The Merino Muster
WorldLoppet
holiday package

Wanaka, New Zealand

25 Aug - 1 Sep 2025

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Reserve your spot at the 2025 Merino Muster now!

We'll look after you at the 2025 Merino Muster

Our Merino Muster package is a 7 night, fully-catered holiday in New Zealand aimed at Merino Muster WorldLoppet ski race competitors.

We will provide everything you will need to train and prepare for the Merino Muster - luxury shared accommodation, healthy meals, transport to and from Snow Farm (the race venue) and expert on-snow support and guidance. 

We support cross country (XC) skiers of all levels of experience and fitness.  It doesn't matter if you are a seasoned veteran with many stamps on your WorldLoppet Passport or a recreational XC skier needing support and encouragement at your first event.  We even encourage novices to give this sport a go. With our expert guidance, you'll push new limits, hone your skills and share your achievements with kindred spirits.  

Book Now
For the 2025
Merino Muster

All you have to do is SKI

We'll take care of everything else

Why worry about logistics when you can benefit from our experience?  We will take care of all the details, leaving you to focus on your technique, fitness, the race, or any other personal goals you may have.  

The Merino Muster package covers:

- Pick up and drop off Queenstown airport or hotel

- Luxury shared accommodation in a modern Wanaka home

- Daily transport to and from Snow Farm in our own bus

- Healthy and energy rich meals (breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner)

- Trail pass at Snow Farm

- Advice and help with ski wax

- Help with Merino Muster race entry

- Personal guiding and advice from our highly experienced and friendly XC skiers

See our Program for further details.

WorldLoppet Masters or regualr XC skiers Wanaka XC has it all for the Merino Muster

The Merino Muster - A WORLDLoppet ski race

WorldLoppet New Zealand

What is the Merino Muster?

The Merino Muster is a cross-country ski race at the marathon distance of 42km.  The race is New Zealand's leg of the WorldLoppet tour, an annual series of international ski marathons taking place in 20 countries.

For less experienced skiers - or perhaps the sprinters amongst you - there are also 21 km, 14 km and 7 km options.  

We at Wanaka XC cater for both novice skiers and experienced skiers, everyone has the chance to challenge themselves no matter how fit or experienced you may be.  All you need to do is bring your enthusiasm to ski in the gorgeous surrounds of Wanaka and Snow Farm.

See our Merino Muster page to learn about the race, the WorldLoppet tour and how we aim to make your experience unforgettable.  

WorldLoppet New Zealand

our guests say....

"It‘s time to say good bye to each other. It was such a pleasant stay here in New Zealand with all of you! At last all of us will say great thanks to Nicole and David for making our stay here at Wanaka XC so unforgettable! I hope we will meet some of us at other nice places in the world, maybe in Austria!"

Gitti, Austria

2023

James, Australia

2023

"I would also like to thank Tim and Nicole for everything you have done for us all this week, it was so great to meet like-minded people from different backgrounds I am inspired to do this more!"

"Just wanted to say how fortunate I feel for spending a glorious week with a terrific company. Looking forward to catching up around the world skiing or doing multiple adventures"

Martin, Australia

2023

Pascal, Switzerland

2022

"I spent a great time in Wanaka - skiing, walking, shopping! Merino Muster, Wanaka lake and town.
Thanks for driving me from and to the airport, up and down to snow farm and to town!
Thanks for the food and atmosphere in family house! Thanks for Merino Muster waxing and perfect organisation! Thanks for organising new Rossignol Delta skis - so fast as never!"

"It was fantastic to meet people from around the world on the trip, including France, Germany, Australia, Canada and the UK. Several of the group had completed Loppet events all over world.  Jim and Marcia from Canada were particularly inspiring as they are in their 70s and still XC skiing marathons...It definitely left me hungry for more in the future!"

Rebecca, New Zealand

2019

Cathy, Australia

2018

"Hi Nicole , Tim and all the lovely people in our group,
Thanks for your wonderful friendship. It all helped to make it one of my best holidays, the marvellous snow, mountains, skiing, the lakes, lambs etc and your lovely meals and looking after us so well."

"I had the pleasure of being a member of the wanaka-xc team this year. And the reasons to recommend wanaka-xc stays are countless. Everything was organised perfectly. The base was luxurious and the view from the terrace absolutely breathtaking. The home-made meals were both healthy and delicious. I had an opportunity to learn how to skate properly and to meet wonderful people who share my passion for xc-skiing. We laughed endlessly, which wasn't always good for my sore ribs! The waxing hints I got are invaluable. 
Nicole and Tim were great hosts to Wanaka and Snow Farm. Always smiling, always there for you, ready to help and share their fully professional knowledge and experience."

Michal, Germany

2016

Franco, Italy

2016

"Wanaka XC Stay is the perfect organisation to participate at Worldloppet races - for a complete week all the pleasant aspects of Worldloppet are anticipated and enlarged with new friends of different cultures and countries, selected by the spirit of Worldloppet itself.
The team, motivated by the incoming race and relaxed by the perfect organisation finds very soon the affinities that will let them to be real friends.
I WAS THERE! "

"I had a fabulous time on Tim and Nicole’s Merino Muster trip.  Everything went so smoothly, the accommodation and meals were superb, the skiing was a hoot, we all had such a great time, and they made it all seem so effortless!  I couldn’t recommend this trip more highly. "

Simon, Australia

2017