How to enter

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Event Website

At a glance

Mon, 2 Mar 2026

Williamstown Beach, Williamstown VIC

Ocean Swim

1.2km, 2.5km, 5km, 7.5km & 10km

Great Victorian Swim Series

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Mon, 2 Mar 2026

WOW Challenge

Williamstown Swimming and LSC

How to enter

Online entries are closed

Event Website

At a glance

Mon, 2 Mar 2026

Williamstown Beach, Williamstown VIC

Ocean Swim

1.2km, 2.5km, 5km, 7.5km & 10km

Around The Buoys

Why this event?

An epic event that attracts first time open water swimmers to world and Olympic champions

The Williamstown Open Water Challenge – “WOW Challenge” – attracts first-time open water swimmers to world and Olympic champions.

Held at Williamstown beach, only 10 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD, you’ll find elite swimmers and everyday open water swimmers, swimming together in all events.

This event has four swim distances to choose from, 1.2km, 2.5km, 5km and 10km open water swim.

The WOW Challenge is for everyone from champions, weekend warriors, kids, multiclass swimmers, fast, slow, young and old swimmers.

It’s also an opportunity to mingle with some of the best open water swimmers in the world with past winners including 2015 World Champion Jordan Wilimovsky, Team USA’s Katy Campbell, Australian Dolphin Sam Sheppard and Brazilian Olympian Lisandra De Carvalho.

On the day

What's on offer

1.2km Ocean Swim

years

This swim starts on the beach before swimmers head out to round two buoys before returning to shore to finish.

2.5km Ocean Swim

years

This event is swum on the famous Williamstown 2.5km championship course. Swimmers will start on the beach before swimming the course in an anti-closewise direction. The first turn will take swimmers around the rock groyne and over The Crystals, a local diving and snorkeling site. This is followed by a left turn to the boat harbour which takes swimmers out into deeper water before conducting another left turn. From here swimmers will head east onto the legendary WOW back straight. With swimmers making a final left turn, to head back to the feeding station and finish arch. The course could be reversed back into a clockwise direction if weather conditions change.

5km Ocean Swim

years

This event is swum on the famous Williamstown 2.5km championship course like the 2.5km swim, instead swimmers will tackle the course for two laps instead of one. Swimmers will start on the beach before swimming the course in an anti-closewise direction. The first turn will take swimmers around the rock groyne and over The Crystals, a local diving and snorkeling site. This is followed by a left turn to the boat harbour which takes swimmers out into deeper water before conducting another left turn. From here swimmers will head east onto the legendary WOW back straight. With swimmers making a final left turn, to head back to the feeding station and finish arch. The course could be reversed back into a clockwise direction if weather conditions change.

10km Ocean Swim

years

This event is swum on the famous Williamstown 2.5km championship course like the 2.5km and 5km swims, instead swimmers will tackle the course for four laps instead of one. Swimmers will start on the beach before swimming the course in an anti-closewise direction. The first turn will take swimmers around the rock groyne and over The Crystals, a local diving and snorkeling site. This is followed by a left turn to the boat harbour which takes swimmers out into deeper water before conducting another left turn. From here swimmers will head east onto the legendary WOW back straight. With swimmers making a final left turn, to head back to the feeding station and finish arch. The course could be reversed back into a clockwise direction if weather conditions change.

Swim map

Swimmer essentials

The first 300 entrants will receive a t-shirt and the first 500 entrants a show bag packed with goodies from companies such as Grill’d Southland, Colgate and Mars.

Prepare for this event

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.

Photo highlights

Getting there & around

Williamstown Beach is accessible by public transport via both train and bus.

Bus 471 and 472 will take you to Williamstown Beach and the Williamstown Train will get you close to the beach, only a short 500m walk from the station to the beach.

There is quite a lot of ticketed parking at the western end car park and along the Esplanade for $3 per hour or $11.70 daily. There is also free parking available along the side streets off the Esplanade.

Williamstown Beach

Williamstown VIC, Australia

While you're there

If you haven’t had enough of the water post ocean swim, head over to Jawbone Marine Sanctuary for a peaceful snorkel. Jawbone Marine Park had protected 30 hectares of coastal waters for over 80 years. Leaving it the perfect unspoilt spot to enjoy an array of marine life.

Leave your wet togs behind and get your walking legs on. If you head to Ferguson Street Pier you can cast your eyes on the breathtaking view of the skyscraper in the city skyline. This is made even better by the sprinkle of boats scattered across the calm bay in the foreground.

Nestled just behind Williamstown Beach is the Williamstown Botanic Gardens which is home to rare and significant trees alongside a stunning formal palm avenue and charming ornamental pond. The gardens were opened in 1860 and was one of Victoria’s first public gardens.

Williamstown exudes maritime history, after all it was originally a fishing village. Take a tour of the HMAS Castlemaine which is moored down at Gem Pier. Aboard this ship you will learn the history of the sea-faring voyage on the tall ship Enterprize.

After you’ve finished exploring the town, there is a smorgasbord of restaurants to pick from in Williamstown with the Sebastian being a fan favourite for a delicious beachside meal.

Fifi’s By The Beach and The Kiosk by d’Asporto are great locations for coffee and a quick bite to eat post ocean swim and exploring.