The pilgrimage is organised by the Archdiocese of Wellington. Our Young Church team is working with Harvest Journeys, a pilgrimage company, to organise the pilgrimage logistics.

We thought it through and looked into options like Japan and Vietnam. But adding a second country would have meant more travel time. So, we decided to focus on South Korea, giving pilgrims a wonderful chance to immerse themselves in the rich culture, history, and Catholic heritage of this amazing country. 

This pilgrimage is limited to those aged 18–35. This is primarily due to additional safeguarding, legal, and supervisory requirements that apply to under-18s on international trips of this nature. 

We organise a great pilgrimage to each international World Youth Day, so if you aren’t old enough to participate this time, we’d love you to consider joining a future WYD pilgrimage. 

We will also be hosting a local WYD event, so keep an eye on your local diocesan socials!

Our pilgrimage is specifically designed for young adults aged 18–35, in line with international Catholic guidelines for World Youth Day and our experience of what works best for pilgrimage groups like this. 

For a pilgrimage of this scale, the needs, expectations, and group dynamics can differ significantly between age groups. Focusing on the 18–35 range allows us to create an experience tailored to this stage of life. 

That said, if you are only slightly above the age limit and are genuinely interested in participating, we encourage you to get in touch:

✉️ s.kentjana@cadw.nz 

We’re happy to consider these situations on a case-by-case basis.

INDICATIVE COST: $5750 NZD*

This cost includes international flights, accommodation, most meals, and transport. The archdiocese will organise your travel insurance at an additional cost incurred through the initial $250 deposit.

Please note that any individual purchases you wish to make (souvenirs, etc.) are not included in the above cost and will be a personal expense. There will also be some meals that aren't provided as well as costs that may incur throughout the trip, so ensure you have extra money saved as a safety net! 

We would recommend saving around $6500-$7000 to ensure you are prepared for any costs that may occur throughout the trip. 

* Costs are indicative and may be subject to change. 

Yes, payments are spread out over a number of instalments:

• $250 - Application deposit. Must be paid when you send the application form. 

• $1000 - First Instalment. Must be paid on 1 November 2026 

• $1300 - Second Instalment required before 1 December 2026. This payment is required to secure flights. 

• $1200 - Third Instalment required before 1 February 2027.

• $1000 - Final Instalment required before 1 March 2027.

• $1000 - Final Instalment required before 21 April 2027.

Total: $5750 NZD* 

You can make payments earlier if you want. But you need to make instalments of at least the above amounts by those dates.

* Costs are indicative and may be subject to change. 

Accommodation will be a combination of:

• Hotels (twin-share rooms)

• Hostels and Retreat Centres

• Homestays (during Days in the Diocese)

• Some simple shared accommodation (e.g. parish or school floors)

We’ve made a deliberate effort to balance comfort and authentic pilgrimage experience.  

Pilgrims will attend information and/or formation sessions once a month between October 2026 - July 2027. 

Pilgrims are also required to attend a 3-day Pre-Pilgrimage Retreat (Friday - Sunday) in the months leading up to departure.

Participation in this Pilgrimage Preparation is an Essential Requirement of the pilgrimage.

The pre-pilgrimage information and formation sessions are an essential part of the journey and are designed to help you prepare spiritually, practically, and as a community.

If your work commitments mean you may miss some sessions, we encourage you to get in touch:

✉️  s.kentjana@cadw.nz (Archdiocese of Wellington) 

We’re happy to consider individual situations on a case-by-case basis.

However, it’s important that pilgrims are able to attend as many sessions as possible, as this preparation is a key part of the pilgrimage experience.

If you are within the eligible age range, we strongly encourage you to join the diocesan pilgrimage. It’s going to be an incredible shared experience for young adults in our Dioceses.

If you are outside the age range, or feel called to organise your own journey, an Affiliate Pilgrimage is an option. This involves independently planning and managing your pilgrimage.

Organising an affiliate pilgrimage carries significant responsibility. The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC) has established a pilgrimage policy that all Catholic pilgrimages from New Zealand are expected to follow. This includes meeting high standards across areas such as liability, insurance, health and safety, financial management, and overall organisation.

If you are planning an Affiliate Pilgrimage, we would love to stay connected. Please let us know, as you are warmly invited to participate in key shared moments, such as the New Zealand Commissioning Mass, our gathering in Seoul, and other key events.

We will try to celebrate Mass daily, alongside opportunities for personal prayer, reflection, and the sacrament of Reconciliation. We are still in the process of securing priest chaplains to accompany us throughout the journey. 

Any pilgrimage of this size will come with its risks, however we have taken careful measures and are working with Harvest to ensure everyone will have a safe trip. 

Things to prepare for 

The heat

• • South Korea will be in the peak of summer in August and average temperatures will range from 30-40°C. Please ensure that you stay hydrated, always carry a water bottle with electrolytes, wear lightweight clothing (lighter shades), carry minimal items and bring a handheld/electric fan with you. The humidity level is extremely high so be prepared for extreme heat in comparison to New Zealand. 

Intensity

• • WYD is an incredible event filled with so many activities; however, this also means it can be quite full-on and overwhelming. It is incredibly important that you get a good nights rest and protect your peace if needed. 

Culture

• Please make sure you are aware of South Korean culture and the dos and don'ts especially in public. We will be hosting workshops that will explain more on the differences and similarities between Kiwi and South Korean culture. We are visitors, so please make sure you are respectful of the culture, but most of all, be excited to learn more about South Korea!

Faith

• WYD is first and foremost, a religious event. It is an oppourtunity for young people to come together in celebration of God! There will be a lot of spiritual preparation before WYD in anticipation of the events. There is a heavy focus on faith, so we ask that you are prepared to embrace and participate in all of these events and oppourtunities.