The program

Making you better in a week

The program

Making the most of your NZ ski holiday

The program

Making you better in a week

The program

Making you better in a week

The program

Making you better in a week

The program

Making you better in a week

The program

Making you better in a week

The program

Making you better in a week

What we offer

Wanaka XC will give you the best preparation allowing you to make the most of your Merino Muster experience.

We have put together a great program for your week with us.  It covers everything : transport, training, technique review, race preparation and some free time to explore Wanaka's other attractions.  Our aim is to allow you to ski yourself into form for the event, free from the stress of organising the details.  The program is flexible. If you just wish to get up there and ski, no worries we will see you on the tracks and give you some tips along the way. If you are looking for more guidance and improvement we are there to help.  If you do not wish to ski all day long, the cafe at Snow Farm has the best views in all of New Zealand - take a book and relax!

OUR 2025 Program

Day
Main focus
Description
Afternoon / evening
Monday 25 Aug
2025
Arrival  
Pick up at 4 PM from Queenstown Airport
Pick up from down-town Queenstown or airport, transported in our bus to Wanaka and settle into your base for the week. 
Meet and greet your fellow skiers and time permitting a gentle but spectacular walk to the lake front to admire the sunset
Tuesday 26 Aug 
Familiarisation.
Snow Farm
10 AM - 2 PM
First day at Snow Farm, fit out those with hire skis and first lessons for novices. Local XC trail familiarisation with lunch at Meadow Hut. First filming of ski technique of experienced skiers.
Ski technique review (informal) and review of current ski techniques used by professionals. Massage for novices to relax those muscles!
Wednesday 27 Aug 
Endurance
Snow Farm
10 AM - 2 PM
Long ski for experienced skiers  - both Hanging valley and Meadow Hut loops.  Group picnic lunch "on top of the world' at the amazing Bob Lee Hut. We'll bring the food!
Ski wax tutorial. Show you how to prepare your ski bases, apply wax and set structure ready for race day. Massage for those skiers who skied long distance!
Thursday 28 Aug
Build and technique
Snow Farm
10 AM - 2 PM
A higher intensity ski to practice your race technique. Picnic lunch at Snow Farm.
Pick up bibs in Wanaka (and confirm your race distance).  Attend the fantastic WorldLoppet Dinner at the Lake Wanaka Centre. Meet your fellow WorldLoppet competitors and enjoy a hearty meal of locally reared lamb (vegie options available)
Friday 29 Aug
Race strategy
Snow Farm
10 AM - 12 PM
A shorter day to practice the race start loops, and finishing climb.  Home for lunch and to conserve and recharge for tomorrow.
Plan your race strategy, make sure you know where to go, how to pace yourself and what to eat and drink. Our pre-race dinner - charging you up with plenty of energy. 
Saturday 30 Aug
Race day
9AM race start.
Evening awards ceremony in Wanaka.
Celebrate the race with the Wanaka XC crew at dinner!
Sunday 31 Aug
Recovery day
Active recovery; nordic walk on our local trails  
Lunch on the gorgeous balcony of our base with a local glass of wine soaking up the sun. What better way to end the Wanaka XC luxury event stay.
Monday 1 Sep
Departure
Check out at 9:30 AM
Drop off at Queenstown Airport @ 11 AM
We will take you to the Airport and make sure you're there by 11 AM at the latest.

WHat We provide

Included in the price are the following:

Please Note : we cannot provide single rooms due to accommodation limitations.  We only have twin and double rooms.  If you are travelling alone and are happy to share a twin room let us know and we will work it out with you. 

Price

All inclusive price of $2,450 NZD per person*

Not included - but can be arranged at additional cost:

*Booking Conditions

our guests say....

Janey, USA

2024

"Thank you, thank you for a wonderful week in Wanaka and the Snow Farm! It was great to meet and spend time with this group of adventurers and delightful people. And thank you Nicole and Tim for all you did to ensure our visit was as terrific as it was. Truly was a memorable trip!! Hope to see you all again soon"

"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