More than 3,000 people registered for the annual nude winter solstice swim at Long Beach in Hobart on Sunday, marking the end of Tasmania's Dark Mofo festival. The event, held at dawn after the shortest day of the year, saw participants braving air temperatures of 3.2C, the coldest morning recorded in Hobart so far this year, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. The water was slightly warmer at approximately 12C.
Record Participation and Festival Conclusion
The swim, which began in 2013 with a few hundred participants, has grown significantly. This year, the ABC reported that 3,000 people had registered for the event, matching last year's record attendance. The plunge marked the conclusion of the Dark Mofo festival, which started on 11 June.
Participants Brave the Cold
Photographs captured swimmers preparing for the event, taking the plunge, and warming up afterward. The Hobart CBD recorded its lowest temperature of the year just minutes before dawn, making the conditions particularly challenging for participants.
Event History and Significance
The nude solstice swim has become a hallmark of the Dark Mofo festival, drawing both locals and visitors. The first swim in 2013 attracted only a few hundred people, but the event has since become a symbol of the festival's embrace of winter and darkness.
