Just a brief hop over the Tasman Sea sits New Zealand, and a popular destination for many Australians is Queenstown.
With the June skiing season fast approaching, April is the best time to book a trip, with cheap hotels in Queenstown preparing themselves for a busy period.
Located on the scenic Southern Island, Queenstown is known for being one of the most spectacular parts of a country renowned for natural beauty.
It lies on the edge of Lake Wakatipu and is surrounded by a series of jagged mountains aptly named the Remarkables.
Finding cheap hotels in Queenstown is never a problem, accommodation ranges from budget digs to more luxurious lodges.
Getting in is also easy, as most major airports in Australia provide cheap flights to Queenstown.
It is a popular destination all year round, not least with backpackers as well as skiers and adrenaline junkies from all over the world.
This means there is always a lively and friendly atmosphere in the town's numerous pubs, bars and nightclubs.
Queenstown is one of the big centres for adventure tourism.
Its mountainous terrain and clean air mean it is also a brilliant place for lovers of the great outdoors.
It is most famous for its skiing, and there are options to please everyone.
Skiers of all ability and experience levels are well catered for.
There are four major ski resorts around Queenstown and in nearby Wanaka.
Closest are the resorts of Coronet Peak and The Remarkables, both of which lie approximately 20 minutes away from the centre of town.
A little further afield is beginner and family friendly Cardrona, not to mention snowboarding favourite Snow Park.
Treble Cone Park just outside Wanaka is the largest ski resort on the South Island, and provides more of a challenge for experts.
Transport is also easy here as ski resorts are serviced by frequent shuttle buses.
Queenstown is also a major centre for extreme activities such as bungee jumping, paragliding and climbing.
The lake and exhilarating rapids surrounding Queenstown also lend themselves to water sports such as windsurfing and white water rafting.
Slightly less extreme activities such as cycling and mountaineering are also available.
With so much action going on, visitors to Queenstown will inevitably need some time off to recharge their batteries, and the abundance of restaurants and cafes provide a good chance to unwind.
The town can also boast good shopping, and there are even wine tasting get-togethers.
For those who want to relax but still take advantage of the stunning setting there is also plenty on offer.
A good example involves getting a cable cart into the upper reaches of the mountains.
The higher ground offers picturesque views of the town below and the surrounding area.
In addition there are steamboat cruises and fishing trips on Lake Wakatipu.