New Zealand Gap Year: Maoris & Mountains

Start in Auckland  
Kia ora, and welcome to New Zealand! Take an included transfer from the airport to a buzzing hostel in the centre of Auckland where you can recover from jetlag and meet some fellow backpackers. Enjoy a few days exploring the highlights of this cosmopolitan city – scout the waterfront bars, soak up the view from the famous Sky Tower and maybe hop on a ferry to the picturesque beaches of Devonport.    

Explore North and South Island  
Meet your G Adventures group for a three week journey through the Land of the Long White Cloud (as NZ is known to the locals!). Head south through the surf town of Raglan to remarkable Rotorua, full of geothermal marvels, magical glow worm caves and ancient Maori traditions. Pop into the National Museum in Wellington, then take the Interislander ferry to South Island. Trek past native forests and turquoise bays in Abel Tasman, meet the barking seals of Westport and continue to the vast icy landscape of Franz Josef.    

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, you’re off to the adrenaline capital of the world – Queenstown! Enjoy a few crazy days of bungy jumping, mountain biking or skydiving, then slow down the pace and soak up the chilled vibes of Milford Sound. Spend the night in a converted Christchurch jail house, tick ‘swimming with dolphins’ off your bucket list in Kaikoura, then let the good times roll for a farewell night out with your crew in Wellington.

The Rest of Your Gap Year    
When you’re ready to think about the year ahead, Ultimate’s experienced team will help you set up your local tax number and bank account, before helping you find a job to make the most of your gap year. With their pro advice under your belt and 12 months membership to Job Search New Zealand, it couldn’t be easier to get your gap year sorted.