Ocean Swim Series The Hot Spring Spas Iceberg

Swims on offer

• The Ice Splash – the famous run in, get wet and get out! Fancy dress optional and encouraged with $5 of entry donated to Waiheke Primary School and Te Huruhi Primary School
• The Ice Cube 250m – a 250m swim off Oneroa Beach around our iceberg marker buoys.
• The Icicle 750m – a 750m swim from Little Oneroa beach to Oneroa main beach.
• The Iceberg 2000m – the main event for experienced swimmers. A 2000m swim from Little Oneroa Beach to Oneroa Main Beach

Commemorative completion medals*, fun spot prizes, and cash awards are all part of this winter spectacle!

*For participants of the 250m, 750m & 2000m swims only.

Course maps

The Ice Splash

Distance: In and Out start
Location: Oneroa beach

The Ice Cube 250m

Distance: 250m start
Location: Oneroa beach

The Icicle 750m

Distance: 750m
Start location: Little Oneroa

The Iceberg 2000m

Distance: 2km
Start location: Little Oneroa

Event day general info

Event location

The main event site is located on Oneroa Beach, Waiheke Island opposite number 32 Beach Parade.

Wetsuits

With a winter event, the water temperature can drop to 14-16 degrees. Wetsuits are recommended for The Icicle 750m & The Iceberg 2000m swims. Short wetsuit or a full-length wetsuits can be worn for these swims. Wetsuits are not required nor are they encouraged for The Ice Splash or The Ice Cube 250m swims.

Water temperature

The water temperature on Waiheke in July ranges from 14-16 degrees and averages at 15.1. You know that is pretty much the temperature of the ocean in Christchurch in summer! Go on, you can do it!

Swim pack pickup

You can collect your swim pack at either:

• Friday 2 July – between 3-5pm at Oneroa beach opposite 32 Beach Parade.
• Saturday 3 July – from 11am.

Cut-off times 

Our swims have cut-off times for safety reasons and often as a requirement of the harbour authorities. If you are still swimming at the cut-off time you will be tapped on the shoulder by lifeguards and asked to board an inflatable rescue boat and brought closer to shore to finish. Cut-off times vary for each swim distance.

• The Ice Cube 250m: 15 mins.
• The Icicle 750m: 30 mins.
• The Iceberg 2km: 1hr 15 mins.

Age limits

• The Ice Splash: All ages, parents are responsible for all children under 10 years old must they must be within arms reach at all times.
• The Ice Cube 250m: eight years and older.
• The Icicle 750m: 10 years and older.
• The Iceberg 2km: 12 years and older.

Swim caps and start groups

If you are swimming the 250m, 750m or 2000m you will receive a silicone swim cap. Swimmers will be grouped by similar ability. This is called your start group. Each start group has a different coloured cap. Start groups are determined by the speed group you selected in the entry form.

The start groups are calculated by our operations team and are organised by speed groups and entry numbers. These can vary from event to event and we are reluctant to change these as it can affect results.

Ice Cube 250m: 1 start groups.

The Icicle 750m: 2 start groups.

The Iceberg 2000m: 4 start groups.

Results

The 750m and 2000m swims will be timed. Live results for these events will be available as soon as you have crossed the finish line. The results link will be updated prior to event day.

Event nutrition

To refuel before and after your swim we’ll provide you with a yummy Tasti protein bar with your event pack and a banana when you finish.

BYO drink bottle and thermos

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 SOS Hydration, you can fill your bottle with SOS or water. Look out for our water station and stay hydrated.

Cash prizes and award categories

Cash prizes and gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to overall winners and placegetters of The Iceberg 2000m swim. Cash prizes are:

• 1^st - $300
• 2^nd - $150
• 3^rd - $50

Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to age group winners and placegetters of The Iceberg 2000m in the following categories; 12-15, 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-29, 80+.

Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to the overall winners and placegetters of The Icicle 750m with gold medals for the winners of the following age groups; 10-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+

Spot prizes are randomly drawn from the start list. You must be at prizegiving to claim your prize so, make sure you stick around!

Bag storage and bag transfer

Main event site bag storage area

If you do not have a family or friend to look after your bag on event day, you can store your gear bag at our designated bag drop on our main event site on Oneroa beach. Please note our bag storage service is an ‘all care, no responsibility’ service, so please do not pack valuable items and ensure the bag tag we provide you is attached to your bag with your surname written on it.

Bag transfer 750m and 200m swims

The 750m and 2000m start lines are a 15 minute walk from the main event site. We encourage those wearing wetsuits to leave their bag in the bag storage area on the main event site and walk over. If you are not wearing a wetsuit for these swims, you are welcome to wear warm clothes as you walk to the start lines and then place these in a small bag for us to transfer back to the main event site after you start your swim. This bag must have a bag tag attached (provided) with your surname written on it and not contain valuables. Our bag transfer service is an ‘all care and no responsibility’ service.

Parking

There is parking on the streets surrounding the main event site on Oneroa beach. Please be prepared for a short walk from your car to the event site.

More information

For start times, event timetable, accommodation, safety, and more information, please visit https://oceanswim.co.nz/events/the-iceberg-waiheke/.