Beach 2 Beach Swim

The water here in Storm Bay feels deep and untamed, with the rhythmic sway of kelp forests brushing against you as you navigate the stretch between Blackmans Bay and Kingston Beach. As you sight forward, the coastline reveals the Alum Cliffs, a striking 3.5-kilometre formation of Permian mudstone that rises up to 30 metres above the waterline. This geology defines your path; you are swimming alongside walls of earth that have stood long before the area became a destination for coastal passage. Near the northern end of Blackmans Bay, you might pass the local blowhole, a natural rock arch eroded by the relentless swell—a feature said to have been discovered by a local resident searching for his lost dog at the water's edge.

Under the surface, the environment is defined by the proximity to the Browns Rivulet estuary, which carries the flow from Mount Wellington out into these cooler, southern waters. The perspective from the water is vast, offering clear sightlines toward the South Arm and the distant, rolling profile of Bruny Island. The Beach 2 Beach Swim, organized by the Kingston Beach SLSC, offers a 2600m point-to-point course that tests your ability to read these conditions. For those tackling the 5000m event, the challenge doubles, adding an extra 2.4km loop along the shoreline of Kingston Beach after the initial crossing.

This event is a core fixture for the local community, which has deep roots stretching back to the 1850s when the area was known as Browns River Beach. While the currents and temperatures can fluctuate, the race is carefully managed by local lifesavers to ensure a safe passage along this rugged Tasmanian fringe. Whether you are aiming for the full 5km or the classic 2600m distance, the swim remains a raw, authentic experience on the Tasmanian coast, held annually in April. It is a distinct change of pace from the Derwent River Big Swim held earlier in the year, trading the river estuary for the open, geological grandeur of the southern cliffs.