• Events

Summer holiday ocean swim events

We’ve compiled a list of Xmas/NY holiday swims in Australia & NZ for you to schedule into your busy time off.

The Christmas and New Year holidays are nearly upon us and with that extra time off work, it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy an ocean swim or two while supporting the incredible charities that organise the events.

Whether you’re staying at home or hitting the road, there could be an event waiting for you to enjoy for the first time.

To view all these events in order by date, view our Event Calendar.

New South Wales

Yamba Ocean Swim – 2nd January

The Yamba Ocean Swim is the perfect way to kick off the new year and start ticking off those ocean-swimming New Years’ resolutions.

Located just over 2-hours from the Queensland border, this event has a swim for everyone from the novice ocean swimmer to the competitive open-water athlete.

Swimmers can choose from two distances; 700m and 2km, and a dash for cash.

Enter the Yamba Ocean Swim

Newport Pool to Peak – 8th January

The Newport Pool to Peak is the first Sydney ocean swim of the new year and also the first in the Pittwater Ocean Swim Series. This season, if you finish 3 of 5 events in the Series, you’ll go in the draw to win an OceanFit Swim The Whitsundays tour valued at $2,295!

Held on Sydney’s northern beaches, swimmers can choose from three distances; 400m for 10 years and over, 800m for 13 years and over and 2km for 13 years and over.

There is an array of great prizes to be won on the day and medals will be awarded to category winners and placegetters.

Enter Newport Pool to Peak

Captain Christie Ocean Swim – 8th Jan

The Captain Christie Ocean Swim is a great way to kick off the new year if you find yourself down the south coast.

This ocean swim is drenched in tradition with the legend of the Captain Christie Ocean Swim dating back to 1882. It is believed that Captain William Earnest Bartholomew Christie took up a sailor’s challenge to swim from Gerringong Boat Harbour around the rocky headland to Werri Beach, all for a bottle of the finest whiskey. He won and well what can we say… the rest is history.

The swim is a 1.8km course that takes swimmers from the boat ramp, around the headland and rock shelf and into Werri Beach, allowing swimmers to relive Captain Christie’s swim.

Enter the Captain Christie Ocean Swim

Victoria

Point Leo Swim Classic – 26th December (Boxing Day)

The historic Point Leo Swim Classic is the perfect swim to get moving on Boxing Day before hitting the shops for the sales.

Having been run for over 30 years, this event is a favourite among locals and holidaymakers alike.

Swimmers can choose from three distances; a 400m nipper/novice swim for those as young as eight and a 1.2km and 2.5km ocean swim.

If you are really up for a post-Christmas challenge you can enter both the 1.2km and 2.5km swims.

For those not so keen to get in the water on Boxing Day there is also a 4km beach run.

Anglesea Rock2Ramp – 28th December

The Anglesea Rock2Ramp is held at Point Roadknight Beach, Anglesea and is a fundraiser for the Anglesea Surf Lifesaving Club.

With five ocean swim distances on offer; a kids 200m and 300m dash ocean swim, 600m, 1.2km and 2.5km ocean, there is a swim for everyone.

The protected nature of Point Roadnight usually brings calm conditions.

Rip View Swim Classic – 29th December

The Rip View Swim Classic is a point-to-point swim at Santa Casa Beach, Queenscliff.

Swimmers will follow the curve of Lonsdale Bay inside the heads of Port Phillip Bay offering swimmers a beautiful view of the coastline.

There are three distances to choose from; a 600m, 1.4km and 3.8km ocean swim.

Danger 1000 – 7th January

The Danger 1000 is one of the largest open-water swims in Australia and the perfect opportunity to get one last ocean swim in before you get stuck back into work for the year.

Taking place at the beautiful Torquay Beach, swimmers can choose from four distances; a 500m (Danger 500), 1km (Danger 1000), 2.5km (More Dangerous) and 5km (Even More Dangerous).

Don’t forget to explore the beautiful town of Torquay post-swim.

BOW Marathon Swim – 8th January

The BOW Marathon Swim is hosted by the Bay Open Water Swimmers at Black Rock Yacht Club.

The swim has four distances to choose from; a 2.5km, 5km and 10km open water swim.

This event has both wetsuit and non-wetsuit categories and can be used as a qualifier for the Rottnest swim and other marathon events.

Tasmania

Brooke Street Pier 1200 – 31st December

The Brooke Street Pier 1200 Ocean Swim is held at Bellerive Beach and is a part of the Tasmanian Ocean Swim Series.

This swim is a perfect way to kick-start your New Years’ Eve celebrations.

There is a 600m and 1.2km ocean swim on offer for participants.

South Australia

Proclamation Classic Swim – 28th December

The Proclamation Classic Swim is set to take place on Wednesday, 28 December 2022 at Glenelg Beach.

This swim draws inspiration from South Australia’s 180-year heritage, taking its name from the Governor’s Proclamation on 28 December 1836, which established the colony.

The event pits swimmers’ skills and endurance against a historical constant – the beautiful waters of ‘the bay’.

Swimmers can choose from two distances; 1km or 2km for swimmers 14 years and over.

This event is the perfect way to get the body moving after Christmas and Boxing Day and is suitable for swimmers of all abilities.

Enter the Proclamation Classic Swim

Western Australia

Swimming WA OWS Series: Mullaloo – 31st December

Round six of the Swimming WA, Open Water Swimming Series, is held at Mullaloo Beach on Saturday, December 31, 2022.

This is the perfect swim to see out 2022 and to kick start your new year’s resolutions before the new year starts.

Swimmers can choose from six events including; a 500m, 1.25km, 2.5km, 5km, 7.5km and 10km ocean swim.

New Zealand

Clyde Open Water Swim – 31st December

The Clyde Open Water swim takes place at Clyde Rowing Club on Saturday, 31 December 2022.

This swim is the last official swim of the year and is a great way to welcome the New Year.

Swimmers can choose from four distances; a 500m, 1km, 1.5km and 3km open water swim.

Lang’s to Waipu Cove Swim – 3rd January

Lang’s to Waipu Cove Swim is the perfect swim to welcome in the New Year and start ticking off those New Years’ resolutions.

Taking place on Tuesday, 3 January 2023 swimmers will swim 3km from Langs Beach to Waipu Cove.

Whangamata Classic Harbour Swim – 7th January

The Whangamata Classic Harbour Swim is set to take place on Saturday, 7 January 2023 in celebration of Whanga Week.

This 1.9km around the buoys ocean swim is the perfect way to welcome in the new year before getting stuck back into work.

Timaru Ocean Swim – 8th January

The Timaru Ocean Swim is the perfect event to sneak in before life gets busy again and you’re back to work for the year.

Taking place at Caroline Bay, Timaru, swimmers can choose from four distances; 500m, 1.5km, 2.5km or 5km.

Queensland

No events scheduled

Australian Capital Territory

No events scheduled

Events discussed in this article

  • Ocean Swim

Timaru Ocean Swim

  • Fri, 26 Apr 2024
  • Timaru NZ
  • Recommended
  • Ocean Swim

Newport Pool To Peak

  • Fri, 26 Apr 2024
  • Newport NSW
  • Recommended
  • Ocean Swim

Rip View Swim Classic

  • Fri, 26 Apr 2024
  • Queenscliff VIC
  • Bay Swim

BOWS Marathon Swim

  • Fri, 26 Apr 2024
  • Black Rock VIC
  • Harbour Swim

Brooke Street Pier 1200

  • Fri, 26 Apr 2024
  • Bellerive TAS
  • Ocean Swim

Anglesea Rock2Ramp

  • Fri, 26 Apr 2024
  • Anglesea VIC
  • Ocean Swim

SWA OWS Series: Mullaloo

  • Fri, 26 Apr 2024
  • Mullaloo WA
  • Recommended
  • Ocean Swim

Danger Ocean Swim Series

  • Fri, 26 Apr 2024
  • Torquay VIC
  • Recommended
  • Ocean Swim

Point Leo Swim Classic

  • Fri, 26 Apr 2024
  • Point Leo VIC
  • Recommended
  • Ocean Swim

Proclamation Classic Swim

  • Fri, 26 Apr 2024
  • Glenelg SA
  • Recommended
  • Ocean Swim

Yamba Ocean Swims

  • Fri, 26 Apr 2024
  • Yamba NSW
  • Recommended
  • Ocean Swim

Captain Christie Ocean Swim

  • Fri, 26 Apr 2024
  • Gerringong NSW
  • Ocean Swim

Whangamata Classic Harbour Swim

  • Fri, 26 Apr 2024
  • Whangamata NZ
  • Ocean Swim

Lang's to Waipu Cove Swim

  • Fri, 26 Apr 2024
  • Waipu NZ
  • Ocean Swim

Clyde Open Water Swim

  • Fri, 26 Apr 2024
  • Clyde NZ
  • Written by Ocean Swims on 6 December 2022
  • (Updated on 10 August 2023)
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