Nude swimmers take chilly plunge in Dark Mofo solstice swim
Nude swimmers take chilly plunge in Dark Mofo solstice swim
Participants gathered before first light, huddling in coats and towels before dropping their clothing and running into the water en masse. (ABC News: Sophie Jaggers)
In short:
Thousands of swimmers have bared all to take a dawn plunge into Hobart's River Derwent to mark the winter solstice.
The event signals the end of Dark Mofo, a two-week Tasmanian arts festival.
What's next?
The Nude Solstice Swim has been running since 2013 and attracts crowds of returning swimmers each year.
Hobart's coldest morning so far this year has not deterred swimmers from stripping off to their birthday suits and making a splash at Long Beach for the annual Dark Mofo Nude Solstice Swim.
The air temperature just before sunrise was 4 degrees Celsius, while the water temperature was 12C.
When the nude swim was first proposed in 2013, Tasmania Police vehemently opposed the event and threatened to arrest for public indecency. (ABC News: Sophie Jaggers)
Swimmers brace to take to the water for the 2026 Nude Solstice Swim. (ABC News: Sophie Jaggers)
The nude swim was held at dawn after the shortest day in 2026. (ABC News: Sophie Jaggers)
The Bureau of Meteorology's Urshla Connor, however, said the apparent temperature was -1C.
"Perfect conditions for the swim," Ms Connor told 936 ABC Hobart.
Tasmanian Margie Clougher, 96, said she had been doing the swim every year.
She said there was "a wonderful feeling of euphoria afterwards".
Margie Clougher, second from left, takes part in the swim each year. (ABC News: Sophie Jaggers)
Jessica Nuel from France said she did the swim for the first time last year and returned again this year.
"It's an amazing experience," Ms Nuel said.
"The adrenaline of it, everyone [has] a big smile and it's a celebration of being all together."
Jessica Nuel, from France, said she did the Nude Solstice Swim for the first time last year and returned again this year. (ABC News: Sophie Jaggers)
The swim is the final event on the two-week Dark Mofo arts festival program.
When it was first proposed in 2013, Tasmania Police were opposed the event and threatened to arrest for public indecency the 200 people who had registered.
The Nude Solstice Swim celebrates the passing of the longest night. (ABC News: Sophie Jaggers)
It was a chilly start to the morning for many. (ABC News: Sophie Jaggers)
Hobart's Dougal McLauchlan said this year's swim was his eighth.
Dougal McLauchlan says it "doesn't take [him] too much to get nude". (ABC News: Sophie Jaggers)
"It was so good, so invigorating," Mr McLauchlan said.
"It doesn't take me too much to get nude but with 3,000 other people it's so much better and the water is just so great.
"And it's a great way to finish the festival — it's been a great two weeks. It's such a magnificent time here."
The Nude Solstice Swim marks the end of the annual Dark Mofo festival. (ABC News: Sophie Jaggers)
The Nude Solstice Swim marks the end of the annual Dark Mofo festival. (ABC News: Sophie Jaggers)
The 3,000 ticket allocation was exhausted quickly. (ABC News: Sophie Jaggers)
Eight years ago, Pauline Askin and three of her friends made the trip to Hobart from Sydney for the swim.
Ms Askin said the swim was now a pilgrimage for the four women, who have returned each year since.
"Because we're familiar with it now it's the most natural thing in the world to drop [the towel] and run [into the water] with everybody," she said.
"And just the buzz — you feel electric."
Pauline Askin, a lady in a towel with three other ladies. (ABC News: Sophie Jaggers)
Organisers said 3,000 people registered for the swim.
For Sydney couple David Thorburn and Kurt Brinschwitz this year's swim was their first.
Sydney couple Kurt Brinschwitz (left) and David Thorburn swam at the 2026 Dark Mofo Nude Solstice Swim. (ABC News: Sophie Jaggers)
"My hubby, he's been wanting to do this for a long time and last year we were watching it on TV and he said, 'I'd like to go', so here we are," Mr Thorburn said.
"I was very apprehensive about it … but it was great, very exciting."
The Nude Solstice Swim marks the end of the annual Dark Mofo festival. (ABC News: Sophie Jaggers)
Mr Brinschwitz said the swim was "very liberating".
"It was warmer than I was expecting actually. It was actually quite pleasant once you get over the initial shock," he said.
"It just felt like a real sense of community, just a real nice shared experience."
A group of swimmers from Queensland who arrived dressed as frogs said they had been coming for a few years.
A group from Queensland, dressed as frogs, come annually to the event. (ABC News: Jessica Moran)
Their tips for first timers were:
"Be brave, just embrace it. Drink schnapps. Drink schnapps beforehand and after,"they said.
The Nude Solstice Swim marks the end of the festival program for another year. (ABC News: Michael Della-Fontana)
