500m, 1km & 2km
500m, 1km & 2km
There are ocean swims, and then there’s swimming at Whitehaven Beach.
The Whitehaven Beach Open Water Swim takes you to one of Australia’s most spectacular swimming locations for a day of warm tropical water, impossibly white sand and a choice of 500m, 1km and 2km swims. Better yet, getting there is part of the adventure, with swimmers travelling by ferry from Shute Harbour to Whitehaven Beach for the event.
Choose the 500m if you’re dipping your toes into open water swimming for the first time, settle into the classic 1km, or take on the 2km for a longer swim in one of the Whitsundays’ most recognisable locations. All three distances share the same pretty unbeatable backdrop.
This isn’t just a quick swim-and-go event either. Your day includes the ferry from Shute Harbour, your ocean swim, lunch on Whitehaven Beach and the return journey to the mainland. Non-swimming friends and family can also come along as guests, so you can make a proper day of it together.
And really, how often can you say you’ve travelled out to an island, swum off one of the world’s most famous beaches, had lunch on the sand and cruised home through the Whitsundays?
This one is as much about the experience as the swim. Pack the swimmers, grab your mates and get ready for a day in paradise.
The 500m swim is one lap of the course, starting and finishing on the sands of Whitehaven Beach. Swimmers head out from shore before following a rectangular course marked by turning buoys, with two longer 200m legs running parallel to the beach and shorter legs at either end.
It’s a compact, easy-to-follow course that keeps swimmers relatively close to shore throughout, making it a great option for first-timers or anyone looking for a shorter taste of open water swimming at Whitehaven Beach.
The 1km swim is two laps of the 500m course, starting and finishing on the sands of Whitehaven Beach. Swimmers head out from shore before following the rectangular course around the turning buoys, with two longer 200m legs running parallel to the beach and shorter legs at either end. After completing the first lap, swimmers head around again before returning to the beach to finish.
The two-lap format gives you plenty of opportunity to settle into your rhythm while staying relatively close to shore. It’s a great middle-distance option for swimmers wanting a little more time in those tropical Whitsundays waters.
The 2km swim is four laps of the 500m course, starting and finishing on Whitehaven Beach. Each lap takes swimmers out from shore and around the rectangular course marked by turning buoys, including two longer 200m legs running parallel to the beach and shorter legs at either end. Swimmers complete the circuit four times before making their final return to the beach.
As the longest swim of the day, the 2km gives experienced open water swimmers the chance to settle into a steady rhythm over multiple laps while remaining relatively close to shore. And with Whitehaven Beach alongside you throughout, it’s not a bad place to spend a little extra time in the water.
Have A Go: 1km Training Program
Whether you’re coming back after a long break or you’re completely new to swimming, we’ll help you prepare for your 1km swim. Learn more
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.
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