Unbreakable bonds

Speaking of blockbusters, mention the country, and more often than not The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies will spring to mind. That’s because back in the late 90s, Sir Peter Jackson stumbled upon a sheep farm in the heart of the Waikato region and transformed it into The Shire of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fictional Middle-earth.

Today, the surrounding area remains as untouched as it was then; with no power lines, buildings or roads in sight, you can fully immerse yourself in the magic of the landscape on a tour of the film set left behind after The Hobbit. Let your imagination run riot amid the undulating 12-acres of greenery, pock-marked by Hobbit Holes and framed by the mighty Kaimai Ranges tiptoeing up to touch the horizon. Rather than using a camera to capture the moment, however, commit it to memory. You’ll be left feeling humbled by the untameable beauty of nature – and with shared souvenirs of a place that no photo will ever do justice.

There’s something nostalgic about embarking on a skiing trip with grown-up children, but to create experiences firmly rooted in the present, enlist an Olympic instructor to help you navigate the pic’n’mix of terrain, all the while sharpening your senses and encouraging each other to push yourselves further.

If that fails to impress them, up the cool factor a notch by taking a turn in a two-man bobsleigh. Negotiating the exhilarating ice speed, while crammed into a steel pod, will no doubt prove to be
a fun lesson in teamwork and communication. A story they’ll no doubt share with their children one day.

Nestled in upper Whistler Village, Fairmont Chateau Whistler will elevate your bonding experience even further, with Snow Hosts on hand to cater for your every whim. This includes serving up steaming hot chocolates slope-side, so you can continue the heart-to-heart and goad each other with old rivalries about who’s the better skier (which will be your prompt to remind them that you taught them everything they know).

Andalucian coastal haven the Marbella Club has created the postnatal wellness programme designed to aid mothers to reconnect with themselves on a three-day nurturing and healing experience. The private and personalised programme will focus on your hormone health, relaxation and nutrition, with tailored sessions to combat feelings of anxiety and exhaustion. Each retreat is crafted to fit your lifestyle, so the theory is that you’ll be able to introduce these new practices into your everyday routine back home. You’ll leave feeling reinvigorated and better equipped to deal with whatever motherhood throws your way.

Until then, everything is geared up to help you have the most relaxing stay possible, from eight hours of childcare provided by a team of qualified nannies to a complimentary laundry service for newborns. There’s something for expectant mums too. You can concentrate on restoring balance with a Sleep-Inducing Ritual at the Thalasso Spa to ease fatigue and quieten the mind. The peacefulness emanating from your treatment should (hopefully) invoke a sense of inner calm in your baby, and help you both to nod off listening to the sound of the waves lapping at the shore.