Study Abroad Programs in Blue Mountains, Australia

I had one of the greatest times in my life going on a Pacific Discovery trip. It was incredible and I learned more about myself then I ever imagined I would. Rach and Scotty led the trip and they were amazing guides and teachers. I have always highly recommended this type of trip to students who might feel stuck in college or not sure what to do. The trip will open up your eyes to new experiences, cultures, and make you think about how to live your life in a more adventurous way. Wish I could do it all over again and experience everything I did again for the first time. Cheers, Gregg Starr

Pacific Discovery planned out the trip incredibly, and everything we did was mind-blowing. The trip really allowed me to step outside my comfort zone and experience new things that I definitely would not be able to do at home. The program also really allowed me to explore myself as a person in a way that I never have before. I felt like I really grew through all the activities we did and through any hardships that we had (we had very few though). Overall, I had the time of my life and learned so much, especially with two incredible instructors, Beth and Stacey.

Choosing Pacific Discovery was the best decision I could have made for my gap semester. Every single aspect of this trip was above and beyond what I thought it could be. I had the most incredible time and made lifelong friends. I cannot recommend this program enough. The places we visited, the people we met, our guide (Holly is the coolest person ever), and all of the incredible things we did are experiences I will never forget. New Zealand and Australia are two incredibly exciting and fun countries, and were so much fun to explore and travel through. The entire program was incredible and I would do it again and again if I could.

When I first went to New Zealand to start my 9 week trip with Pacific Discovery, I was very nervous and unsure of how I would handle myself in such a new environment. However, I was immediately welcomed into the Pacific Discovery family and started experiencing so many incredible adventures that there wasn't even time to feel uncomfortable. My group became so close and our group leaders made every day an awesome experience. We had the freedom to do our own thing when we wanted to, but also had constant group activities that were fascinating, exhilarating, hilarious, or really peaceful... activities that ranged from skydiving to playing card games to silently floating down a beautiful river. Before the trip, I had considered myself a bookish and not very athletic person- I was open to trying new experiences, but I thought I was naturally not very good at being sporty. During our third week in New Zealand, we went rock climbing, and I really believed I wouldn't be able to do it. However, I kept trying, and ended up having the most amazing time that day. Rock climbing is still one of my favorite experiences of the whole trip. My trip with Pacific Discovery taught me that I can be any kind of person that I want to be. I tried almost every new experience that I came across during the trip, and they all turned out to be amazing and successful. My favorite memories from the trip were some of the activities that were initially the most frightening to me (my overall favorite experience was abseiling down a 30-meter waterfall in the Blue Mountains, Australia!). The trip helped me understand that even when situations seem challenging or impossible for me to overcome, it is completely possible for me to make it through them and even have a great experience while doing so! Overall, I am so thankful that I had the amazing opportunity to take a trip with Pacific Discovery. They provided me with incredible experiences, constant support and positivity, and an incomparable understanding of the wonderful countries that are New Zealand and Australia. I loved being part of the Pacific Discovery family and I hope that I will be able to visit them again at some point in the future! Academics: I learned so much fascinating information about New Zealand and Australia during my trip. Being able to visit museums and actual historical landmarks in those countries was truly a blessing, and Pacific Discovery did an amazing job facilitating those activities for our group. Program Administration: The entire Pacific Discovery staff are some of the kindest people I have ever met. I was extremely fortunate to be able to meet Scotty and Rachel and their unbelievably sweet son Kahu. Scotty spent the beginning of the trip traveling with our group, and he definitely helped me feel more welcomed and comfortable starting such a new experience in my life. We were also able to visit the entire family at their home. They were constantly so hospitable, kind, and positive that it was impossible to feel nervous or uncomfortable! Our group leaders, Holly and Dan, were also positive and supportive during the entire trip, and always fun to be around. I am so thankful that I got to meet the incredible Pacific Discovery administration during my trip; they are all simply such wonderful and inspirational people.