Australia & New Zealand GAP Semester Programs | Pacific Discovery
- New Zealand
- Auckland
- Rotorua
- Wellington
- Queenstown
- Australia
- Sydney
- Byron Bay
About Program
This epic gap year program through New Zealand and Australia will reveal the wonders of life Down Under, before you hike, climb and camp your way through Aotearoa.
New Zealand and Australia are two of the most ecologically intact and diverse countries in the world, and this experiential travel gap semester offers an amazing immersion during the temperate southern hemisphere spring and summer months.
It combines week-long conservation volunteer projects in diverse national parks and marine reserves; multi-day outdoor expeditions including backpacking, canoeing, rock climbing and surfing; and educational adventure travel through New Zealand and Australia’s stunning mountain, forest and beach environments!
Video and Photos
Diversity & Inclusion
BIPOC Support
LGBTQIA+ Support
Neurodivergent Support
Accessibility Support
Impact
Sustainability
We recently embarked on a Net Positive Benefit project where we are qualifying what impacts our groups have on the local communities, taking into consideration carbon emissions +/- social impacts +/- conservation impacts +/- community impacts. On our programs, students engage with non-profit organisations such as Litter Intelligence, Scholars of Sustenance, Ulu Mau puanui, Llama Pack project where they directly work for a better future - planting trees, eradicating invasive weed species, helping local communities and food banks.
Ethical Impact
Program Highlights
- Rewarding volunteer conservation projects in National Parks and wildlife reserves
- 3-day 4WD tour of K'gari Fraser Island with stand up paddle boarding and snorkelling
- Learn to ride waves during a multi-day surf camp in Australia's East Coast
- Canyoning adventure in the Blue Mountains (swimming, jumping, and abseiling through waterfalls)
- White water rafting adventure over rapids and the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world
Popular Programs

This program combines three week-long service-learning conservation projects in diverse national parks and marine reserves; five multi-day outdoor expeditions including backpacking, canoeing, rock climbing and surfing; and educational adventure travel through New Zealand and Australia’s stunning mountain, forest and beach environments.

This program combines three week-long service-learning conservation projects in diverse national parks and marine reserves; five multi-day outdoor expeditions including backpacking, canoeing, rock climbing and surfing; and educational adventure travel through New Zealand and Australia’s stunning mountain, forest and beach environments.
My trip was also ranging between 18-22 years old. Most of the people were 18, but I was 22 at the time, done with college, and was the oldest besides the trip leaders. I wasn't bothered by this though because it was still awesome to hang out with such outgoing and motivated people!