The Big Swim isn’t just one of the most scenic and satisfying swims in the country; it’s one of the most storied. Now in its sixth decade, this iconic journey swim from Palm Beach to Whale Beach has become a summer ritual for ocean swimmers from across Australia and beyond.

First held in 1974, the swim began as a way to bring together two surf clubs and test the skills of a new generation of ocean lovers. Over the years, it’s grown into a rite of passage. There are tales of chaos in the early years, swimsuits filled with seaweed, course markers drifting off in the swell, and the Prime Minister who didn’t swim, but the spirit has always been the same: adventure, challenge, and community.

The 2.8km course delivers everything you could want in a classic point-to-point swim: crystal-clear water, rocky headlands, rolling ocean swell, and that unbeatable feeling of gliding into Whale Beach with the current at your back.

Not quite ready for the full journey? The 1km Little Big Swim is a great intro, held at Palm Beach and perfect for kids or first-time ocean swimmers.

Whichever swim you choose, the finish line delivers that warm, salty buzz only a true ocean swim can give, plus the chance to soak it all up with fellow swimmers who know they’ve just been part of something special.