Gap Year in New Zealand
The land of the long white cloud paints an image of endless adventures. It's a suitable nickname for New Zealand, with its breathtaking landscapes and epic list of activities and opportunities.
With bustling cities, stunning scenery and endless adventures, it’s no surprise New Zealand is a popular gap year destination. Filled with mountains, lakes and glaciers, New Zealand has everything to offer. Whether you want to spend your time bungee jumping over the Waikato River, exploring the Māori culture with a trip up Mount Hikurangi or relaxing on the 15,000 kilometres of coastline, New Zealand has it all.
- 11 Month Placements Only
Our fav things to do in New Zealand
New Zealand is full of adventure with endless opportunities for travel. Head to beaches where penguins and seals just happen to call home and road trip across two of the most beautiful islands in the world.
Adrenalin seekers -Think of overnight kayaking through world famous fjords, bungee jumping, jet boating, snow skiing, and surfing the fabled points of Raglan.
Adventure –You can head to the snow capped mountains for a touch of snowboarding, head to beaches with black sand and trek mountains to immerse yourself in the beauty of the countries many lakes including the jaw-dropping Emerald Lake.
Travel – The Pacific Islands are easily accessible from New Zealand, giving you much to plan for holidays to Fiji, New Caledonia, Samoa and Tonga to name a few.
Rotorua Maori Experience – Step back in time to learn more about Maori Culture and traditions.
Popular places to visit in New Zealand
Australia is on most people’s bucket lists and it is easy to see why!
Rotorua
See the geo-thermal springs & mud pools of this thermal wonderland. Guided tours are readily available.
Lake Pukaki
Lake Pukaki is the largest of the Alpine Lakes, located on the footsteps of New Zealand's tallest mountain, Mt Cook.
Milford Sound
Take a cruise, a scenic flight, a guided walk or go kayaking to discover the true beauty of NZ's stunning National Park.
Queenstown
The adventure capital of NZ, this town is packed with activities like bungee jumping, jet boating & skydiving
What New Zealand is famous for
New Zealand is famous for its friendly people, laid back lifestyle, jaw-dropping scenery and adrenaline activities. Maori culture is an important part of the country and learning more about their traditions is a fascinating insight into the indigenous population.
- Kiwi bird - Famous for the Kiwi, a small native, flightless bird that is New Zealand’s national animal and symbol.
- Sheep - There are 9 sheep per person, making this the highest ratio in the world so expect a large number of sheep jokes to be doing the rounds.
- No reptiles - There are no snakes in New Zealand! That in itself is an attraction!
- Movies - To name a few think Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, Hunt for the Wilderpeople and famed director Taika Waititi of Thor Ragnarok
- Wine - The country has 10 wine-regions which span over the North and South Islands. The country's wine is world renowned for its distinct soil and climatic conditions.
- Rugby -The All Blacks have made New Zealand famous for Rugby. New Zealanders are very passionate about Rugby and is played from primary school level through to international competitions.
Cool or unusual things to do in New Zealand
There is just too much to do in New Zealand for one website or list to do the country justice. Here are some of our favourite quirky attractions that the country has to offer
See the giant Kiwi, not the bird, the fruit! Te Puke is the Kiwi capital, make sure you try plenty of this delicious fruit while you are here.
Walk the world’s steepest street. The Guinness World Records voted Baldwin Street in Dunedin as the steepest ever. For those willing to give the thighs a work out, it should take about 10 minutes to climb to the top
Go jetboating through narrow canyons.
Visit beaches with black sand, the country is well known for its black sand beaches and the most iconic is Piha Beach found close to Auckland on the North Island.
Try a Ferburger in Queenstown, the famous burger shop has a line around the corner for reason!
Swim with dusky dolphins in Kaikoura, these friendly and curious marine locals are the smallest dolphins in the world
Learn the Haka. Haka is a traditional war dance or challenge that is an integral part of Maori culture and is usually seen at the start of an All Black’s rugby match.
Check out New Zealand’s glacier walking trails. Explore ice caves and other glacial terrains with a professional guide.
Save up for the ultimate in boutique shopping in Auckland.
What can
Letz Live offer?
Letz Live is passionate about worthwhile travel. To us, there’s no better way to understand the world than by diving into the local culture. Our organisation is partnered with renowned schools in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and the UK that welcome gap assistants with open arms.
We know what it’s like to yearn for an in-depth overseas experience that a tourist vacation can’t provide. So we encourage everyone with big hearts, open minds and positive attitudes to apply for our gap year programmes. We organise an experience that combines work and travel for a better understanding of life on the other side of the world.