State Harbour Crossing, Auckland

Bayswater to the Viaduct Harbour, Auckland City

Online registration close on Friday 11 November at mid-night. If you are still wanting to take part in the State Harbour Crossing please come to the swim pack pick-up/ registration that will take place on Saturday 12 November 2011 from 4:00PM - 8:00PM at:

Copthorne Hotel Harbour City
196 - 200 Quay Street
Auckland.

Thank you for your support and good luck for the 2011 State Harbour Crossing!

The annual Harbour Crossing is one of Auckland’s most iconic and unique sporting events. The first Harbour Crossing took place in 2004 with just 500 swimmers and has attracted up to 1400.

It’s not every day that all marine traffic in New Zealand’s largest city is called to a halt to allow you the privilege of saying, “I swam across the harbour”. The State Harbour Crossing is New Zealand’s largest ocean swim and is the first event in the State NZ Ocean Swim Series.

The 2011 State Harbour Crossing 2.9km ocean swim will start in Quinton Park, Bayswater crossing Auckland Harbour to finish at the new Karanga Plaza next to the Viaduct Events Centre in the new Wynyard Quarter.

This swim has one swim distance of 2.9km and is suitable for individuals with swimming experience that have trained to complete this event distance.

The first group of swimmers will start from Bayswater at 9am on Sunday 13 November 2011. There will be 5 start groups (waves) on event day with the last wave for ‘novice’ swimmers only. Start groups are determined by the estimated time specified in your entry.

Registration Details

Swim pack pick up/ registration

Swim pack pick-up/ registration will take place on Saturday 12 November 2011 from 4:00PM - 8:00PM at:

Copthorne Hotel Harbour City
196 - 200 Quay Street
Auckland.

The parking at the hotel is reserved for guests only however Downtown Car Park is right next door to the hotel with plenty of parking available.

If you are unable to make it between the times above and don't have friends or family that can register for you please contact us for alternative arrangements. We do now offer a pre-paid courier service that will courier your pack including your cap and timing chip to you the week leading up to the event. You can book and pay for this service when entering online or purchase from the ocean swim store.

All entrants will receive:

• A timing chip which is loaned to you for the event
• A swim cap that you must wear or the duration of the event
• Your finish time text to you after the event
• A personalised certificate that you can download and print at no charge from the results page
• A pair of Goggles courtesy of State Insurance
• Other sponsor goodies
• Free Bag Transport Service

Important dates

The minimum age for the State Harbour Crossing is 14 years old. For swimmers under this age that are with a Swimming NZ affiliated club please email info@oceanswim.co.nz for entry instructions.

Entry confirmation

Check your entry, make changes or print your e-ticket for the State Harbour Crossing:

Individual entrants

Series Pass entrants

Finish Area

The State Harbour Crossing will now finish at Karanga Plaza part of the new Viaduct Events Centre and Wynard wharf area. Swimmers will now be able to step out of the water and walk up the steps into the finish area.

Spectators

The State Harbour Crossing starts in the water at Quinton Park, Bayswater and follows the line of the Marina breakwater before the course leads swimmers across the Harbour and finish at the new Karanga Plaza next to the Viaduct Events Centre. The Bayswater Marina pathway provides a great view for spectators to cheer and watch the action in the water.

The Karanga Plaza is the location of our finish line with plenty of space for spectators to watch and cheer for friends and family literally stepping out of the water and completing their personal challenges.

Prize Giving

Prize Giving will take place at approximately 11:15AM at Auckland Fish Market, Cnr. Madden & Daldy Sts. This is just a short walk from the finish area at Karanga Plaza.

Join us at Auckland Fish Market and spend $15 on any meal within the Courtyard area and receive your first house wine/ house beer or softdrink free. Live music will start after prize giving.

Please note: there is no BYO food or drink into the Courtyard area.

Public Transport

Citylink

Citylink runs from the newly developed Wynyard Quarter, along Queen St, up to K-Rd and then back down Queen Street (Return). On the Sunday of the State Harbour Crossing the CityLink will run every 20mins from 7:00am to 11:00pm

Bus (maxx.co.nz)

The closest stop to the Karanga Plaza is 185 Fanshawe Street. From here Karanga Plaza is a 5 minute walk down Halsey Street. For information about Buses to surrounding areas visit. Maxx www.maxx.co.nz

From Britomart, Karanga Plaza is a short 5 minute walk down Quay Street, on to Te Wero Island and across the new Wynyard Crossing bridge.

Driving

From Fanshawe Street take either Halsey or Beaumont Street onto Jellicoe Street.

Parking

If you're coming from Downtown Auckland, Viaduct Harbour or Te Wero Island, Downtown car park is the most convenient.

• Downtown Carpark, 31 Customs Street West
• Wynyard Quarter Carpark,Entrance off Beaumont Street and Madden Street.First hour free - $2 hour following that.

Official Charity – Surf Life Saving NZ

Surf Life Saving NZ provide an essential service on New Zealand’s beaches and at the State NZ Ocean Swim Series. They keep all of us safe on the beach and in the water which is why they are the official charity of the State NZ Ocean Swim Series.

Please give generously to Surf Life Saving NZ. All donations will receive a free gift. You can donate when you enter or through the Ocean Swim Store. You can also donate on event day.

• Donations of $5 and $10 will receive a Surf Life Saving NZ 100 Year Centenary key ring
• Donations of $20 will receive a Surf Life Saving NZ toy IRB boat
• Donations of $40 will receive a Surf Life Saving NZ Teddy Bear
• Donations of $90 will receive a Surf Life Saving NZ Centenary book

All gifts will be handed at your event registration or couriered if you have pre-booked the courier service.

Accommodation

As New Zealand's largest Hotel owner/operator, Millennium, Copthorne & Kingsgate Hotels and Resorts are pleased to be associated with the State New Zealand Ocean Swim Series.

We have a standard of accommodation to suit all contestant needs through our Millennium, Copthorne and Kingsgate Hotel brands. Rates start from $90 including GST per room on a single, double, or twin share basis and along.

As well as providing the opportunity to win weekends away at any one of our 30 Hotels nationwide, for competitors, participants and their supporters we have put together some great rates for you to enjoy "our world of hospitality" throughout the series. To access these rates, please visit http://www.millenniumhotels.co.nz/oswim/ or phone our toll-free reservations team on 0800 808 228 and quote rate code OSWIM.

Inspirational Story

First time ocean racer; infact, this was the first competitive sporting thing I had done in 25 years! - jeff whiting

read more inspirational swimming stories