The big chill

Seven other coldclimate destinations that are hot right now.

Salzburg

In December, with its Baroque streetscapes and fortified hilltops blanketed in snow, Salzburg resembles a Christmas postcard. Locals and tourists embrace the season with gusto and yuletide markets sprout across the city with hot spiced wine to warm the arteries. Stay at the Sacher Salzburg (hotel.qantas.com.au/sachersalzburg) for the complete chocolate-box experience.

Antarctica

It’s been called the most inhospitable place on earth but adventurers can’t resist the siren call of Antarctica. Nothing about it is easy: the Drake Passage sail is notoriously nauseating and even those who fly into King George Island must endure the Southern Ocean’s moods. It’s accessible for just four months a year and can cost about $20,000 but the effort is well rewarded.

Kamchatka Peninsula

Spouting geysers and active volcanoes take the chill off the snowy extremities of Far East Russia. Besides the scenery, it’s known for its wildlife, from reindeer and moose to brown bears gorging on running salmon. Ocean voyages are the usual way to explore this UNESCO-listed wilderness but key attractions such as the Valley of Geysers can only be reached by helicopter.

Tasmania

Once upon a time, mainlanders wouldn’t dare visit Tasmania in the dead of winter. But in the almost six years since the subversive Dark Mofo festival debuted (darkmofo.net.au), Hobart’s the hottest place in the country to spend the winter solstice. Pagan feasts, big-name acts, avant-garde art and ceremonial fires lend the city a weird and wonderful glow.

Finland

In the remote Lapland wilderness, stilted tree houses, glass-ceilinged suites and transparent igloos maximise northern exposure and the chances of seeing the Northern Lights, which can be visible for up to 200 nights a year in Finland’s deep north, weather permitting. September to April are prime viewing months; the further north you venture, the better the borealis.

Patagonia

About 90 per cent of travellers visit Patagonia during the milder months of October to April. But arrive between May and early June, before the snow closes many lodges and walks, and you’ll find much sparser crowds and calmer conditions than the wild gales of summer. Hiking is also more pleasant when the temperature tops out at 10°C.

Hakuba Valley

The premier ski destination in the Japanese Alps, the Hakuba Valley contains nine resorts linked by a single lift pass (and shuttle buses) so there are slopes to suit every budget and level of ability. A former Winter Olympics venue, Hakuba has no shortage of epic runs for skiers, skaters and snowboarders, plus the infrastructure is second to none.