25km, 10km, 5km, 3.5km, 2.5km, 1km, 500m

100m & 200m OceanKids

Banana Boat NZ Ocean Swim Series Swim Fest Lake Karāpiro – 21st & 22nd March 2026

Swim Fest Lake Karāpiro

Conquer the Challenges of Lake Karāpiro

Dive into the exhilarating Swim Fest at Lake Karāpiro, a stunning freshwater destination nestled in the heart of the Waikato. Surrounded by lush green landscapes and world-class rowing waters, Lake Karāpiro sets the stage for a day packed with swim challenges and unforgettable moments.

A Festival of Aquatic Excitement

We've packed all the action into two massive days, with the biggest lineup of swims in the Series. Whether you're chasing a personal best in the 25km swim, testing your grit in the 500m Blast, or cheering on the next generation in the 100m and 200m Banana Boat OceanKids events – there’s something for everyone.

Take your training to the next level and go for the double!

Tackle the 25km and 10km combo for a huge 35km weekend, or mix it up with a 5km and 3.5km back-to-back challenge – the choice is yours. Mix and match your swims to create your ultimate endurance weekend.

And if you're entering the Series, you'll automatically be added into the 3.5km event as that is the main event for the Banana Boat series – no extra steps required!

Whether you're a seasoned athlete or just someone who wants to give it a go, this event is made for everyone.

Swim Fest Lake Karāpiro

Make a Weekend of it!

This is shaping up to be a massive campsite weekend, so why not stay and soak up the full experience?

BOOKINGS OPENING SOON – campervan sites and cabins are available just a few hundred metres from the action. Or, enjoy a comfortable stay in one of Cambridge’s nearby hotels, and treat yourself to the local cafes, restaurants, and classic Kiwi hospitality.

Choose Your Challenge:


25km, 10km, 5km, 3.5km, 2.5km, 1km, 500m and 200m or 100m

Be Part of the Story

Swim Fest Lake Karāpiro offers the perfect opportunity to push your limits, celebrate your love for the water, and write your own chapter in the Swim Series journey.

Join us for a day – or a whole weekend of endurance, excitement, and lakeside adventure!

Come and enjoy a Swim Festival of epic proportions.

00

days

days

:
00

hours

hrs

:
00

minutes

mins

:
00

seconds

secs

MULTI LAP COURSE

A Course Designed for Support, Safety, and Spectator Fun

25KM, 10KM, 5KM, 3.5KM, 2.5KM, 1KM, 500M, 200M AND 100M COURSE

We're using a multi-lap course for most events, creating a spectator-friendly layout that keeps the action close to shore. This setup allows for maximum support from friends, family, and fellow swimmers, while making it easy to combine laps to suit all distances – from shorter swims to the epic endurance challenges.

The course also offers enhanced safety, making it easier for our experienced guards to keep a close eye on swimmers at all times – so you can focus on chasing your goals with confidence.

Cut off times for the 25km on Day 1 will be 10 hours, that's 2min 10 sec per 100m. Cut off for the 10km on day 2 will be 5 hours.

Date Time Event
Friday, 20th March 2026 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Registration opens for all events - Lake Karāpiro
Saturday, 21st March 2026 6:30 AM Registrations open and swim pack pick up - 25km Ultra Marathon Swim
Saturday, 21st March 2026 7:00 AM All food in place for 25km food stations
Saturday, 21st March 2026 7:20 AM 25km Ultra Swim compulsory safety briefing
Saturday, 21st March 2026 7:30 AM START – 25km Ultra Swim
Saturday, 21st March 2026 7:30 AM Registrations open and swim pack pick up – 5km, 1km, 500m, and 2.5km events
Saturday, 21st March 2026 8:45 AM Compulsory safety briefing for the 5km Swim
Saturday, 21st March 2026 9:00 AM START – 5km Swim
Saturday, 21st March 2026 11:45 AM Compulsory safety briefing for the 1km Swim
Saturday, 21st March 2026 12:00 PM START – 1km Swim
Saturday, 21st March 2026 1:45 PM Compulsory safety briefing for the 500m Swim
Saturday, 21st March 2026 2:00 PM START – 500m Swim
Saturday, 21st March 2026 2:45 PM Compulsory safety briefing for the 2.5km Swim
Saturday, 21st March 2026 3:00 PM START – 2.5km Mid Swim
Saturday, 21st March 2026 4:30 PM CUT OFF – 25km Ultra & 2.5km Swim
Sunday, 22nd March 2026 7:00 AM All food in place for 10km Swim – food stations
Sunday, 22nd March 2026 7:20 AM 10km Marathon Swim compulsory safety briefing
Sunday, 22nd March 2026 7:30 AM START – 10km Marathon Swim
Sunday, 22nd March 2026 7:30 AM Registrations open & swim pack pick up – 3.5km Main Race
Sunday, 22nd March 2026 10:15 AM Compulsory safety briefing – 3.5km LONG Series Points Race
Sunday, 22nd March 2026 10:30 AM START – 3.5km LONG Series Points Race
Sunday, 22nd March 2026 10:50 AM OceanKids 100m & 200m compulsory safety briefing
Sunday, 22nd March 2026 11:00 AM START – OceanKids 100m & 200m
Sunday, 22nd March 2026 12:30 PM CUT OFF – 10km & 3.5km Swims
Sunday, 22nd March 2026 12:30 PM Prizegiving – 25km, 10km, 5km medals + 3.5km Over/Under Age Group, Wetsuit 2.5km Mid 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each age group and non wetsuit 1st place in age group. Finishers medals for 25km and 10km events.
PRICING
Event April to May 31st June 1st to July 31st 1 Aug - Sep 30th 1st Oct to Event Day
Thrive to 35
Day 1 - 25km, Day 2 - 10km
NZ$399.00 NZ$410.00 NZ$420.00 NZ$430.00
Chasing 12.5
Day 1 - 5km, 1km, 500m, 2.5km, Day 2 - 3.5km
NZ$239.00 NZ$249.00 NZ$259.00 NZ$269.00
Shine for 9
Day 1 - 5km, 1km, 500m and 2.5km
NZ$199.00 NZ$209.00 NZ$219.00 NZ$229.00
25km Ultra Marathon Swim NZ$279.00 NZ$289.00 NZ$299.00 NZ$309.00
10km Marathon Swim NZ$149.00 NZ$159.00 NZ$169.00 NZ$179.00
5km 1/2 Marathon Swim NZ$109.00 NZ$119.00 NZ$129.00 NZ$139.00
3.5km Long Swim (Series Race) NZ$99.00 NZ$109.00 NZ$114.00 NZ$124.00
2.5km Mid Swim NZ$89.00 NZ$99.00 NZ$109.00 NZ$119.00
1km Swim NZ$49.00 NZ$59.00 NZ$69.00 NZ$79.00
500m Swim NZ$39.00 NZ$44.00 NZ$49.00 NZ$59.00
OceanKids 100m & 200m (12 & under) FREE FREE FREE FREE
ENTER NOW

Key Event Information

Event Day General Info

Safety

Bag storage

Parking