C - Northern Mariana Islands (USA)Program: Working Holiday in New Zealand | Your Kiwi Adventure
Global work and travel is an excellent stepping stone into the world of travel! They help you with everything you are going to need before your go abroad. With their help I was able to travel to New Zealand and get a job here. It's already been such an amazing experience. I have made new friends and got to do so many amazing things.
Didn't Have to Google a Single Thing
June 10, 2026by: Hector H - Hawaii (USA)Program: Working Holiday in New Zealand | Your Kiwi Adventure
Global made planning my whole trip easier and less stressful. I didn't have to worry about where to find official documents or where I needed to go for insurance, flights, and immigration because they did that work and research for me. Megan my trip coordinator was always lovely to speak with and very helpful.
Didn't Expect to Find My People Here Too
June 10, 2026by: Libby L - Guam (USA)Program: Working Holiday in New Zealand | Your Kiwi Adventure
Without the help of this amazing team of people I would have been lost. The pre booked excursions have made me memories of a lifetime. With all of the other travelers who chose this company have been some of the best people I've ever met & we are having the best time! :)
Easiest Decision I Ever Made
June 10, 2026by: Gabrielle G - CanadaProgram: Working Holiday in New Zealand | Your Kiwi Adventure
The sign up process was very easy, I had quite a bit of time to prepare for traveling to NZ. Upon getting here, my arrivals coordinator set up for me to do the Auckland bridge walk with AJ Hackett (10/10) would recommend doing that. As well as wine tasting on Waiheke island. I got a job in an awesome little lakeside town and have had the opportunity to go white water rafting with Kaitiaki Adventures (captain jack was awesome) and got to do the bungy swing in Taupo.
Didn't Have to Think About a Single Thing
June 10, 2026by: Valerye V - United StatesProgram: Working Holiday in New Zealand | Your Kiwi Adventure
I appreciated how organized and well-structured the trip was. The itinerary was thoughtfully planned, and everything ran on schedule. My Trip Coordinator played a key role in making the experience smooth by providing timely updates, managing logistics efficiently, and being consistently available for any questions. Their professionalism made the trip significantly easier.
A Memorable stay at an Alpaca Farm
March 20, 2026by: Isabel Tikka - SwedenProgram: Farmstay New Zealand
My time abroad was truly a fantastic experience that I will always remember. I had the opportunity to stay and work at an alpaca farm, which was something completely new and exciting for me. During my stay, I learned a lot about this unique animal species—their behavior, how they are cared for, and their importance to the farm. One of the most special parts of my experience was living with a host family who were incredibly welcoming and kind. They made me feel at home from the very beginning, and I am very grateful for their warmth and hospitality. Through this experience, I also gained a deeper understanding of the local culture, which made my time abroad even more meaningful. It was not only about the work, but also about connecting with people and learning new perspectives. Overall, it was an unforgettable journey, and I can definitely imagine going back again in the future. If you have the chance, I really recommend to work abroad on a farm!

I was pushed out of my comfort zones and became a better person because of it.
November 20, 2025by: Bronwyn JonesProgram: New Zealand & Fiji Summer Program | Pacific Discovery
Pacific Discovery will always have a special place in my heart. I learned so much about myself as well as other places and other people. I was pushed out of my comfort zones and became a better person because of it.
Made some unforgettable memories
November 18, 2025by: Brianna CamposProgram: Semester Abroad in New Zealand & Australia - Conservation
This program is perfect for someone that loves and appreciates the outdoors and is very active. I had an amazing experience and made some unforgettable memories. I also made amazing new friendship with the other people on the program.
An amazing experience
November 18, 2025by: Noah WagnerProgram: Semester Abroad in New Zealand & Australia - Conservation
Pacific Discovery was an amazing experience! I formed amazing friendships and did countless bucket list activities. This program allowed me to grow as a person and push past my comfort zone. You won’t regret signing up for one of their trips.
An amazing program of self discovery and adventure
November 18, 2025by: Avalyn HavenPacific Discovery truly was an amazing program of self discovery and adventure. I could not have asked for a better experience with the lasting connections and memories I have made through my program.
Every day is a new adventure and journey.
November 18, 2025by: Dylan GrayPacific discovery has been the most thrilling and fun trip I have done in my lifetime. Whether it be the people I’ve met or the countless activities we have done every day is a new adventure and journey.
An adventure of a lifetime
November 18, 2025by: Dylan MallonIf you want to go on an adventure of a lifetime with people that you will never forget, don’t wait to discover pacific discovery. This program will not only be exhilarating, but will challenge you in just the right way.
Once in a lifetime experiences
November 18, 2025by: Julius HagenPacific Discovery offers programs that are not only unique, but once in a lifetime experiences. If you want to see as much as possible of a country and deep dive into different cultures, Pacific Discovery is just for you!
I found my place to be
July 01, 2025by: Luisa Link - GermanyProgram: Farmstay New Zealand
I started into my farmstay with no expectations really and I found everything I was ever hoping to find. Many people wish they knew they where in 'their good old days' when they happened and not afterwards and I can say, I knew while I was living them. The past 9 months in New Zealand were the best time I ever had in my life. And without Internex they wouldn't have happend. So thank you to the team of Internex. You did such an amazing job with everything.
Life-changing experience
April 30, 2025by: Yuval MironiProgram: Hawaii, Fiji & New Zealand Gap Semester | Pacific Discovery
Life changing experience, made memories for life. I would passionately recommend this program to anyone unsure of their gap year plans.
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I was looking to take a gap year between my undergraduate and Master’s studies, and going to China just made sense to me.

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When I was in high school, I never seriously considered taking time off from school. I started college at Chapman University in the fall of 2018. Unfo...

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(DEAD URL) Aupairia
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I was raised in a small upstate New York town and felt that being immersed in another culture would be invaluable for my perspective.
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