This trip I took was meant to help me find what I’d want to do one day, specifically what path I should take to lead me to a stable life. During the 10 weeks, through some of the best times of my life, and some pretty rough ones, I can say it definitely wasn’t the journey I was expecting. It gave me more value and insight than I imagined. Not only have I found what I love and who I am, but my question was answered by my instructor, Jack Craft. He told me that “if you can see the path in front of you, then it’s not the right path.” I discovered the ability to find meaning in being unsure. Life is much more special when going at it blindly, and this trip, leaders, and my wonderful group taught me that, among many other valuable things. And wow, was it fun too.

What a trip! There aren’t many words that can do it justice to be completely honest. It’s really hard to sum my experience up in a short review but i’ll try my best! Overall I have absolutely no regret or doubt that this was the right decision for me this gap year. It grew me a lot as a person, it pushed me out of my comfort zone socially, culturally, and in the travel sense. I have a lot more knowledge in traveling now and the experience of ethical traveling! I have also gained new perspectives on travel and how you can seriously make a positive difference where you travel and give back to the local community who are essentially hosting you during your travels. I have also grown in my ability to make connections with people who I don’t know at all, in my group but also outside the group in hostels! I think going into the program I had a lot of questions and wonderings about just how each day is structured so I think that would be helpful to touch on. Every day is uniquely different but we still do have routine! Breakfasts in the morning together, getting ready for activities and pilling into our van all together to head to our activity, then of course our family dinners together and evening meetings and catch ups. I can confidently say I was never bored, we were always on the go experiencing amazing activities and opportunities 24/7. I also think it would be helpful for prospective students to know that we all share rooms together co-ed and the rooms switch at every accommodation. So be ready to be a little uncomfortable with sharing spaces. I was a little wary of sharing rooms but honestly it connected us and brought us closer so much faster then expected. Another thing is free time! I didn’t know if I would have any time to myself and while it is scarce, you can absolutely have enough time to yourself. What I learned was you need to advocate for yourself and if you want alone time maybe get up earlier in the mornings and take a walk or sit outside and call home or read and sit! You have to be the one to take the time for yourself so just know it’s totally possible to have alone time, just make it happen! One last thing to touch on is the accommodations. Be prepared to stay in some really amazing and unique places but also some places outside of your comfort zone that might not have all the amenities you are used to, like AC haha. Overall I would never take back my decision to join a Pacific Discovery trip. It was truly very growing and such a cool opportunity it’s insane how many cool things you get to do. Also shoutout to my absolutely amazing instructors Jack Craft and Destiny Rever, two beautiful people with hearts full of love for travel and sharing that. Thankyou PD!

Truly just life changing. Those are the only words that come close to capturing what this experience has meant to me, though even they feel too small for the depth of transformation I feel inside. When I look back on where I started—uncertain, curious, and maybe even a little hesitant—I can hardly recognize the person I was. Now, standing on the other side of this journey, I’m overwhelmed by how much has shifted, broadened, and awakened within me. It’s as if someone opened a window in a room I didn’t even know was dark, letting in light, perspective, and understanding I didn’t realize I was missing.

My eyes have been opened to a whole new world, and I don’t say that lightly. It’s not just that I learned something new or saw things from a different angle. It feels much deeper than that, like discovering a different layer of reality that had always existed, just outside my awareness. Every conversation, every moment of reflection, every challenge, and every breakthrough revealed something that expanded my sense of possibility. I began to see not only the world differently, but myself as well—my abilities, my hopes, my values, and the direction I want to take moving forward.

This new world isn’t defined by physical places or boundaries, but by understanding, clarity, and perspective. It’s a world where I feel more connected, more grounded, and more open than ever before. I’ve gained insights that continue to shape my thoughts long after the initial experience, and I can already tell they will keep influencing my decisions, my relationships, and the way I choose to live. There’s something incredibly powerful about that—about carrying forward lessons that don’t fade once the moment ends, but become part of who you are.

And perhaps the most remarkable part is that I leave all of this behind with absolutely zero regrets. Not a single one. Every moment, even the ones that felt challenging or uncomfortable at the time, played a role in shaping this transformation. If anything, I’m grateful for those tougher moments because they pushed me beyond what was familiar and into a space where real change could happen. I wouldn’t undo or replace any part of this journey. It all mattered. It all contributed. It all added depth, meaning, and purpose to the outcome I carry with me now.

Leaving with zero regrets also means leaving with a heart full of gratitude—gratitude for the experience itself, for the people involved, for what I discovered, and for the person I’ve become because of it. I move forward with a sense of excitement and confidence, knowing that this isn’t an ending but a beginning. The world I’ve stepped into is one I’m eager to explore, learn from, and grow within.

So yes—life changing is exactly what it has been. Transformative, eye-opening, meaningful, and unforgettable. And I wouldn’t trade a single second of it

Pacific Discovery Australia/ Bali gap semester was truly one of a kind experience. From overnight hiking a volcano to diving in the Great Barrier Reef this trip was jam packed with amazing experiences. For Australia we covered over 2,000km and saw more then I ever imagined. And Bali's culture will always stick with me. We had a good balance of culture and trying new foods everywhere we went. And very fortunate to go out for every meal in Bali. But connecting with the people on this trip left a true impact on all of us. Thank you, Pacific Discovery!

I signed up for this program without any research on the program itself. Nothing could have prepared me for how amazing it was going to be. Overcoming fears, exploring a country, connecting on a deep level with total strangers, deep-diving into the different cultures of a country and helping me become the best version of myself. These are all things Pacific Discovery practice in a excellent way with their programs. It definitely was the trip of a lifetime. I’m now back at home still thinking about how unique the last 10 weeks have been. Words truly cannot describe a trip like this.

This trip was amazing and I would definitely recommend it! We had a really great group of people and the experiences we got to have together were incredible. All of the nature and wildlife in Australia was awesome to see and getting exposed to a new culture in Bali was super cool. Our group also took advantage of the explore days we had and the student led portion to do skydiving and whitewater rafting which were definitely trip highlights! Overall, the mix of adventure, culture, and service work on this trip was perfect and I am so happy I went on this program!

Leaders were amazing and had lots of fun. Our group really meshed well together and had a blast traveling everywhere and doing all the activities. Food was amazing in Australia but a little on the pricier side so maybe spend less on that because in Bali everything is so cheap and we could have planned a little better. Accommodations were great especially Waves campground, the people were so cool there. I would recommend adding an excursion in Bali with the water because Nusa Penida is so close. ( we checked it out after and it was so cool). I highly recommend this trip to adventurers and I met my best friend on this trip. You will make amazing relationships with people all around the world!

I had an amazing time on my Pacific Discovering program and grew in so many different ways! I grew in confidence, independence and pushed myself out of my comfort zone, doing things I would have never imagined doing! I absolutely loved travelling around with a group of new people, getting to explore stimulating, new cultures so different from our own, learning about different ways of living. The variety of activities was incredible throughout the program, ensuring there was something for everyone. During these activities, the support and encouragement from the group was so reassuring, creating an amazing group dynamic. Also big shout out to my program instructors John and Kali who got stuck into every single activity with us! They didn’t seem like instructors at all, but instead were keen to get to know us individuals on a personal level, there whenever we needed anything. I would 100% recommend to do a pacific discovery program as you will grow and learn in so many different ways, experiencing brand new things.