I love living in New York City, but January and February always just drag on. Lots of folks escape to Florida or the Caribbean to bake on a tropical beach, but if you want real hot-days-and-cool-nights Summer, you can now fly direct from JFK to Auckland, New Zealand just as easily as going to Cancun or Fort Lauderdale.

Okay, maybe a 16.5 hour direct flight to the other side of the globe on an airplane that’s so groundbreakingly efficient it didn’t come out until after the iPhone requires a bit more adjustment than going from Queens to Miami. But Qantas and Air New Zealand do a great job of making it comfortable and relaxing. Their Business Class pods feature full-recline seats, noise cancelling headphones, wireless phone charging, a well-stocked amenity kit and all the movies you could possibly watch.

Besides the flip in the seasons, flying direct helps ameliorate the day-to-night timezone change. You depart New York City at around 7:30 PM Eastern Time (ET), settle in for a drink and a meal with a movie or two, and get to sleep around your preferred bedtime. Eight or more hours later, you wake up somewhere over the Pacific Ocean for brunch and your day of lounging around on the plane. Read some books, catch up on emails or make friends with your seatmate. Another evening is coming on quickly as you head into the sun, and you’ll land around 5:00AM New Zealand Time (NZT), two days after you departed. After customs, you’ll head to your hotel, freshen up, and be ready for a day exploring Auckland.

Walking Auckland

The first thing you’ll want to do is get some food. Viaduct Harbour. This waterfront area has plenty of cafes, restaurants, and bars with stunning views of the harbor. You can walk around the Wynyard Quarter as well, which has cool spots like the Silo Park and great places to relax by the water.

When the weather is good, explore the Auckland Domain, one of the city's oldest parks. Wander through the Wintergardens, a beautiful collection of glasshouses and gardens with tropical and temperate plants. Or head north to Takapuna Beach for some sun, swimming, or kayaking.

If the weather is poor, start at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. It’s one of New Zealand’s most important museums, offering rich exhibits on the country’s natural history, indigenous Māori culture, and its military history. Or visit the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, which has one of the world’s best collections of indigenous art.

Waiheke Island:

With your next full day, take the ferry from the historic ferry building to Waiheke Island. Only a 40-minute trip, the island is renowned for its beautiful beaches, wineries, and art galleries, Waiheke is the perfect place to relax or explore. If you’re into wine, you can enjoy a wine tour or just soak in the stunning views. There are wonderful lodges on the island if you want to extend it to an overnight.

On the road:

As in Australia and the United Kingdom, New Zealand drives on the left side of the road, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to acclimate. In my experience, it’s just as easy to rent a car from your hotel as the airport, so give yourself a day or two, rather than trying to adjust while jetlagged. Once you have a car you can explore the beautiful Northern and Southern Islands at your own pace. Although there is a car ferry between the islands, many renters choose to leave their car at the Northern Island, cross over, and rent a new one for the Southern Island. Alternatively, it is often possible to save money by beginning your trip in Christchurch, near the Southern tip of the Southern Island, and working your way North from there. Since this goes against the typical flow of tourist traffic, you may be able to find discounts.

Lake Tarawera

Three hours south of Auckland, Lake Tarawa is a volcanic lake ringed with towering peaks and natural hot springs. It’s home to luxury lodges like the Solitaire lodge, which only has nine luxury suites and offers breathtaking views, freestanding outdoor baths, included gourmet meals and use of the lodge’s dinghies and kayaks. It’s the perfect place to relax and feel at one with nature.

Wellington

At the Southern end of the Northern Island, Wellington has a San Francisco-like feel with its steep hills and combination of classic and modern architecture. Just as in San Francisco, you can ride the city’s cable car to grab a panoramic view of the city, harbor and surrounding hills. The city’s Cuba street is its bohemian heart, lined with shops, restaurants, bars and one-of-a-kind street art.

Christchurch

After crossing over to the South Island, Christchurch, New Zealand’s second largest city, is the most popular destination. Modelled after classical English cities, one of the most popular activities is punting on the River Avon through the heart of the city, or walking the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. It’s also home to a vibrant street art scene, especially in reclaimed vacant lots of homes demolished in the 2011 earthquake.

Queenstown

The climax of the New Zealand roadtrip has to be Queenstown, the adrenaline capital of the world. It’s the birthplace of modern bungee jumping, which started from the 150 foot-high Kawarau River Bridge, just outside town. The bridge remains such a popular attraction that New Zealand has classified it a Category I historic place, and packages for first-time jumpers start at around $190USD. Don’t worry about a dress code - the AJ Hackett Bungy company allows you to jump in the nude. However, they recommend wearing a jacket in the winter.

Other adrenaline-inducing activities include skydiving, jetboating, regular skiing, heliskiing, and my personal favorite, heli-hiking, which allows you to enjoy some of the most incredible areas of New Zealand’s Southern Alps, including the 12,195 ft Aoraki/Mount Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand.

If you’re a truly dedicated traveller, you can continue on to Stewart Island/Rakiura, the Southern-most inhabited Island in New Zealand, with about 400 permanent inhabitants and an independent spirit. But for most of us it’s a return flight to Auckland and well-deserved 16.5 hour rest in the return flight to New York, this time with plenty of memories to enjoy along the way.