Study Abroad Programs in Byron Bay, Australia

Having the chance to study abroad in Australia was such an amazing experience I will remember forever. I made lots of friends in my program and having my parents visit was truly special. I loved travelling throughout Australia to Melbourne, Tasmania, Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, and Byron Bay. Surfing over there was pretty incredible too, and having the opportunity to intern with a local surf school was awesome. I hope to return someday and would definitely consider living there.

This program was incredibly inspiring. Every aspect was intentionally planned to create a safe, open learning environment; a close community; experiential learning; a connection with nature; and, best of all, inspiration from practitioners in the field. Learning directly from people who have devoted their lives to embodying their values around the environment, sustainability, and climate justice was life-changing. It inspired me on so many deep and personal levels. I loved my group; I loved camping and exploring Tasmania; I loved our ecopsychology workshop in Forest Haven; I loved exploring Melbourne and Sydney; I loved living on the beach in Byron Bay; I loved cooking in my apartment kitchen; and I loved doing class readings and doing an internship during the IP period! You must be comfortable camping and have a love of nature--and then I cannot recommend this program enough.

It's hard to convey just how much I learned on this program. From the field trips to the courses to the Independent Study Period, I have been exposed to the tools I need to make meaningful change in my own life and the world, with regard to both sustainability and personal growth. The program struck a good balance between academic support and independence-- I could not have chosen a better program to pursue my own ideas within. With Eshana and Sam, you truly learn from the best! I came to this program weary, burnt out, and cynical about our individual ability to make meaningful change in the face of climate change, rising threat of fascism, deepening social inequality, etc. This program reconnected me to just how good it feels to do something-- anything-- to improve your immediate environment and community, and the power we have together when we find likeminded collaborators (I found mine in my abroad cohort). I am reentering the US and my final year of college with greater trust in myself, and the courage needed to pursue ideas I have for social change and my vision of the "good life." Made some great lifelong friends in my program. Cherishing our beautiful memories of hanging out on the beach in Byron Bay and traveling all around together. It was totally worthwhile.

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.

I loved spending a weekend "WWOOFING" (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) on a garlic farm in northern New South Wales. With just one other good friend, we harvested garlic in the pouring rain, which was actually fantastic; learned more about biodynamic production methods; and met a fantastic middle aged couple that had true life lessons on sustainable lifestyles. I chose this because I am passionate about issues of environmental sustainability and I liked SIT's experiential learning approach to study abroad where we focused more on workshops, field trips, and practical applications for our knowledge building. I liked the idea of a 5 week independent study project where we could pursue a relevant topic of our choice and really engage with the local culture.

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.

Awesome!