Auckland, known locally as the “city of sails,” is the largest and most populated urban center in New Zealand. Aucklanders enjoy an easygoing, safe, Kiwi lifestyle with tightknit communities and great schools. Auckland is a multi-cultural, diverse city, which is reflected in its festivals, events, and activities. While Auckland offers all the benefits of city living, nature is also close by. Beaches, boat trips to islands, forest trails as well as numerous parks and reserves are all available to you!

Wellington, famous for its flourishing art scene, is the center of New Zealand’s film and theatre industry. You can enjoy the buzz of the city and appreciate the abundance of nature just outside the city center with beaches and a beautiful harbor! Wellington is a vibrant blend of urban living, with a good transport system, the National Museum Te Papa, and natural landscapes, so you’ll never be bored!

Christchurch, a city of 350,000, is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand. Renowned for its beautiful parks and gardens, Christchurch is only fifteen minutes from surf beaches, twenty minutes from outdoor rock climbing, thirty minutes from bays for sailing and one hour from numerous commercial and private ski fields.

The city center has many notable arts institutions including the stunning Botanic Gardens. Inner-city streets contain art projects and pocket gardens, dispersed against a cityscape featuring remnant stone buildings and sharp, modern architecture.

Whanganui is a riverside town of 40,000 people on the West Coast of the North Island of New Zealand. Surrounded by mountains, beautiful natural landscape, and beaches, you’ll be sure to embark on endless camping and wilderness trips. In addition, hidden deep within Whanganui National Park, you’ll find the Bridge to Nowhere, one of Whanganui’s most iconic attractions!

Bay of Plenty is home to dazzling white sand surf beaches, native forests and waterfalls, New Zealand’s only active marine volcano, and incredible geothermal landscapes. Bay of Plenty is also famous for its delicious produce, with orchards producing everything from kiwis to avocados. While it is certainly a beach lovers paradise, Bay of Plenty contains endless unique places to keep you captivated, including the cities of Rotorua and Tauranga!

“Life-changing” is hard to describe, yet it’s nearly always the first thing that AFSers say when asked about their experience abroad.
“Transformed” is another one. When you return home, if you’re like most AFSers, you’ll bring with you a sense of accomplishment unlike any other. You’ll have gained maturity and independence, discovered new passions, and feel like you can do anything you set your mind to. That transformation isn’t visible only to you, though – others see it as well. AFSers gain critical skills for college and careers, ranging from language fluency to intercultural competence and critical reasoning. “Life-changing” means it’s only the beginning.
In fact, our alumni reviews have made AFS one of the top-rated organizations in the study abroad industry.