10 May 2021

New Zealand is back open for anyone in Aus looking to travel, which means that a gap year abroad is back on the cards. If your original plans have been torn to shreds by the ‘rona, consider this your notice to get hyped for the experience of a lifetime. If you need any more convincing, here’s five reasons why you should do a gap year in NZ:

1. You could see some of the most beautiful places in the world

New Zealand is known for its stunning natural beauty - it’s jam-packed with snow-capped mountains, pristine beaches, massive caves and even active volcanoes. The best thing about it is that it’s all so close together. In a single day you could see Christchurch, drive through Arthur’s Pass, regularly rated as one of the top scenic drives in the world, and end up at Franz Josef Glacier in time for the sunset. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg (or is that a mountain?).

 

2. Get that adrenaline fix you’ve been missing all year

If exams and the pandemic just wasn’t doing it for you in the adrenaline department, New Zealand is the place to go to blow off some steam. It actually had the first commercial bungee jump, so you know they know how to send it. They don’t just stop at bungee though - they’ve got skydiving, white water rafting, and even heli-skiing if you really want to splash out in search of the perfect thrill-ride. Just make sure you’ve charged your Go-Pro before you head off!

 

3. Sick backpacker towns

If you’ve travelled overseas before, you’ll know there’s nothing better than pulling up to a backpacker town. If this is your first big trip, you’re in for a treat - it’s a spot for young travellers to make a base before seeing all the sights and stuff to do around them. It’s an awesome way to meet lifelong mates from all over the world, see some local sights and party down.

Queenstown is known for its great bars, pumping clubs, access to all sorts of thrill seeking activities and a view of the mountains from the street. If you’re frothing for a non-stop experience, look no further.

4. Experience a different culture just a few hours away from home

You might think that you have to take an 8-hour plane trip to experience a different culture, but New Zealand is home to one of the most unique cultures in the world, and no, I’m not talking about saying ‘fush and chups’. The Māori people have been in New Zealand for around 700 years, and can share the language, the stories and the history across a whole bunch of tours, museums and experiences.

5. See another part of the world while building up your CV with a working travel experience

Want to do a big trip, but not sure if you’ll have the cash to stay abroad for long enough? Letz Live is offering a paid gap year program in a Kiwi boarding school. You read that right - as part of the package, you get training, food, accommodation plus pay while you’re abroad.

That means some of the biggest expenses while travelling is sorted, and you get money to spend on all the amazing adventures you just read about! Plus - it’s a great way to get some extra work experience so you come home with more than some great stories and a killer IG feed.

If you’re between 18 and 25, and thinking about getting the heck out of here after high school, a paid gap year in Middle Earth might be the ticket. Demand is going to be insane, so make sure you check the program out on Letz Live ASAP.