Blue70
The Big Tahuna
Big Tahuna
Distance: 3.2k Start Location: Tāhunanui Beach
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Blue70 The Big Tahuna – 2 November 2024
Dive Into the Big Tahuna Adventure!
Experience the Thrill of Spectacular Swims in the Picturesque Seaside City of Nelson
Embrace the Kiwi Summer Swimming Getaway
The Big Tahuna on the beautiful Tāhunanui Beach is back and it’s an event you won’t want to miss! Immerse yourself in an incredible lineup of swims, from the massive 3.2km Big Tahuna to the Banana Boat OceanKids swims. This is the essential ‘Kiwi Summer Swimming Trip Away’ that will surround you with amazing people and the breathtaking beauty of the Nelson Tasman Region.
Discover the Center of New Zealand
Did you know that Nelson can boast that they are the Center of New Zealand? It’s just a few kilometers away, so why not make a weekend of it in this stunning bay area and experience all that the region has to offer, from boutiques and galleries to much, much more.
Dive into the Adventure
Whether you’re a seasoned swimmer or just want to give it a go, the Big Tahuna has a swim for everyone. Challenge yourself with the 3.2km Big Tahuna, the 1.3km Small Tahuna, or the 500m Tiny Tahuna. And for our youngest swimmers, the Banana Boat OceanKids 100m and 200m events are the perfect way to join in the fun.
Swims on offer:
- 3.2km Big Tahuna
- 1.3km Small Tahuna
- 500m Tiny Tahuna
- Banana Boat OceanKids 100m and 200m (7-12 years)
Key Event Information
Course Maps
Blue70
Get your free swim program
Blue70
The Big Tahuna
The Small Tahuna
Distance: 1.3km Start Location: Tāhunanui Beach
Get your free swim program
Blue70
The Big Tahuna
The Tiny Tahuna
Distance: 500m Start Location: Tāhunanui Beach
Get your free swim program
Blue70
The Big Tahuna
Banana Boat OceanKids
Distance: 100m Start Location: Tāhunanui Beach
Blue70
The Big Tahuna
Banana Boat OceanKids
Distance: 200m Start Location: Tāhunanui BeachPricing & Benefits
Start Times & Event Timetable
Event Day General Info
Event location
The event headquarters is located on Tāhunanui Beach
Cut-off times
For safety reasons and to ensure the day runs to schedule, our swims have a cut-off time. The times vary for each swim distance.
The Big Tahuna 3.2km – 2hrs
The Small Tahuna 1.3km – 50mins
The Tiny Tahuna 500m – 20mins
Banana Boat OceanKids 100m- 5mins, Banana Boat OceanKids 200m- 10mins
Age limits
The Big Tahuna 3.2km – 12 years and above
The Small Tahuna 1.3km- 10 years and above
The Tiny Tahuna 500m- 8 years and above
Banana Boat OceanKids 100m & 200m 7 – 12 year olds.
Swim caps & start groups
As part of your swim pack you will receive a silicon swim cap. Each start group has a different coloured cap. Start groups are determined by the speed group you selected in the entry form. If you have swum with us already this season please bring your cap to minimise the number of caps you collect and reduce our environmental footprint.
The start groups are calculated by our operations team and are organised by speed groups & entry numbers. These can vary from event to event, unless you are a Multi Event pass swimmer, and we are reluctant to change these as it can affect results.
Speed 1 & 2 – Fastest swimmers
Mid 1 & 2 – Competitive but like a little bit more space on the start line
Comp 1 & 2 – Out there to challenge yourself and swim with friends and family
Results
Live results will be available as soon as you have crossed the finish line. If you can not see your result or think there is an error please come and see the team in registration as soon as possible and definitely BEFORE prizegiving. You can find the results here.
Post-event nutrition
Once you have crossed the finish line one of our awesome crew will be there to meet you with water and a Banana.
BYO drink bottle
As part of our goal to have a greener footprint, we will no longer be offering drinking cups so please remember to bring your own drink bottle. Thanks to the awesome team at the hydration station, you can fill your bottle with water. Look out for our water station and stay hydrated!
Safety
All Banana Boat New Zealand Ocean Swim Series events are patrolled by trained lifeguards and first aid qualified personnel who are present to assist you at all times.
So that the events are safe and enjoyable for all swimmers, there are some rules for the event. Find out more here.
Bag Storage
Bag storage area
An area designated to store your gear bag will be available for all event participants. This will be situated at the main event site on Tāhunanui Beach. You will need to bring your own small gear bag. Please note, our bag storage service is an ‘all care, no responsibility’ service, so please do not pack valuable items.
Southern Zonal Secondary School Open Water Swimming Championships
The Big Tahuna is proud to host the 2024 Southern Zonal Secondary School Open Water Swimming Championships. All swimmers enrolled in a Secondary School (Year 9-13) within the Southern Zone on the date of this event can opt to compete in these championships by selecting their school in the entry form. Championship swim distances include the 3.2km & 1.3km Swimmers will be eligible for both Secondary School and Banana Boat Ocean Swim Series prizes and medals. Entries close TBC
For more information visit the Swimming New Zealand website.
Enter by hitting the big yellow button top right!
