Pier to Pine Ocean Swim

The Pier to Pine Ocean Swim features four primary distances—200m, 600m, 1.2km, and 2.5km—held annually each January in the Norfolk Island territory. Participants swim within the sheltered confines of Emily Bay and Slaughter Bay, utilizing the natural protection provided by the surrounding reef. The event schedule for the next edition is set for January 16, 2027, with online registration closing on January 15 at 3:00 pm. The courses are designed to accommodate varying skill levels, ranging from a 200m youth-oriented loop around a raft to the signature 1.2km 'Pier to Pine' out-and-back route.

The Island setting

Swimming here means navigating the distinct natural geology of the Kingston precinct. The primary feature for swimmers is the 'channel', a narrow, sandy corridor that cuts through the reef, allowing passage between the bays. As you swim through this passage, you are directly adjacent to the historic ruins of the colonial penal settlement, providing a visual connection to the island's 19th-century history. The water remains protected from open-ocean swells by the reef, creating conditions that are notably consistent throughout the morning of the event. The environment is defined by the juxtaposition of these limestone remnants against the backdrop of the island’s endemic Araucaria heterophylla, or Norfolk Pines, which line the coast and serve as the navigational markers for the event’s namesake course.