See New Zealand by sea Ski in an off-piste playground

Few cruise ships circumnavigate New Zealand, but they do sail in from Australia. You can combine these two longhaul favourites that have been out of reach for so long by setting off from Sydney. Detour to Tasmania, then surge across the Tasman Sea to approach New Zealand like an oldschool explorer. The first ports of call are Milford, Doubtful and Dusky Sounds – a terrific trio, with waterfalls and wildlife that are best seen by boat. It’s then on to historic Dunedin and Akaroa (where penguins might be spotted), the wineries and walking trails of Marlborough and art deco Napier before docking in Auckland.

A 12-day Australia & New Zealand cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line (0333 2412319; ncl.com) costs from £1,281pp excluding flights; departs December-March

The Southern Hemisphere offers skiing when the Northern Hemisphere is bathing in the summer sun (the season runs June-October). The resort of Treble Cone, near Wanaka, is good. Even better is the crowd-free alpine ski camp, higher up, where days are spent remote skitouring and nights are spent gazing up in the Southern Hemisphere’s only dark sky reserve. Combine that with carving pristine tracks from heli-access-only Minaret Station, flying over glaciers, and even landing on remote beaches, fishing for crayfish, and then eating the spoils.

A seven-night Off The Beaten Track ski holiday with Mabey Ski (001 604 902 2848; mabeyski.com) costs from £8,500pp excluding flights