This hole in the rock is in the shape of Australia, and you'll come across it in Narooma on Highway 1, the Princes Highway, on the New South Wales South Coast.

But you don't need to simply look at the map of Australia — etched out of a rock or drawn on paper — you can, if you wanted to, take Australia's circumferential Highway 1 all around the continent with side trips to your destinations of choice.

Of course, there's no need to take the whole circle route but it's easy enough to travel convenient sections of it.

Unless you go inland, you'd miss the nation's capital, Canberra, which isn't on Highway 1. You'd also miss Tasmania across Bass Strait but you'd have the option to catch the ferry from Melbourne.

• Narooma: 'Land of Many Waters'
• Around Australia on Highway 1
• Australia by Train
• Take the Ferry to Devonport

Photo: Australia Rock at Narooma © Larry Rivera licensed to About.com, Inc

So, have you skied in New Zealand? And how did you find it?

Wherever you are in New Zealandn in the winter, and particularly in the South Island, you’re never too far from a ski slope. In fact, you should be able to go cross-country skiing in New Zealand almost anywhere there’s snow.

The two skiing destinations on the South Island which come immediately to mind are Queenstown, which calls itself the Adventure Capital of the World, and Christchurch with its major international airport.

On the North Island, travel to the snowfields from Auckland or Wellington.

• Skiing on the North Island
• Skiing on the South Island
• Skiing on Mt Cook
• Glaciers of the West Coast
• Where to Stay in New Zealand

Photo: Skiing at Treble Cone on the South Island of New Zealand © Tourism New Zealand

With the southern half of the Australian continent suffering some of its coldest winter days and nights this past week, the tropical north basks luringly in the sun. And you don't even have to go all the way to the Top End for warm weather.

In Broome, Western Australia, the "winter" weather has hovered around the 30-31°C (86-87.8°F) mark this week.

Seems Broome and nearby Cable Beach don't know it's midwinter in Australia... well, early midwinter anyway.

Have you been to Cable Beach in the winter... or in the summer, autumn or spring? Tell us about it.

• Broome: It's One Pearl of a Town
• Cable Beach: Tropical Playground
• Find a Suitable Flight to Broome (BME)
• Find Suitable Accommodation in Broome

Photo: Cable Beach, Western Australia © Tourism Western Australia