Dark Mofo concludes with record-breaking solstice swim in Hobart
Three thousand registrations mark the end of Tasmania’s winter festival as swimmers brave 3.2C air temperatures.
The Dark Mofo festival in Hobart, Tasmania, has concluded with its traditional annual nude winter solstice swim at Long Beach. Held at dawn on the shortest day of the year, the event serves as the ceremonial end to the winter arts festival, which officially began on 11 June.
Participants braved challenging conditions as the Hobart Central Business District recorded an air temperature of 3.2C a few minutes before dawn. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, this marked the city’s coldest morning of the year so far. The water temperature was recorded at approximately 12C, offering a marginally warmer environment for the swimmers.
The scale of the event has grown significantly since its inception. The first nude swim was held in 2013 with a few hundred participants taking the plunge. Last year, the event saw a record 3,000 people join the annual naked winter solstice swim. For this year’s conclusion, the ABC reported that 3,000 people had registered for the event, indicating sustained interest in the cultural tradition.
Swimmers were photographed preparing for the plunge and warming up afterwards, capturing the communal spirit of the occasion. The event draws crowds to Long Beach in Hobart’s south, where the ritual has become a staple of the local cultural calendar.
The swim marks the final act of Dark Mofo, a festival that has established itself as a significant winter cultural event in Tasmania. The combination of extreme cold and communal participation continues to define the character of this annual solstice celebration.
