Celebrating milestone moments at Cardrona with a mama-daughter trip to remember
Former OHbaby! editor Marianne Falconer shares how she marked her daughter’s 10th birthday with a snow-filled adventure at Cardrona.
When my daughter Frankie turned ten, I wanted to mark it with more than cake and candles. Double digits felt like a milestone moment – not just for her, but for me too. Frankie was first featured in OHbaby! as a newborn, nestled in my arms in the nursery rocking chair. A decade later, we celebrated her first big birthday with a mother–daughter ski adventure in Wanaka, with Cardrona as our snowy stage.
Filling the memory bank
In the early years, nights often meant pacing the hallway, rocking her to sleep with white noise and long car rides. Those days felt endless, yet here we are with a fiercely independent girl who now prefers sleepovers with friends to time with mum. The old saying, “the days are long, but the years are short”, has never felt more true. And with the realisation that we’re already more than halfway to eighteen – to adulthood – I’m more conscious than ever of making time to connect.
I’ve always believed parents are in the business of filling the memory bank. More important than any college fund are the experiences we gift our children – moments of joy, adventure, and discovery that stay with them for life. And it turns out, there’s science to back that up. As I scrolled Instagram on the plane before switching to flight mode, I stumbled on research from a Cornell University psychology professor showing that family trips give kids something close to superpowers: the understanding that experiences, not things, create happiness. Experiences, he found, bring us lasting joy in a way material possessions never can. That little reminder made me all the more grateful for what Frankie and I were about to embark on.
Mini road trip
The journey set the tone. We kicked things off with a mini road trip from Tauranga to Auckland Airport – fuelled by lollies, chit chat, and the soundtrack of K-Pop Demon Hunters. A proper girls’ adventure before we’d even boarded the plane. Then came the flight south: swooping into Queenstown on a perfect bluebird day, Lake Wakatipu shimmering beneath us and the Southern Alps rising in welcome. Frankie was captivated. It’s easily the most breathtaking airport we’ve ever flown into – the kind of arrival that tells you something special lies ahead.
A journey of firsts
Wanaka itself was the perfect base. We stayed with my brother, his wife Kelli and their two gorgeous girls. It was our first time visiting them in their new home, since they moved South. Hanging with her cousins Tilly (12) and Lola (8) was a hands down highlight for Frankie. Between spa pools overlooking the ranges, scootering quiet streets, and authentic French crêpes from Charlie Brown’s caravan (with Frankie bravely testing her school-girl French on the owners) – très bon! The trip already felt like a celebration.
Snow-fun
At the heart of the trip was, of course, the skiing. For Frankie, who spends winters skiing at Mt Ruapehu and dreams of one day going professional, a milestone trip needed to be something bigger. Cardrona, New Zealand’s largest ski field, offered wide-open runs, world-class terrain, and the thrill of exploring a new mountain.
We were stoked to score two bluebird days on the mountain – the kind of conditions every skier hopes for. Day one began with a group lesson, and while Frankie wasn’t too keen at first, ski school worked its magic. By lunchtime her turns were tighter and she was skiing with more confidence – one step closer to that dream of being a pro. After refuelling at the Noodle Bar (highly recommend the hot bowls of goodness), we set off to explore further. Frankie’s face as we traversed to Captains is etched in my memory. Up until then, she thought Cardrona was just McDougall’s learner slope. When the mountain suddenly opened up before her, she let out a gleeful “woohoo!” – pure joy in motion.
On day two, cousin Lola and Aunty Kelli joined us on the slopes (sadly Tilly was sidelined with the flu). Watching Frankie and Lola chase each other down Cardrona’s big, rolling runs while my sister-in-law and I followed behind was a highlight.
For the braver skiers, Cardrona’s famous terrain park is right alongside the learner slopes (handy if you’ve got a mix of competencies) complete with rails, boxes and enormous jumps. While we didn’t venture in, Frankie and I loved watching the pros soar through the air as we glided overhead in the chairlift. That’s the beauty of skiing as a family – in between the thrills and spills, there’s time for conversations on the lift, the kind of quality time that’s hard to find elsewhere.
Quirks, cousins and laughter
A family trip wouldn’t be complete without a few quirky discoveries. The first was the chondola – part gondola, part chairlift, and possibly the only one of its kind. One gondola for every four chairs – its designed for non-skiers and the comfort of even the littlest people. We mostly opted for the chairlift but the kids thought it was hilarious.
We skipped the obligatory “Wanaka Tree” shot, an isolated tree just begging to be photographed. But found entertainment at the iconic bra fence - hundreds of bras strung along the roadside, equal parts feminist rebellion and Kiwi humour. For two tweens, it was the perfect icebreaker on the subject of bras – less awkward conversation, more giggles all round.
Sharing the trip with cousins Tilly and Lola added another layer. Family holidays are never just about the destination – they’re about the bonds formed in between. Whether it was Lola and Frankie competing on the slopes or all the girls soaking in the spa, those moments stitched the trip into something bigger than just skiing.
Planning your trip
If you’re a parent considering a family ski trip, it can feel pretty daunting. But Cardrona ticks a lot of boxes. Wide-open learners’ slopes make it perfect for beginners, while the expansive terrain offers plenty for more confident skiers. They have a great set up for children of all ages, from amazing group lessons to childcare for the little ones, so you can enjoy the slopes with your older children, or perhaps do some laps with your partner ‘sans enfants’!
Add in Wanaka’s relaxed charm, the staggering alpine views, nature hikes a plenty, and the simple joy of experiencing a “first” through your child’s eyes, and you’ve got the makings of a truly memorable family holiday.
For us, it wasn’t just about skiing. It was about celebrating a milestone, marking a decade of motherhood, and creating a memory bank deposit we’ll treasure for years to come. Because big dreams do need big spaces – but more than anything, they need time together in the mountains.
SHOUT-OUT TO:
Cardrona Alpine Resort you were epic hosts!
Uncle Damo and Aunty Kelli for hosting us!
