Learn More about Ocean Swimming
🌊 Swim for the Mind, Body & Soul
Swimming is more than just exercise – it’s invigorating, uplifting, and incredibly fun. Whether you’re chasing a goal, clearing your head, or just soaking up the magic of the ocean, the Banana Boat New Zealand Ocean Swim Series is your perfect stage.
💙 Set yourself a challenge
💪 Stay motivated and fit
🏖️ Discover the joy of open water swimming
🎯 Achieve something amazing
With stunning swim locations across Aotearoa, welcoming vibes, and distances for all levels, the Series is made for everyone. Whether you’re a seasoned swimmer or just starting your ocean journey, there’s a swim here with your name on it.
So come on – jump in.
Swim for your health. Swim for your happiness. Swim for you.
Swim distance options
🌊 2km – 25km Swims
For the seasoned swimmer or determined challenger.
Ready to take it up a notch? These longer distances are perfect for confident swimmers who’ve been training or have some experience under their swim cap. Whether you’re aiming for your first 2km or going all in on a 5km, you’ll love the safe, supportive atmosphere.
🧒 Ages 12+
🌴 1000m – 1600m Swims
Your step up to something epic.
Perfect if you’re looking for more than an intro swim, but not quite ready to go long-distance (yet!). These swims suit confident pool swimmers, open water newbies, and triathlon trainers alike.
🧒 Ages 10+
☀️ 500m – 800m Swims
The perfect intro to ocean swimming.
Never done an ocean swim before? No worries! This is the ideal starter swim for all ages and most abilities. The course is close to the beach (usually a fun triangle loop), and you’re welcome to bring soft flippers or a pull buoy to help you glide your way through.
🧒 Ages 6 -12
🐬 Banana Boat OceanKids – 100m & 200m Swims
Just for the kids – and just the right size!
Designed for young splashers aged 7–10, these fun, safe, and confidence-building swims are the perfect intro to open water. Choose from 100m or 200m distances, with heaps of support from our safety swim guards every stroke of the way.
🧒 Ages 7–10
💦 Dive into the adventure – find your swim and enter now!
Every swim is designed with safety, support, and smiles in mind – check your location's event page for exact distances and details.
👉 [Enter Now]
Join our community
Join the Ocean Swim Whānau on Facebook! 💙🌊
Looking for swim buddies? Got questions about training, gear, or events? Or just love chatting all things ocean swimming?
Our Ocean Swim Series Facebook Community Group is the heart of our swim community – a place where swimmers from all over Aotearoa (and beyond!) connect, support, inspire, and celebrate each other.
👋 Find local swim mates
💬 Get tips from experienced swimmers and coaches
📣 Stay in the loop with the latest ocean swim news
💙 Share your wins, stories, photos, and love for the open water!
Whether you're just getting started or have salty skin from years of swimming, you belong here. Come say hi, meet the crew, and feel the support of a passionate, friendly, and fun-loving swim family.
👉 [Join Our Facebook Group Today] – we can't wait to welcome you!
Training events and clinics
Build Your Confidence with Our Training Partners 🌊💪
Want to feel calm, confident, and ready to crush your next swim? We've got you covered!
We proudly partner with reputable training events and clinics across New Zealand that are perfect for preparing you for the Banana Boat New Zealand Ocean Swim Series. Whether you're new to the ocean or looking to sharpen your skills, these sessions will help you get comfortable in open water and boost your confidence where it counts.
🏊♂️ Gain real ocean swim experience
🧠 Learn from experienced coaches
💬 Connect with other swimmers on the same journey
💙 Arrive at the start line feeling ready and excited!
Check out our trusted partner clinics and events – they’re designed to help you get the most out of your swim season.
Check out Ocean Clinics here
Event safety
Safety First – So You Can Swim with Confidence 💙🏊♀️
Your safety is our top priority! Every New Zealand Ocean Swim Series event is fully supported by trained lifesaving guards and first aid qualified personnel, ready to assist whenever needed.
We want every swimmer – from first-timers to seasoned pros – to feel confident and supported in the water. That’s why we have a few simple rules in place to help keep things safe, smooth, and fun for everyone.
👉 [Check out the Event Rules] before you hit the start line – they’re designed with your wellbeing in mind.
So dive in, relax, and enjoy the swim – we’ve got your back!
Wetsuits
Wetsuits: Optional, But Super Helpful! 🧜♂️🧥
While wetsuits aren't compulsory for Banana Boat New Zealand Ocean Swim Series events, they can make a big difference to your swim experience – especially if you're new to ocean swimming or swimming in cooler water.
Wetsuits offer:
💧 Extra warmth – great for comfort and energy preservation
🌊 Buoyancy – helps you float higher in the water, making swimming easier
🚀 Confidence boost – feel more secure and supported in open water
Whether you're looking to buy or hire a wetsuit for race day, we’ve got you covered with ocean swim-specific options designed to help you perform at your best.
👉 [Find out more about wetsuits and gear]
👉 [Visit our store] to check out BlueSeventy’s awesome range of wetsuits, swimwear, swim accessories, and goggles – all perfect for your next ocean adventure!
Start groups
Start Smart – Swim with Your LANE🏁🏊♂️
To make your swim smooth, safe, and seriously enjoyable, we group swimmers by speed and ability. When you enter an event, you’ll choose a start group that reflects your pace – so you’ll be surrounded by others swimming at a similar speed.
That means fewer people to pass (or be passed by), a more relaxed swim, and more space to find your rhythm!
Here’s how the start cap colours break down:
🎓 White – For our super speedy secondary school swimmers
💛 Yellow – 1:10 to 1:30 per 100m
💙 Light Blue – 1:30 to 1:45 per 100m
❤️ Red – 1:45 to 1:55 per 100m
💚 Green – 1:55 to 2:00 per 100m
🔵 Dark Blue – 2:00 to 2:15 per 100m
💜 Purple – 2:15+ per 100m (Our “more bang for your buck” legends who like to enjoy every stroke!)
💗 Need a little extra support in the water?
No problem! Just ask for a Pink Cap when you pick up your race pack. Our safety swim guards will keep a closer eye on pink-cap swimmers throughout the course.
Whatever your pace, there's a spot for you – so you can focus on what really matters: having an epic swim
Prizegiving and awards categories
🎉 Celebrate Your Swim at
Prizegiving! 🏅
Every swim deserves a celebration – and we love finishing
each event with an epic prizegiving!
At every Banana Boat New Zealand Ocean Swim Series event,
we honour the effort, dedication, and fun you bring to the water. It’s your
moment to shine – whether you’re chasing a medal, hoping for a spot prize, or
just soaking in the good vibes with your crew!
🏆 Here’s what’s up for
grabs this season:
🥇 Long Swims
(Series-eligible distances):
Gold,
Silver & Bronze medals for overall top finishers
Gold,
Silver & Bronze medals for each age group
1st
Place Medal in the Non-Wetsuit Category
Secondary
School Medals for our speedy students in the White Cap category
Induction
to our 25, 50, 75 and 100 Club Oceans of Fame
🌟 NEW for 2025 – Mid Swim
Medals!
We’re now awarding Gold, Silver & Bronze medals for overall finishers in
mid-distance swims (1000m – 2.3km). More medals, more excitement, and even more
reasons to dive in!
Finishers medals for 25km Ultra Marathon,
and 10km Epic Swim Events
Finishers Certificates for each event in
the Long and Mid
👥 Team Awards – Bring the
Crew!
Think you’ve got the ultimate squad? We now have Team Prizes and an Overall
Team Points Score! $1000 cash to give way at the end of the Season. Based on people
swimming as many times as they can overall.
Points
are earned based on individual finishes across the Series
Top
teams will be recognised with prizes and bragging rights at the final
event!
Great
for clubs, schools, workplaces, or just a group of mates!
🎁 Sponsor Spot Prizes!
Thanks to our fantastic sponsors, we’ve got loads of epic spot prizes up for
grabs at every event. These are randomly drawn and announced during the compulsory
swim briefing. If your name’s called, head over to the Registration Tent to
claim your prize!
📖 Want to know how Series
points and rankings work?
👉 [Click here for more info]
Whether you’re swimming for the podium, the team glory, a
personal milestone, or just the joy of being in the ocean – we can’t wait to
celebrate with you at the finish line!.
Series Competition
🌟 Be Part of the Series Competition!
Take on 3 or more swims in a season and you’ll automatically be entered into the Banana Boat New Zealand Ocean Swim Series Competition – no extra steps needed!
Whether you're chasing glory or just love a bit of healthy competition, your swims could earn you a top spot in your age group. Here's how it works:
🏊♂️ Eligible Long Events:
Complete any 3 or more of the following long-distance swims in a single season:
(3km)
(3.3km)
(3.5km)
(3.5km)
(2.8km)
(4.6km)
💦 Eligible Mid Events (NEW for 2025!):
Prefer mid-distance? You can now compete in the Series through these exciting swims:
(1.2km)
(1.2km)
(1km)
(1.5km)
(1.2km)
(2.3km)
🏆 How Points & Placings Work:
points from your three best swims will be added together.
highest point totals in each age group at the end of the season will place in the final Series rankings.
💡 Multi-event passes or individual entries – it all counts!
No matter how you register (via pass or single entries), as long as your name and date of birth match across events, your points will be tracked and added up automatically.
🎉 So jump into 3 or more swims this season – and you could be standing on the Series podium at the finish line!
