The waters off Wedding Cake Island are a swimmer’s sanctuary. On an ideal calm morning, clarity around the Island can provide a sensory overload, with hours to be spent exploring an abundance of sea life and rock formations.
The Coogee Island Challenge (spring edition) is the first ‘cut of the cake' for swimmers looking to take on this epic island journey swim, with its autumn equivalent having been held in April.
The event offers three ocean swim distances, an 800m Junior Dash and a 1km course in the relative safety of the bay, and the 2.4km main event, the later two distances for swimmers aged 13 years and over.
Coogee Bay is protected by headlands to the south and north and also by Wedding Cake Island that sits offshore. Conditions are fairly calm; Coogee is not known for currents, rips or difficult surf.
This swim is the perfect opportunity to circumnavigate Wedding Cake Island, a little rock reef sitting offshore from Coogee Beach in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, and end the ocean swimming season in style.
The event offers three ocean swim distances: an 800m Junior Dash and a 1km course in the relative safety of the bay, and the 2.4km main event, the later two distances for swimmers aged 13 years and over.
On arrival to Coogee Beach, make your way to the registration tables located on the sand in the centre of the beach. They open from 7:30am and this is where you will collect your swim cap and timing chip. We recommend you collect your registration at least 30mins before the start of your swim.
Great perspective from behind the island of Coogee Beach
Not far now!
Getting into the rhythm now
Wylie's Baths now on your left
Swimming around the back of the island
Looking for event information and answers to some of our most commonly asked questions?
Start waves will begin with the Elite entrants followed by age groups from U20 and up so please listen out for announcements.
Click here for the latest local weather and water conditions.
Coogee SLSC reserves the right to cancel the event due to dangerous conditions, poor water quality, and/or force majeure. Please note there will be no refunds or rollovers to a future date.
Professional photographers are at each event to capture those competing on the day which can be viewed online and downloaded.
Prizes are awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed swimmers along with teams of 4 for each of the 3 swim events. *Prizes must be collected on the day - no post-swim deliveries.
Registration desks open from 7:30am and each swim start time is listed above under the heading The Course'. Start waves will begin with the Elite entrants followed by age groups. *We recommend you collect your registration at least 30mins before the start of your swim.
Prize presentations will take place at the Coogee Surf Life Saving Club at the southern end of the beach and commencing from 12 midday. *Prizes must be collected on the day - no post-swim deliveries. Results can be found here.
When the water temperature is below 16.8 degrees, wetsuits are optional. If the water temperature drops below 14.8 degrees, wetsuits are compulsory.
If you wish to swim with a wetsuit and/or fins, you must start in the last wave, following all other age groups. Pull buoys and paddles are not allowed. *Note that you will not be eligible for any prize awards.
Coogee’s parking is limited and has pay by the hour meters so we recommend using public transport if at all possible.
Our events are fully staffed by qualified surf lifesavers, first aid officers and extensive water safety both on the sand and in the water.
Yes, late entries will remain open until just before the start of each event unless we reach capacity numbers. Please note there are no entry refunds.
Teams of 4 or more, male or female, can register in any of the 3 events subject to age qualifications for each of those events. *Team registrations close at midday the day before the event.
There are only limited lockers available at the amenities block next to the lifeguards which are provided by Randwick City Council.
Live event results are available as soon as each event is underway. To find your results, just follow the links below. In addition. we may have professional photographers on the day and we will post photos of participants online and download via the links below.
As a charity and volunteer organisation, it would not be possible to run major events like the Coogee Island Challenge without the incredible support of our sponsors. We are grateful to the following sponsors:
Delfina Sport is Australia’s leading custom aquatics partner, specialising in sustainable, durable, and stylish swimwear and apparel.
Coogee SLSC and Delfina Sport have joined forces to create a fully branded range of Coogee Island Challenge swimwear manufactured from 80% recycled plastic bottles and are all made to order, meaning there is zero wastage.
Randwick City Council are major supporters of our local non-profit community clubs such as Coogee Surf Life Saving Club. As the club runs major community events throughout the year, we support their events through grants, marketing, infrastructure and logistics.
Our goal is to create a space to REINVENT and DISRUPT the normcore of your health and wellbeing of all our members.
Chish'n Fips has been longtime supporters of Coogee Surf Life Saving Club. Our involvement and support covers not just the Coogee Island Challenge but all club major events.
