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.
The water temperature in Hobart’s River Derwent was a frosty 12 degrees Celsius. (ABC News: Sophie Jaggers)
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)
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”.
The Nude Solstice Swim marks the end of the annual Dark Mofo festival. (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.”
Three thousand swimmers registered to take part in the event. (ABC News: Sophie Jaggers)
The swim is the final event on the two-week Dark Mofo arts festival program.
Organisers said 3,000 people registered for the swim.
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.