An Experience of a Lifetime

Scott and Rachel have put together a program unlike any other gap year program offered. Pacific Discovery is not just an ordinary gap year experience, it reaches above and beyond anything I could have ever imagined. The program is well-thought out, balancing the perfect amount of work and play. When I was searching for a program, I was looking for something that involved a substantial amount of community service, but also a program that allowed me to spend some time focusing on myself and pushing my boundaries. I wanted a program where I could travel with friends and be surrounded by people who were like-minded. I wanted something where I was going to grow as a person and challenge myself. Pacific Discovery blew my expectations out of the water.

Pacific Discovery allowed me the opportunities I would have never received if I had travelled elsewhere or on my own. They have made incredible connections with the people that we worked with and I genuinely felt like I was contributing something when I was doing environmental work. For example, we worked with a park ranger and his family in Mimiwhangata (New Zealand) doing various jobs each day. I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that hauling logs into bushes, whacking weeds, gardening, planting trees, or fixing up roads could be so much fun. Working with wonderful, kind people makes such a huge difference. Each day was a new adventure and once we got the jobs done we were able to relax by the beach in the one of most beautiful places in the world. It was incredible to be able to talk to the family and park ranger to see what a difference a group of 13 people can make. One of my favourite volunteer experiences was working on a perma-culture farm in Australia. We were welcomed into a family's home to learn about the perma-culture lifestyle and help them with their home. We stayed in old train carriages that they had turned into quaint bedrooms. During the day we worked either gardening, making a fence, or building terraces. We learned all about sustainable living through hands-on work experience. I could have never imagined how much I learned in just one week. Overall, I was amazed at how many wonderful people Scott and Rachel had connected with over the years and how much I enjoyed working on various projects throughout Australia and New Zealand.

The many adventures that I partook in were definitely a highlight of my life. My favourite part of the whole trip was going on a 90km canoe trip down the Whanganui River. It was near the beginning of the trip and it was a wonderful way to bond with other participants on the program. I was able to spend one-on-one time with different people each day in a canoe. It made us work together and allowed us to get to know one another very quickly. Some other highlights of the trip were learning how to rock climb, being able to stand up on a surf board after a 4 day surf camp, pushing myself out of my comfort level while hiking in Kahurangi National Park, snorkelling with the turtles, matarays, and hammerhead sharks, canyoning and abseiling in the Blue Mountains, spending a day at the most enjoyable water park, white water rafting and not falling out of the boat, and bungy jumping 134 metres off of a cable car. The program allowed me to challenge myself in ways I never thought imaginable and grow into a stronger, more confident person.

Lastly, the people on the trip were what made the trip so incredible. Scott and Rachel pour their heart and soul into everything that is planned. I was privileged to spend the first 3 weeks with Scott on our program and a few days with Rachel as well. It just shows that they care about the participants and they want to make your experience as wonderful as it can be. Also, my trip leader, Kim, was one of the most amazing people that I have ever met. She was well-organized, thoughtful and friendly, made sure everybody was comfortable, had a tremendous amount of life experience, and was one of the most kind-hearted, selfless people I have ever met. Also, the fact that she was from Australia made all the difference when it came to knowing her way around the places we visited. I feel as though I have a second family with Scott, Rachel, Kim, and all of the other participants on the program. I wouldn't have wanted to travel with anybody else.

I highly recommend Pacific Discovery if you are looking for a gap year experience of a lifetime.