What drives thousands of Australians to swim nude in winter? Inside the Dark Mofo tradition

Thousands gathered at Hobart’s Long Beach before dawn on 21 June for the annual Nude Solstice Swim. The dip marks the end of Dark Mofo, Tasmania’s winter arts festival.

On the morning of Saturday, under the rising winter sun, nearly 3,000 participants, wearing only red swim caps, rushed naked into the cold Tasmanian waters. Lifeguards from Surf Life Saving Tasmania were on hand, and the water temperature was about 12 °C, a few degrees warmer than the chilly air.

The Nude Solstice Swim began in 2013 as a community ritual triggered by the winter solstice. Initially banned, it now draws around 3,000 eager participants each year.


It caps off Dark Mofo’s Winter Feast, Winter Mass, and other events. The festival is designed to explore extremes, light, darkness, warmth, and exposure, with ritual at its core.

Why People Do It?

For many, the plunge is about liberation, camaraderie, and self‑challenge. Veteran swimmer Ms Knight, 64, said the swim is “liberating and empowering.” She said how the supportive atmosphere lets participants “shed their inhibitions”, their bodies, no matter the shape or age, are accepted equally.

Others spoke of connection and inclusion. Stranger-turned-friends groups, like Brisbane’s Dave Abary, described meeting new people in the past years and returning for the shared experience.

Many residents, such as Alana, called it a “sense of unison” in vulnerability. The mix of euphoria, joy, and shock during the run and swim is cited as a ritual that bonds participants.

This year set a new record for participation, up to 3,000 swimmers. Safety measures include 40 lifeguards, briefing sessions, and on‑site thermal blankets and tea for post-swim warmth.

Dark Mofo, the swim, winter feast, and other events draw hundreds of thousands of visitors. The Nude Swim is the festival’s biggest single ritual moment—a bold communal act in the depths of winter.