Blog

NZA Group A is on the move, Liz, one of our instructors fills us in:  We said goodbye to the quiet of the Crossing and moved straight into the busy city of Sydney. On the first full day of Sydney, the group split into two. Half went to Newtown and the other went to the beach and did a little sun bathing and swimming at the coast of Australia. Newtown was a quirky, artsy part of the city. There were outside markets where you could get food, clothing, and lots of little t… Read more

Lauren and Wes get their hands dirty at The Crossing, working hard on sustainability and landcare projects. Check out their video blog to see what they're up to!     If you want to learn more about the New Zealand and Australia Semester Program, you can read more here. Read more

Liz gives us an update on what NZA Group A has been doing:  This was a fun and emotional week for us. We started off in the blue mountains canyoning, the guides equipped us with helmets and harnesses, and we learned how to abseil. They hooked a rope to our harnesses, and we used it to guide ourselves down the rock wall. We first practiced abseiling down a 3 meter rock, then 15 and then a 45. It was very nerve-racking for most of us in the group but we all did it with a … Read more

Another surf update, this time from NZ A Group A! Liz one of the instructors gives us the low-down on what they've been up to lately: After a six hour drive from Byron Bay we arrived at Surfari—our accommodations in Crescent Head, New South Wales. After a week of living out of tents it was lovely to sleep on real beds. The relaxation didn’t last long, because the next morning we drove to Plomer Beach for our first day of service work. With a view of the waves crashing o… Read more

Touchdown in Australia! I think I can speak for us all when I say we were all pretty anxious to arrive to begin our adventures with the completely charming and winsome “land down under .” As we slowly begin to learn culture and the lingo, we are yet to see a dingo! The long plane put me in the mindset of ancient voyagers. The flight was long and intense at times but it ‘twas the start of our journey. We were greeted with the most cheerful and wonderful attitudes. Everyo… Read more

Yesterday was one of the best days of the trip so far. Beforehand, I had no idea what to expect. Everyone else was excited and mentioned how Steve Irwin was very influential to them during their childhood. They explained to me how Steve Irwin would wrestle with crocodiles and live life on the edge. I was definitely intrigued, but I still thought that the Australia Zoo would be the same as any other zoo in the world. And I’m glad to say that I was wrong.  Upon entering t… Read more

G’day mates,   This week was a week of “firsts” for us. Our adventure began as soon as we arrived to the airport. Team work was a necessity from the beginning. Jamming bags into a tiny trailer and grocery shopping for fourteen people on a budget were only two of the first challenges that we were faced with. After landing at Point Lookout and beginning orientation, we shared giggles, meals, and made memories. After being flooded with rain, we embarked on a new journey to… Read more

Hey, I'm jack from robin hood country England (Nottinghamshire)! I'm super excited to be leading the New Zealand & Australia Semester this Spring. I'm into everything outdoors, mostly hiking, climbing and mountain biking. At the moment I am loving spending lots of time in New Zealand - its so varied with such beautiful landscapes and friendly people. Travelling the world is amazing as it offers so many chances to take stock and remind ourselves of the wonders this pla… Read more