28/05/2026
This adventure didn’t begin with everyone boarding the same flight....
Instead, the group split in two — with some of the ladies heading to South America with Michelle, while others travelled via Houston with David — before eventually reuniting to continue the journey together through the Galápagos Islands and the Amazon.
From the moment they were picked up from home in Whangārei and driven to Auckland Airport, everything was taken care of. No worrying about parking, airports, transfers or trying to coordinate the details — just the excitement of what was ahead.
For the Houston group, the journey included local touring and a visit to NASA, seeing the scale and history of space exploration up close. Meanwhile, the South America group experienced the energy, colour and incredible food scenes of Santiago and Lima, including a street food tour that quickly became a favourite.
Then came Ecuador and the beginning of something truly unforgettable.
The group explored the stunning Mindo Cloud Forest where one of the standout moments was experiencing hummingbirds up close — watching these tiny, vibrant birds dart and hover around them in the middle of the cloud forest felt almost magical. From there they continued on to Quito, surrounded by history, mountains and incredible scenery. But it was the Galápagos Islands where things really started to feel surreal.
Stepping onto San Cristobal Island — where Charles Darwin first went ashore in 1835 — was one of those moments that’s hard to put into words. Swimming alongside sea lions, sea turtles, manta rays and even Galápagos sharks felt like stepping into another world entirely. Everywhere you looked there was wildlife: blue-footed bo***es perched on cliffs, giant tortoises wandering through reserves, dolphins racing beside boats and volcanic landscapes unlike anywhere else on earth.
As the journey continued through Santa Cruz and Isabela Island, the group explored lava tunnels, visited active volcanoes, cruised through mangroves and learnt more about the incredible ecosystems that make the Galápagos so special. There were cooking classes, organic farms, endless laughs shared over meals, and those quiet moments where you stop and realise just how lucky you are to be standing where you are.
And then… the Amazon.
From their jungle lodge deep within the rainforest, the group explored by boat and on foot, keeping watch for monkeys, macaws, colourful parrots, black caimans and giant river otters. It was wild, humbling and unforgettable all at once — the kind of experience that stays with you long after you’ve returned home.
But as always, one of the most special parts wasn’t just the destinations themselves.
It was the people.
The conversations.
The friendships that grow stronger somewhere between airports, boat rides, shared meals and unforgettable moments.
Take a look through some of the group’s photos — they capture the adventure far better than words ever could.
This is what YMAF is all about.
Seeing incredible parts of the world while knowing everything is taken care of for you — from the planning, to the flights, to the transfers, to the door-to-door pick up back home again.
All you need to do… is enjoy the journey.
