Looking for a beach weekend with a swim on the side? Or a swim with a holiday built in? The Mollymook Ocean Swim offers both. In 2026, it lands on Valentine’s Day, making it a perfect excuse for an aquatic date, a shared challenge, or a romantic coastal escape with a splash.
This friendly South Coast event is set on one of the most stunning stretches of sand in NSW, bringing coastal calm and classic surf club charm in equal measure.
With multiple swim distances on offer and a 250m Dash for Cash, it’s a day for everyone, from juniors taking their first ocean dip to veterans chasing that satisfying long-course buzz. Add warm water, welcoming locals, and plenty of room to stretch out post-swim, and you’ve got one of the most chilled and scenic events of the season.
The Splash is partnered with a Dash to create the Mollymook Splash & Dash, combining ocean swimming with the Milton Ulladulla Rotary Coast Runs. Runners can choose from a 3km Street Fun Run, 5km Run Challenge, or 10km Run Challenge, making it easy to double up, cheer each other on, or turn the day into a full coastal festival of movement. Run entries can be made separately here.
Celebrate love, connection, and making new memories. With Splash & Dash falling on Valentine’s Day, couples will have the chance to renew their vows or make a commitment after the event, led by a friendly celebrant. It’s relaxed, light-hearted, and all about celebrating the journey you’re on together, with a keepsake certificate to take home.
*The courses on this map are approximate; the final courses on the day may differ
Mollymook is a broad, gently curving beach with typically mild to moderate surf. In late March, expect water temps around 21–23°C and a light morning breeze. The course is well-patrolled and ideal for those who want an achievable but satisfying ocean swim.
Wetsuits are welcome. The beach is typically gentle but can shift with wind and tide, good ocean awareness is helpful. The Dash for Cash is open to all and brings a fun, surf carnival-style energy to the day.
Prizes and vouchers are awarded across all swims, with age-group prizes for the 500m Junior & Novice and 2.2km Ocean Swim events. The 2.2km swim also features $500 cash prizes for the first female and male finishers, while the Dash for Cash awards $100 to the first female and male home. A range of registration spot prizes will be drawn on the day, giving everyone a chance to take something home.
A Back of the Pack category is available for swimmers who wish to wear wetsuits, use swim aids, or swim together with friends. Swimmers in this category are not eligible for podium prizes. Any paddlers accompanying swimmers must remain well clear of other competitors and must not provide unfair assistance.
6.00–9:00 am – Competitor Registration @ Surf Club Hall
6:00–1:00 pm – Valentine Day Commitment Registrations
8:00 am – Baggage Storage Area Available.
8:00 am – Food Vendors open
9:15 am – Junior/Novice Swim (500m) Pre-Race Briefing & Safety Awareness
9:30 am – Race Start for Junior/Novice swim (500m)
10:10 am – 2.2km Course Overview Brief – In front of Surf Club
10:20 am – 2.2km Swimmers move to the northern end of Mollymook Beach
10.50 am – 2.2km Pre-Race Safety Briefing & Safety Awareness
11.00 am – 2.2km Race Start
12.15 pm – 250m ‘Dash for Cash’ Race
12:30 pm – Presentations
12:30 pm – Surf Club Bar Open, Food Vans and Live Music
1:30 pm – Valentine Day Commitment Ceremonies
Up The Ante: 2km Training Program
Step up in distance with this training program designed to build you up & guide you all the way to the finish. Learn more
Learn online with the OceanFit Academy or join a hands-on ocean clinic to improve your surf and open water skills.
Mollymook is as easy-going as it is beautiful, but when it comes to parking on swim day, it pays to plan ahead. There’s plenty of parking around the Mollymook Surf Club and along nearby streets, but on a sunny weekend, those spots disappear faster than a wave at low tide. Arrive early or carpool with your swim crew if you can.
The beach is also walking distance from most local accommodation, so if you’re staying nearby, enjoy the stroll and save yourself the parking hunt.
To make things easy on the day, shuttle buses will run from the south end of the beach (near the Surf Club and registration area) to the north end start line. Jump on board, cruise up the beach, and get ready to swim back with style.
Public transport options include buses from Ulladulla, Milton, and surrounds, though services may be limited on weekends, so be sure to check local timetables in advance if you’re travelling in from further afield.
However you get there, give yourself a bit of extra time; it’s always worth soaking up the pre-swim buzz.
The Mollymook Ocean Swim forms part of the broader Mollymook Splash & Dash, with the Milton Ulladulla Rotary Coast Runs taking place on the same morning. The Dash includes 10km, 5km, and a 3km Fun Run, with runs starting earlier in the day and using shared areas around the Surf Club and beach precinct. Expect a lively, community festival atmosphere with food vendors, presentations, and live music after racing. This year’s event falls on Valentine’s Day, and couples can also register separately for a relaxed post-event commitment or vow renewal ceremony led by a celebrant. Run entries and ceremony registrations are managed separately via the Splash & Dash website.
Why just swim when you can turn it into a full weekend escape? Mollymook is the kind of place that invites you to slow down, soak up the sun, and stretch out your stay.
Start your morning right with a coffee at The Milkhaus, a wholesome, local favourite nestled in the hills, or head into Ulladulla for a lazy brunch at The Rooftop, where the views are almost as good as the menu. If seafood’s on your mind (and let’s face it, you’ve earned it), treat yourself to fresh fish and chips at the Mollymook Beach Hut Café or a long lunch at Rick Stein at Bannisters for something a little fancy.
Still craving ocean time? Take a stroll to the Bogey Hole, a natural rock pool perfect for a relaxing float, or head to the Mollymook Ocean Pool for a few calm laps with a view. There are walking tracks, surf spots, and headland lookouts in every direction if your legs still have some go in them.
With its laid-back pace and salty charm, Mollymook makes the ideal swim-and-stay getaway. This isn’t just a swim, it’s a mini holiday with a finish line.
Pre-event: Use the event support contact form for all event queries.
Event day: For support on the day of the event, talk to an event official. Urgent event updates will be communicated via SMS. If you don’t hear from us, the event is on as and where scheduled.
Transfers: You can transfer yourself to a different distance or transfer your entry to another person via your Race Roster dashboard up until 12 pm the day prior to the event. Fees may apply. Visit your dashboard
Refunds: View the event’s withdrawl and cancellation policies.
Want extra peace of mind? Enhanced Refund Protection is like registration insurance; think travel insurance, but for your event entry.
Click here to read the full details and see if it’s right for you.
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