Despite the long flight, a 14-day cruise from Sydney to Auckland checks all the sight-seeing, cultural and culinary boxes.

The chicken fried steak sports a crackling crust that audibly shatters under your fork, giving way to tender beef underneath.

Quick and easy to assemble, this oil-based Italian apple cake is great for any time of day, and it is lighter in calories and monounsaturated fats than a butter-based cake.