Wanaka XC offers luxury, fully catered, 7 night XC ski holiday in Wanaka, New Zealand aimed at Merino Muster XC ski race competitors.
We run a Merino Muster Luxury XC Stay - a 6 day / 7 night, fully catered, holiday in Wanaka, New Zealand aimed at Merino Muster ski race competitors. We also will run a Ruby Swim Luxury XC Stay - a 6 day / 7 night, fully catered, holiday in Wanaka, New Zealand aimed at adventurous long distance swimmers competing in the Ruby Island Swim race. We will provide everything you need to train and prepar
30/08/2025
What a great 30th Merino Muster we had today. The team put on an amazingly prepared course of perfect snow - sure, we had to go round a small loop a few times, but it was still great fun.
Big shout out to Sam Lee and all his team for such a good day.
And yes...Nicole did ok! First place in the "Snow Rake" 11km race.
Results here:
https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/186779 -577982;perpage:100
26/08/2025
Just a quick note to all our Wanaka XC past (and future) guests to say that we are missing you this year!!!
Sadly, 2025 Wanaka XC just didn't happen. I'll explain why, and what we're going to do next year to make sure that we are all together again for 2026.
As you all know, we're a small, intimate group, normally numbering 8-10 guests. This year we didn't get quite enough people register in time for us to take the plunge and commit to our accommodation and transport providers. We decided in early May that we didn't have enough people signed up and so, with much regret we decided to skip 2025 and instead focus on 2026.
Ironically, having made this decision, we then received quite a lot of late interest! Perhaps we were too hasty? We dont know. But we do know that next year we want to minimise the uncertainty for all and make a defined booking period - likely 1 Sep 2025 to 30 May 2026 - after which we'll confirm, or worst case scenario, offer an alternative with another provider.
So here we are today, basking in the sun at Snow Farm and in downtown Wanaka, wishing we had you all with us. Dont worry, we'll do our best to represent Wanaka XC on Saturday at the Merino Muster - it just wont be the same without you all.
Until next time,
Tim and Nicole
10/03/2025
How do you feel at the end of New Zealand's Merino Muster?
Well...pretty good if our Wanaka XC friends are to be believed!
We're getting set for Wanaka XC 2025, 25 August to 1 September.
28/02/2025
Skiing in August? You can in New Zealand!
24/02/2025
Nicole tells me she prefers Instagram. If you do to, come and join us there!
https://www.instagram.com/wanaka_xc/
24/02/2025
The 2025 Merino Muster World Loppet event takes place at Snow Farm on 30 August this year.
At Wanaka XC we take care of everything to make this event truly special. Learn about our 7 night fully catered holiday package below:
https://www.wanaka-xc.com/
The 2025 Merino Muster New Zealand WorldLoppet package with Wanaka XC Come to the Merino Muster, New Zealand's WorldLoppet cross country ski race. Wanaka XC has looked after skiers since 2015 with our amazing Merino Muster package. Find out more....
11/02/2025
A very special day today, the birthday of one of Wanaka XC's inaugural team members, and our friend for life Franco Giorda
Franco is famous for wearing his Wanaka XC yellow beanie at countless World Loppets being a WorldloppetLoppet Master. In fact, he wore it so much we had to send him a new one a few years back!
Imagine our excitement then when we received his gift to us a few weeks back, our own Marathon International De Bessans hats. We love them!
Happy Birthday Franco from Nicole and Tim at Wanaka XC!
11/02/2025
Could be a great place to run our first overseas Wanaka XC trip? What do you think of Sapporo?
The Sapporo Ski Marathon, Hokkaido, Japan. Feburary 2nd 2025: This event has always been really high on my ‘want to experience’ list. Taking part in an event like this, gives a real insight into the culture and people of a place. Japan is such a unique country with a very special culture and I felt this event displayed that first hand. M...
31/08/2024
What an amazing 2024 Merino Muster!
Despite the overnight rain the Snow Farm team did a fantastic job in preparing a fast and fun 43.8km course. Our group of Wanaka XC skiers all achieved their goals and were true to the motto "to finish is to win".
Well done to you all - a great bunch of passionate skiers who can now add the Merino Muster to their Worldloppet passport.
See you all next year for the 2025 Merino Muster Stay at Wanaka XC.
28/08/2024
Day 2 - perfect weather and perfect tracks for today's Hanging Valley mission. We took a look at the 42km Merino Muster course, watched Jessie Diggins and Julia Kern smash out some fearsome intervals and took a few nice photos before back to Wanaka for lunch. Happy people🙂😁
Snow Farm NZ