Plan Your Next Marathon Swim
Australia is home to some of the world’s most iconic and challenging marathon swims — from ocean channel crossings to river endurance races. The Australian Marathon Swimming Calendar brings these events together in one place, helping swimmers plan their next challenge and celebrate the diversity of open water swimming across the country.
This calendar highlights key events recognised by Marathon Swimming Australia, including established classics such as the Derwent River Big Swim, Port to Pub, Palm to Shelly, and the Rottnest Channel Swim, alongside emerging local and regional races.
If you are an event organiser and would like your swim listed here and your results formally recognised in the Australian Long Swims Database, we’d love to hear from you.
Please reach out via our Contact Us page to discuss event inclusion and ratification requirements.
Lake Argyle 20km swim - Out Of Event
Lake Argyle is renowned for its warm freshwater, expansive open landscape and dramatic Kimberley scenery. The swim offers athletes the rare opportunity to traverse one of the largest man-made lakes in the Southern Hemisphere, surrounded by rugged red cliffs and vast remote wilderness. The immense scale of the lake and its ever-changing conditions provide a unique endurance challenge unlike any other marathon swim in Australia.
Swimmers are supported by experienced local guides, with dedicated escort boats and safety support throughout the crossing to ensure a safe and professionally managed swim. Together with the striking landscape and remote setting of the East Kimberley, the Lake Argyle crossing provides a truly memorable marathon swimming experience in one of Australia’s most remarkable open-water environments.
South Head Roughwater
The South Head Roughwater is widely regarded as Sydney’s defining ocean marathon swim, combining a 10km journey course with some of the most exposed and dynamic conditions on the local calendar. Starting at Bondi Beach and finishing at Watsons Bay, the swim traces the coastline past Ben Buckler and along the sandstone cliffs before rounding South Head and entering Sydney Harbour.
More than just a distance event, the South Head Roughwater is known as a true “ocean experience” swim, where changing swell, currents and open-water exposure shape the challenge. It is widely considered the “crown jewel” of the Sydney ocean swim season and a benchmark event for experienced swimmers.
The course transitions from open ocean to harbour waters, creating a unique progression of conditions—from deep water, rolling swell and cliff-lined exposure, through to the relative calm of the harbour finish.
Swim Around Keppel
The Swim Around Keppel (SAK) is a unique tropical marathon swim held on Great Keppel Island, typically in July.
The flagship event is a ~20km circumnavigation of Great Keppel Island, taking swimmers through the clear, reef-lined waters of the southern Great Barrier Reef. Widely regarded as one of Australia’s longest and most scenic island swims, the course passes multiple beaches, coral reefs and marine habitats.
Swimmers can compete as solo, duo or team relay, with all participants supported by escort boats and paddlers, reflecting the endurance and logistical demands of a full island circumnavigation.
In addition to the main event, the weekend includes 6km and 1km swims, making the event accessible to a broader range of abilities while maintaining its status as a genuine marathon challenge.
Set in warm, tropical conditions, Swim Around Keppel combines a serious endurance test with a relaxed, festival-style atmosphere, and has quickly established itself as a bucket-list Australian marathon swim and a distinctive reef-based experience within the national calendar.
Derwent River Big Swim
The Derwent River Big Swim is one of Australia’s most iconic ultra-distance river swims, held in Tasmania, with swim windows typically available between November and March depending on conditions.
The flagship event is a ~34km point-to-point swim from New Norfolk to Tasman Bridge, following the length of the Derwent River and passing beneath all major bridges along the course.
Recognised as the river leg of the Australian Triple Crown of Marathon Swimming, the event is undertaken as an individual challenge swim rather than a mass-participation race, with swimmers required to meet qualification standards and organise escort support.
The course presents a unique mix of freshwater and saltwater conditions, with tides, wind and river flow all influencing the swim, creating a demanding and often unpredictable endurance test.
With water temperatures and distance comparable to the English Channel, the Derwent River Big Swim is widely regarded as a serious ultra-marathon benchmark, attracting experienced swimmers seeking one of Australia’s most challenging and historic long-distance swims.
Derwent River Series – Tasmanian Marathon Swimming Challenges
The Derwent River & Tasmanian Challenge Swims are a series of marathon and ultra-marathon swims conducted across Tasmania’s rivers and lakes, operating alongside the Derwent River Big Swim with swim windows typically available between November and March.
The series includes a range of distances from ~14km to 60km+, offering progressive endurance challenges across both river and freshwater environments. Key swims include:
Tasman Bridge to Iron Pot (~22km) – transitioning from river to open water at Storm Bay
Bowen Bridge to Iron Pot (~30km) – an extended river-to-ocean route
New Norfolk to Opossum Bay (~49km) – a full-length ultra swim down the Derwent
New Norfolk to Iron Pot (~60km) – Tasmania’s longest ultra-distance river-to-ocean swim
Lake St Clair (~14km) and Yingina / Great Lake (~26km) – freshwater marathon swims in remote alpine environments
These swims are typically undertaken as individual challenge swims rather than mass participation events, requiring swimmers to meet qualification standards and organise escort pilots, with start times determined by tides, weather and river conditions.
Courses vary significantly, combining freshwater lakes, tidal river systems and open estuary conditions, often within a single swim. The Derwent itself presents a unique mix of fresh and salt water, with currents, temperature variation and weather all influencing performance.
Collectively, the Derwent River and associated Tasmanian swims provide a progressive pathway from marathon to ultra-distance swimming, and are widely regarded as some of the most technically demanding and environmentally diverse endurance swims in Australia.
Geo Bay Swim
The Geo Bay Swim (Yahava KoffeeWorks Cool Water Classic) is a premier ultra-distance open water event held in Geographe Bay, typically in mid-November as a celebration of the start of summer.
The flagship event is a ~20km point-to-point swim from Dunsborough to Busselton Jetty, following the sheltered coastline of the bay.
Swimmers can participate as solo, duo or team relay, with the course broken into multiple legs and supported by designated “beach party” checkpoints for feeding, transitions and support crews.
Known for its clear, calm conditions and scenic coastal backdrop, the event combines genuine endurance with a strong community atmosphere, including on-course support paddlers and a festival-style finish precinct.
The Geo Bay Swim has quickly established itself as a bucket-list Australian marathon swim, offering both a serious ultra-distance challenge and an accessible team-based entry into long-distance open water swimming.
VladSwim Challenge
The Vladswim Challenge is a Sydney Harbour open water swim held at Chinamans Beach in Mosman, typically on the second Saturday of December.
The event offers 2.5km, 5km and 10km solo swims along a sheltered harbour course between Chinamans Beach and Balmoral, with swimmers completing laps of a 2.5km circuit.
Originally established as a 10km qualifying swim for longer marathon events, it has grown into a popular end-of-year challenge for Sydney’s open water community.
The event is known for its safe, well-supported environment, with kayaks, paddlers and feeding stations for longer distances, and is widely used by swimmers as both a marathon qualifier and a stepping-stone into longer open water swimming.
Held in generally calm harbour conditions, the Vladswim Challenge combines a festive, community atmosphere with a genuine endurance test, making it a staple on the NSW open water calendar.
Rottnest Channel
The Rottnest Channel Swim is Australia’s most iconic marathon open water swim, held annually in late February off the coast of Perth.
The event features a ~19.7km open water crossing from Cottesloe Beach to Rottnest Island, traversing the exposed waters of Gage Roads.
Swimmers can enter as solo, duo or team relay, each supported by a dedicated escort boat, paddlers and crew, making the event as much a logistical and team effort as a physical challenge.
Widely regarded as a rite of passage for Australian open water swimmers, the Rottnest Channel Swim attracts thousands of participants each year and is considered one of the largest and most prestigious marathon swims globally.
Conditions across the channel can vary significantly, with currents, swell, wind and marine life all contributing to a demanding and often unpredictable crossing. The event combines elite performance with strong community participation, creating a unique atmosphere that blends endurance sport with a major coastal festival.
Safety to Sorento
The Safety Beach to Sorrento (U24) is a premier ultra-distance open water swim held on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, typically on the second Saturday in February.
The flagship event is a 24km point-to-point swim from Safety Beach to Sorrento, traversing the open waters of Port Phillip Bay.
In addition to the ultra distance, the event offers 12km and shorter-distance options, along with relay formats, making it accessible to both experienced marathon swimmers and those progressing toward longer swims.
Swimmers are supported by dedicated paddlers and land crews, with qualification requirements in place for the 24km event, reinforcing its status as a serious endurance challenge.
Held in generally calm bay conditions, the U24 combines a controlled environment with the physical and mental demands of ultra-distance swimming, and has quickly established itself as a key Australian marathon swim and a stepping-stone toward major events such as the Rottnest Channel Swim.
Tasmanian Wild West Series
The Tasmanian Wild West Series is one of Australia’s most remote and demanding ultra-marathon swim experiences, conducted as a multi-day expedition series in Tasmania’s wilderness, typically held in March.
The series comprises three ultra-distance swims (~20–25km each) undertaken over approximately nine days, including the Gordon River (~24.5km), Lake Pedder (~20–21km), and Tasman Bridge to Iron Pot (~22.5km).
Unlike traditional mass-participation events, the Wild West Series is limited to a small number of swimmers and operates as a guided expedition, with participants required to meet strict qualification standards and work closely with pilots and support crews.
Each course presents a distinctly different challenge:
The Gordon River offers cold, tannin-stained freshwater through World Heritage rainforest
Lake Pedder provides vast, exposed inland conditions across a remote highland reservoir
The Iron Pot swim transitions from river to open ocean, finishing at the mouth of Storm Bay
Together, these swims represent a true exploration of Tasmania’s wild and untamed waterways, combining endurance, isolation and environmental exposure rarely found in organised swimming events.
The Tasmanian Wild West Series is widely regarded as a bucket-list ultra-marathon experience, attracting highly experienced swimmers seeking one of the most challenging and unique open water swimming adventures in Australia.
Mader Port to Pub
The Mader Port to Pub is a major open water marathon swim held in Western Australia, typically in March.
The event features a ~19.7km crossing from Leighton Beach to Rottnest Island, traversing the iconic Rottnest Channel, with an additional 25km ultramarathon option incorporating an extended loop before joining the main course.
Swimmers can participate as solo, duo or team relay, each supported by a dedicated escort boat, paddler and crew, reflecting the logistical and endurance demands of a channel crossing.
Positioned as “a swim for all”, the event caters to a wide range of abilities while still offering a genuine marathon challenge, and has quickly become one of the three cornerstone swims of the Australian Triple Crown.
Conditions across the channel can be variable, with wind, swell and currents influencing the crossing, making the Port to Pub both a serious endurance test and a key stepping-stone toward other major channel swims in Australia.
Palm to Shelly
The Palm to Shelly Swim is one of Australia’s premier ultra-distance ocean swims, held along Sydney’s Northern Beaches, typically in April.
The flagship event is a ~24km point-to-point swim from Palm Beach to Shelly Beach, following the exposed Pacific coastline past more than 20 beaches and headlands.
Part of the Australian Triple Crown of ultra-marathon swimming, the event attracts experienced swimmers from across Australia and internationally, and is widely used as a preparation swim for major channel crossings and international marathon events.
Swimmers can compete as solo, duo or relay teams, with all participants required to have dedicated escort boat support, paddlers and crew, reflecting the logistical and safety demands of a long-distance ocean swim.
Conditions along the course can be highly variable, with swell, currents and wind playing a significant role, making the Palm to Shelly a true test of endurance, ocean awareness and race strategy.
Recognised as one of the most challenging and scenic marathon swims in Australia, the event is a key fixture on the national open water calendar and a defining milestone for ultra-distance swimmers.
Lake Argyle Swim (Event)
The Lake Argyle Swim is a unique ultra-distance open water event held in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia, typically on the first Saturday in May.
The event offers 10km and 20km distances, with swimmers competing as solo, duo or relay teams, starting from a deep-water start in the middle of Lake Argyle and finishing at Bamboo Cove near the Lake Argyle Resort.
Set within Australia’s largest freshwater reservoir near Kununurra, the swim is renowned for its warm water conditions and striking outback landscape, often described as an inland sea due to its vast scale.
Originally established as a small fundraising swim, the event has grown into one of the most distinctive marathon swims in Australia, offering a rare combination of ultra-distance swimming in a controlled freshwater environment with a strong community and adventure-based atmosphere.
The Lake Argyle Swim is widely regarded as a bucket-list experience, attracting swimmers seeking both a serious endurance challenge and a uniquely Australian open water setting.