The long-haul entry, and the one that flips the calendar: New Zealand's summer runs December to February, making Queenstown the answer when Europe is grey. Lake Wakatipu bends beneath the saw-toothed Remarkables, and the town does everything from jet boats to genuinely great wine in the nearby Gibbston Valley. Skip the busiest bungy queues and ride the Skyline gondola at dusk instead. Book cars and rooms months ahead.
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