Freshwater Swim Fest to Host 2027 Open Water Championships
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Competition Update – Date & Location Released for 2027 National Open Water Championships
Swimming New Zealand is proud to be partnering with Freshwater Swim Fest – a brand-new open water swimming festival launching at Pupukemoana (Lake Pupuke), Auckland, on 13–14 February 2027. For the first time, the NZ Open Water Swimming Championships and NZ Secondary Schools Open Water Swimming Championships will be held together, at the same event, on the same weekend, and we'd love to see our members make the most of it.
A new national swim festival launches at Pupukemoana
Mark your calendar: 13–14 February 2027, Sylvan Park, Lake Pupuke, Auckland.
Freshwater Swim Fest is a brand new two-day open water swimming festival, set to become New Zealand's largest swimming event from year one. From national champions to first-timers, it's built for every kind of swimmer.
With distances from 250m to 10km – including the NZ Open Water and Secondary Schools Championships, a 4 x 500m relay, and even the NZ Doggy Swimming Championships, there's a swim for every level, from age-group swimmers and club athletes through to first-timers and family members keen to get in the water. Your next swim challenge starts here.
Hosting two national championships for the first time, together
For the first time, the NZ Open Water Swimming Championships and the NZ Secondary Schools Open Water Swimming Championships will be held at the same event, on the same weekend.
NZ Open Water Swimming Championships distances: 2.5km, 5km, 7.5km, 10km
NZ Secondary Schools Open Water Swimming Championships distances: 1km, 2.5km
Swimmers can compete across both championships within the same distance, bringing together New Zealand's best open water talent - age group, school, and elite, in one place.
To be eligible to compete in championship events, swimmers must be a registered member of Swimming New Zealand on the weekend of the event (13-14 February 2027).
$6,000 in cash prizes
The 2.5km swim is open to everyone, and with $6,000 in cash prizes up for grabs ($1,500 / $1,000 / $500 for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd male and female) it's shaping up to be one of the most exciting open water races New Zealand has seen.
Swimming alongside you
Olympian Lewis Clareburt, media personality Wendy Petrie, All Black legend Ian Jones, and master swim coach and NZ swimming representative Laura Quilter have all joined Freshwater Swim Fest as ambassadors, and will be at the lake with us across the full festival weekend.
The summer event you won't want to miss
Choose your distance. Find your challenge. Freshwater Swim Fest is more than a race weekend, it's a celebration of swimming, community, and summer at its best.
Live music, food trucks, a garden bar, family zones, MC and race commentary. Freshwater Swim Fest brings festival energy to Pupukemoana all weekend long. Swim your distance, then stay to celebrate with the wider swimming community.
Super early bird entries are open – register before 30 September
Lock in the best price and go in the draw to win an epic swimmers prize pack valued at over $2,500 including a blueseventy Helix wetsuit, blueseventy thermal accessories, Arena Racing Swimsuit, and Arena open water goggles.
Spots are limited.
Head to freshwaterswimfest.com to explore distances, check out the festival lineup, and find out everything you need to know.
Swimming NZ Competitions Manager, Kate Griffiths, is excited about what this new open water swimming festival means for the swimming community.
"We're incredibly excited to unveil the 2027 New Zealand Open Water Swimming Championships and Secondary School Open Water Championships in a brand-new location. While we are sad to say farewell to Lake Taupō, this move and partnership with Freshwater Swim Fest gives us the opportunity to reimagine the event experience and create a true festival atmosphere – one that offers exciting racing, a vibrant event village, and something for the whole family to enjoy. We can't wait to welcome swimmers, schools, supporters and the wider community for what we believe will be one of the most memorable New Zealand Open Water Championships yet."
Griffiths paid tribute to the Freshwater Swim Fest team.
"All of us at Swimming New Zealand are delighted to be teaming up with Scott, Eelco and the team at Freshwater Swim Fest to deliver this competition. It's been a huge collective effort behind the scenes to get this off the ground, and we can't wait to be part of the festival in February 2027!"
2027 Freshwater Swim Fest
13–14 February 2027
Lake Pupuke (Pupukemoana), Auckland
The festival will include the following national championships:
2027 NZ Open Water Swimming Championships
2026 NZ Secondary School Open Water Swimming Championships
*Please note the competition information for the Championships will be released in the coming months and available from SNZ's open water calendar
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