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At a glance

  • Sun, 2 Nov 2025
  • Narrabeen Beach, Narrabeen NSW
  • Ocean Swim
  • 800m & 1.8km
  • Around The Buoys

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  • Sun, 2 Nov 2025

Recommended event

Narrabeen Beach Challenge

How to enter

Entries are not open yet

At a glance

  • Sun, 2 Nov 2025
  • Narrabeen Beach, Narrabeen NSW
  • Ocean Swim
  • 800m & 1.8km
  • Around The Buoys

Why this event?

The swim to kick off the Sydney ocean swimming season

The Narrabeen Beach Challenge is the kind of event that makes you fall in love with ocean swimming all over again. It’s low-key, local, and loaded with charm, exactly what a great swim morning should be.

With a friendly surf club vibe and a course set along one of Sydney’s most expansive stretches of beach, this swim brings together seasoned swimmers and beachside beginners alike. You’ll find people having their first go at open water, and others kicking off their summer swim streak.

Whether you go short and sweet in the 800m or push yourself through the 1.8km, this event offers the kind of supportive energy that makes it all feel achievable. There’s no fanfare, just the sound of the ocean, the smell of zinc and sunscreen, and the buzz of community.

It’s a beautiful way to connect with the sport, with others, and with the ocean itself.

What's on offer

1.8km Ocean Swim
This swim follows a ‘Marie Antoinette’ champagne glass-shaped course (Google it) off the beach in front of the surf club.
  • 15 Years Old
800m Ocean Swim
This swim follows the southern part of the longer course, before cutting it short and heading back to the beach.
  • 12 Years Old

What to expect in the water

Narrabeen Beach is long, wide, and beautifully open, ideal for a straightforward swim course. Early November brings mig-twenty air temperatures and ocean water usually hovering around 19–21°C. Winds tend to be light in the morning, and the surf is typically small to moderate.

This beach is a classic training ground for local surf clubs, so the swim is well supported and thoughtfully run. If you’re building confidence or easing back into ocean swimming, Narrabeen offers a great test without too many tricks.

Swimmer essentials

Wetsuits are welcome but not required. Most swimmers opt for togs, with the spring water temp sitting in the high teens. You’ll need a basic level of swim fitness and open water experience, especially for the 1.8km.

There will be water safety on boards and IRBs throughout the course to keep everyone safe.

Getting there & around

There’s parking available along the beachfront and in nearby side streets, but it can fill fast on sunny days. Public transport is available via bus from the city or the Northern Beaches. If you’re riding your bike, the beach path is a scenic way to arrive.

  • Narrabeen Beach
  • Narrabeen NSW, Australia

While you're there

Narrabeen is full of post-swim perks, so don’t rush off after your dip. Start with a well-earned coffee or smoothie from Oceans Café, a favourite for its friendly vibes and beachside brews. Or take a short stroll up to Driftwood Café for a relaxed brekky with a view and all the classic favourites (the avo toast is a crowd-pleaser).

If the sun’s shining, and let’s be honest, it usually is, roll out a towel and settle in on the sand. Locals love stretching the morning out with a second coffee, a swim in the lagoon, or simply soaking up that salty serenity. If you’re feeling active, the Narrabeen Lagoon Trail offers a beautiful loop walk or bike ride through bushland and along the water’s edge.

Whether you’re here for the swim, the scenery, or just an excuse to spend the morning seaside, Narrabeen delivers. Salt on your skin, sand between your toes, and a strong flat white in hand, it’s a swim morning done right.

Results

Previous results

2024 (800m, 1.8km) | 2023 | 2022 (800m, 1.8km) | 2021 (800m, 1.8km) |  2020 | 2019 |

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