Event location

The event headquarters is located at Lake Tikitapu in Rotorua.

Free with your swim entry

• Silicon swimming cap (you wear on event day)
• Branded finish line photo (digital sharing quality)
• Electronic timing device
• Sports drink and a banana to refuel post event
• Trained lifeguards to watch over you while you swim and advanced medical personnel on site

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.

Round the Lake 3.5k: 2hrs

RotoVegas 1000m- 40mins

RotoVegas 500m- 20mins

Amphibian: 1700m Swim: 1hr 3.5km Run: 30mins
500m Swim: 20mins 
Total Time: 1hr 50mins

Banana Boat OceanKids 100m- 5mins 
Banana Boat OceanKids 200m- 10mins

Age limits

Round the Lake 3.5k: 12 years and above

RotoVegas 1000m: 10 years and above

RotoVegas 500m: 8 years and above

Amphibian 1700m: 12 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:

Speed 1: 1:20 - 1:30 per 100m

Speed 2 – 1:30 - 1:40 per 100m

Mid 1 & 2 – Competitive but like a little bit more space on the start line

Mid 1 - 1:40 - 1:50 per 100m

Mid 2 – 1:50 - 2:00 per 100m

Comp 1 & 2 – Out there to challenge yourself and swim with friends and family

Comp 1 - 2:00 - 2:10 per 100m

Comp 2 – 2:10 + per 100m

Prize-giving

For the 3.5km event, we will award the top 3 overall, as well as the top 3 in each age group.

For the 1km there will be awards for the top three placings in each age group. Please refer to the awards & information page for further detail.

There won't be awards for the 5oom event.

Each swimmer in the Banana Boat OceanKids swim will receive a medal once they have crossed the finish line.

Downloadable certificate for all.

Results

Live results will be available as soon as you have crossed the finish line. If you cannot 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!

Amphibian details

The Amphibian is back for 2026 AND ONLY IN ROTORUA!

This event gives you a new perspective of the beautiful Lake Tikitapu.
Collect your event pack from registration, & bring a small bag to place your running shoes, small towel and running shirt (if needed) for the first transition. There will be a designated area at the main event site to place your bag, then these will be taken to the first transition area at the top of the lake.

We recommend that you wear a swim/run suit so that you can complete the entire Amphibian wearing it, saving you valuable time. You can wear a full wetsuit if you wish. All belongings will be brought back to the event site, once the transition area is cleared of all participants. Note: this will not be in time for your second transition.

The event sees you starting from the main event site with a 1.7km swim, straight up to the top of the lake. There you will exit the water to the transition area where you can put your running shoes on and head up the steps to begin the run. You will need to keep your cap and goggles with you. The course will take you around the lake, on a 3.5km run back to the main event site to a second transition. There you can ditch the shoes and run back in for another quick splash of 500m and then head through the finish line archway to the cheers of your friends and family.

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 area

An area designated to store gear bags will be available for all participants while you swim (or run!). This will be situated at the main event site at Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake). You will need to bring your own small bag. Please remember, this is an ‘all care, no responsibility service’, please do not pack valuable items.

Car parking

Parking on the reserve areas at Lake Tikitapu can be interesting if there has been rain in the lead up to the event. We urge you to take care and please drive slowly when entering these car parks. Always follow the directions of the event crew, they are there to assist you!

Please do not park down the drive near the toilet block. These parks will be used for emergency vehicles and disability parking.

The Legend of the Lake is proud to host the 2026 NZ Secondary School Open Water Swimming Championships. All swimmers enrolled in a Secondary School (Year 9-13) within New Zealand 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 3.5km, 1000m & 500m. Swimmers will be eligible for both Secondary School and Banana Boat Ocean Swim Series prizes and medals.  

More information coming soon.