18 August 2025

Our Annual Wānaka Ski Trip: Family, Health and Memories

Our Annual Wānaka Ski Trip: Family, Health and Memories

Since 2016, our annual family ski trip to Wānaka has been a tradition that we've built our winter season around - a rhythm that started when our eldest was just four years old. At the time, we had no idea this would become one of our family's most cherished rituals. Now, nearly a decade later, that tiny skier is a teenager, and we've got a collection of ski memories that have shaped not only our holidays, but also our family values, our health philosophy, and our sense of connection.


Although we're not heading to the slopes this year, we're taking the opportunity to reflect on the magic of those trips - and what they've taught us about movement, family, and self-trust.


A Tradition Rooted in Movement, Family, and Meaning


Every year, we'd pack up our car (and our ugly orange sports bag - more on that in a moment) and head south for a week or more of skiing, outdoor time, and deep connection. It became more than just a holiday; it was a core memory in the making.


Each trip, we'd meet up with extended family - Dr. John Sutherland's cousin and their crew, who would travel down from Wellington - and it quickly became one of those experiences our kids will remember forever. Cousins skiing side by side, adults catching up over hot drinks, evenings spent around the fire reflecting on the day's adventures and prepping for the next.


In 2024, we ended the trip with something spontaneous and fun: our first-ever Sutherland Family Ski Prize Giving. We came up with playful, heartfelt awards like:


  • The Early Bird Award
  • The Energiser Bunny
  • The Head Cheerleader
  • The Positivity Powerhouse
  • The MacGyver Magician


It was silly and light-hearted, but also incredibly special. It reminded us that health isn't just about movement and nutrition - it's about joy, laughter, and relationships. These moments of shared celebration are just as nourishing for our bodies as a nutritious meal or a spinal adjustment.


Yes, Skiing with Kids Gets Easier (Trust Us)


If you've got little ones and you're staring at a pile of ski gear, wondering if the chaos is worth it - the answer is yes. It's worth every lost glove, every ski boot waddle to the bathroom, and chair lift juggle. Over time, the process gets smoother, the kids get stronger and more independent, and the memories get richer.


We learned a lot over the years - and here are a few of our best travel tips:



1. The Beloved (and Ugly) Orange Sports Bag


We keep all our ski gear in one, not-so-stylish, sports bag that only ever gets used for this purpose. It's our dedicated ski gear bag - a system that saves us so much time and hassle each year. Pre-trip, we lay it all out and check what fits, what needs upgrading, and what can be passed down.


2. Try It On Before You Go


Thermals, gloves, goggles, and layers - the kids try everything on before we hit the road. We keep boots and helmets in a separate tub, and always make sure gumboots are packed for those muddy mountain car parks.


3. Invest Where It Counts


Good-quality gear for adults is worth it - it lasts season after season. For kids, we typically get the eldest gear that will last and can be passed down. Longevity is key.


How We Look After Our Health on the Slopes


As a family rooted in health, movement, and self-trust, we don't leave those values behind when we go on holiday - they travel with us.


  • Sunrise drives up the mountain give us natural light and an opportunity to listen to our created music playlist.
  • We start our day with spinal hygiene and gentle stretching - the ideal way to wake up.
  • After a long day of skiing, everyone has their own Epsom salt bath (usually with lavender), to soothe tired muscles and calm the nervous system.
  • Chiropractic adjustments on the go (thanks to John!) are part of our post-ski recovery.
  • We bring specific nutritional supplements tailored through applied kinesiology, as well as go-to remedies like:
  • Magnesium and arnica creams
  • Traumeel
  • Liposomal Vitamin C
  • Homeopathics like Cold & Flu drops or Hypericum Aurum


These little rituals help us stay well, feel good, and recover faster - all while maintaining the joy and freedom that comes with being outdoors.


The True Meaning of a "Healthy" Holiday


This trip has always been more than just skiing. It's been about moving our bodies, reconnecting with nature, slowing down, and soaking up the joy of being together. It's a time to play, to laugh, to reset.


It's also a reminder that good health isn't built in isolation - it comes from how we live, how we love, and how we trust ourselves to make space for both the everyday routines and the once-a-year adventures.


Even though we're not hitting the slopes in Wānaka in 2025, the lessons from our ski trips live on in our family rhythm, and in the way we choose to live our lives: intentionally, joyfully, and together.



by Olivia Sutherland 15 December 2025
The Medicine of Stillness in a Busy Season
by Olivia Sutherland 30 November 2025
And why do they arrive at the WORST time?!
by Olivia Sutherland 16 November 2025
Improving Indoor Air Quality
by Olivia Sutherland 8 November 2025
Understanding Ingredients & Reducing Hidden Toxins
by Olivia Sutherland 26 October 2025
Your Nervous System is Your Superpower
by Olivia Sutherland 25 October 2025
Supporting Your Body's Natural Detox Systems
by Olivia Sutherland 12 October 2025
The Power of Your Brain
by Olivia Sutherland 5 October 2025
Prioritising Sleep As Your Medicine
by Olivia Sutherland 28 September 2025
Your Biological Needs as a Biological Creature
by Olivia Sutherland 21 September 2025
Self-trust is one of the most powerful foundations of health and well-being. Without it, we can find ourselves stuck in cycles of blame, shame, and fear. With it, we reclaim our power to heal, grow, and live with greater freedom. Judgement, Shame, and the Avoidance of Self So often, judgement becomes a way to avoid the deeper feelings of inadequacy and insecurity within ourselves. It's easier to project blame onto others than to face the fear that we are somehow not enough. When it comes to health, this can look like believing that sickness or disease is solely due to bad luck, "bad genes," or someone else's fault. The problem is, when we place all the responsibility outside of ourselves, we also give away our power. We tell ourselves there is nothing we can do, and we stay stuck in a victim mindset. But here's the truth: your body is not broken. You are not powerless. Your body is always healing, always seeking balance, and always working for you. Reclaiming Power and Responsibility Taking responsibility for our health doesn't mean blaming ourselves for what has gone wrong. It means becoming open to the idea that we have influence, that we can support our bodies, and that we can change patterns that no longer serve us. This can include exploring: The food we nourish ourselves with Old trauma or inner child wounds that need healing Repressed emotions or beliefs that keep us stuck Relationships or environments that drain us When we approach these with curiosity instead of judgement, healing becomes an empowering journey rather than a shameful burden. The Role of Subconscious Beliefs Many of our subconscious patterns are formed in childhood, when we learned to please others, silence our needs, or adapt in order to feel safe and loved. These patterns were defense mechanisms - acts of survival, not flaws. But as adults, they can keep us small, disconnected, and mistrustful of ourselves. Shame, especially, is one of the most limiting emotions. In trying to avoid it, we can lose sight of our truth. Self-trust is the antidote: the decision to stand in our sovereignty, to believe we are worthy, and to trust our body's intelligence over external authority. Freedom From Fear Impatience, control, and doubt are often signs of mistrust - mistrust in ourselves, in our body's innate wisdom, or in the timing of life. But nothing can take away your true power. Freedom from fear is the deepest form of healing. When you decide to release doubt and instead ground yourself in faith, love, and joy, you recalibrate your energy. You begin to live in alignment, open to synchronicities, laughter, and the guidance that surrounds you. Living in Self-Trust Imagine how life would feel if it flowed with ease. If anxiety, fear, and self-doubt were no longer holding you back. If you could live on purpose, in service, with joy and freedom. Self-trust isn't about control or perfection. It's about surrendering into your own innate intelligence, remembering that you hold the power to heal, and choosing to walk your path with confidence and curiosity. You are capable. You are resilient. You are the authority of your own life. And when you live from that truth, everything shifts.