Gap Year Programs in Wellington,New Zealand

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.

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.

The New Zealand and Australia trip was a wonderful experience for our son. The group experience allowed him to travel to a new country in a safe environment without family. He wanted to travel independently but we wanted him to learn within a safe environment first. Pacific Discovery has given him the skills knowledge to now go out and travel on his own.

I have been on the Australia/New Zealand gap semester, had an amazing time here did so many cool tings, had amazing instructors and learned so much about a lot of things and it also changed my life in an positive way! I can really recommend it for people how really love to travel and learn and enjoy doing outdoor activity’s

The 70 days I spent pacific discovery in Aus/NZ were absolutely unforgettable. My instructors were absolutely incredible people. Both were so knowledgeable and so qualified to lead us. The program was the perfect mix of freedom and structure. It was a great mix of camping/hostels. I learned so much about myself and the world I live in. I gained more than I could have ever imagined. New Zealand is the most incredible place I have ever been and you will never want to leave. If you are at all considering this program, DO IT. There is so much joy on the other side of the fear holding you back

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!!

I have recently come back from my gap year and while I was there I spent a month working on the relationships between humans and elephants. So why would I recommend Oyster? I am so glad I picked to do this project with Oyster because they made me feel very well taken care of and looked after me before and during the project. They talk you though everything you need to know before the project takes place and what clothes and necessities you may need to pack. So what does the project consist of? I would do this project a million times if I could, and if you don’t believe me lots of people who were doing the project had already done it before and had come back because of how much they enjoyed it. So the project is on a two week program and you have the option to stay from two weeks to 3 months. The first week is amazing because you build walls for the local community. Some days some of the locals will come and help, or a few kids will come and keep you company, that is amazing because you feel so immersed, it’s definitely a once in a lifetime experience. The second week is spent tracking elephants. This was my favourite out of the two because you learn all about the elephants foot prints. We also managed to see a two day old elephant which we were lucky enough to name !!! So why pick this project? I think this project and Oyster have a lot of selling points. For starters Oyster takes very good care of you and help you organise yourself before the project starts so it doesn’t feel overwhelming. Secondly you are in the middle of the desert, I don’t think you could get anymore rural than that. You don’t really have much service so it’s lovely to disconnect for two weeks. You get to spend some time with lovely people who you may not meet on a day to day basis, people from different countries, locals, and different ages. You camp under the stars which is also amazing. Overall I would always recommend this amazing project, such a special experience!!

Oyster Worldwide responded to this reviewAugust 13, 2024

Wonderful to read about your experience, thank you Emily! The Oyster Team

I came into this program with different circumstances than most people. I didn’t necessarily feel like I needed a gap year, but my top choice college offered me admission for the class of 2028, meaning I would have to take a year off. I liked this program when I looked at it and I signed up, but I didn’t really come with any major or specific plans or goals in mind. I ended up growing not just in areas I knew I was going to be challenged in, but in so much more that I didn’t even know about myself. I am leaving this program as someone who is much more thoughtful about myself and my action, and I am more motivated than ever to focus on being the best I can in things that I am interested in, even if that means facing you do challenges along the way. These 10 weeks truly were s life changing experience and I am extremely grateful I was pushed into taking the year off and am very glad I signed up for pacific discovery. Thank you!

This trip was like no other. I did things I never dreamed of doing and loved every second. I accomplished things I didn’t think were possible and grew so incredibly independent, confident, and free spirited.

I gained a lot of good travel skills, such as flying on a plane by myself, cohabitation with others, conflict management, etc. I would recommend this program because you get two countries out of it and you get to explore cultures that school didn’t really teach you about!

Being on a PD program is a cool experience, because this environment teaches you a lot about how to deal with future struggles. For example: how to deal with people, who are really different than you are. I would recommend this program, because it offers more than just gap year/ travel experience. It taught me a lot about my own personality, abilities and my growth. I think this program challenges you to step out of your comfort zone, and led me to being more confident. This is an opportunity to learn about nature, culture, yourself, new physical activities, hoe to approve certain situations and personality trades.

Going on the New Zealand and Australia gap semester program with Pacific Discovery was one of the best decisions of my life. I learned so much about myself, the world around me, and made lifelong friends.

Became more comfortable with being uncomfortable. A good opportunity to have reflection time and work on finding yourself. Lean into the negative things more and use your positivity to help others when they need it. A perfect way to distance myself from my normal home life. Great opportunity to explore myself and my values. Loads of time to reflect.

The last few weeks I have been travelling around South East Asia with Oyster Worldwide, completing my Gold The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

 This has been a truly once in a lifetime experience, meeting many new people from all around the world and learning about the Asian culture and lifestyle.

 From volunteering at an ethical elephant sanctuary in Chaing Mai, Thailand to partying on a yacht in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, I enjoyed every second of it. 

 Oyster Worldwide have been super professional and helpful throughout the whole experience and made a complex and daunting trip, a breeze in the park!

Oyster Worldwide responded to this reviewJuly 20, 2023

Sounds like you made the most of your time Bailey and had a wonderful tour - thanks for sharing!

I became more invested in nature and being outdoors. This trip has inspired me to become more aware of how I affect the planet and how I can help change my own life. This trip also helped me overcome my fears and had me try new things I ended up loving.

This was an incredible trip and I highly recommend it to any prospective students. I made such amazing friends, saw so many amazing places, and did so many cool activities. It was the experience of a lifetime and I would do it 1000 times over.

I feel like I have become more independent. I would recommend it to others because it was a once in a lifetime experience. I felt like I came into the program with an open mind which I think was the best decision for me.

My time in New Zealand and Australia with Pacific Discovery has forever changed my perspective on life. I pushed myself to try a myriad of activities such as skydiving, rafting, canyoning, etc. which helped me expand my comfort zone. I learned how to fully appreciate nature and all it has to offer as well as the local cultures from different parts of the world. Lastly, I realized that just because you are put with a group of strangers you just met, it doesn’t mean there has to be conflict or drama; our group bonded very quickly and I made what I believe are going to be lifelong friends that I am very grateful for and this experience would not have been the same without them.