I will be visiting the South Island of New Zealand for two weeks in December!! (incrediably jazzed!) and I looking for places to swim. Either a pool, or even better, some open water suggestions? My route it going to take me around the Island: Christchurch/Blenheim/Picton/Nelson/Lake Brunner/Franz Joseph/Queenstown/Milford Sound/Lake Tekapo, and back to Christchurch. Should I bring a wetsuit for open water swimming? What’s water temps around Christmas?
Many Thanks!
Sydney Harbor is fantastic.
Should I bring a wetsuit for open water swimming?
Many Thanks!
Nah you’ll be right - leave the wettie at home.
I will be visiting the South Island of New Zealand for two weeks in December!! (incrediably jazzed!) and I looking for places to swim. Either a pool, or even better, some open water suggestions? My route it going to take me around the Island: Christchurch/Blenheim/Picton/Nelson/Lake Brunner/Franz Joseph/Queenstown/Milford Sound/Lake Tekapo, and back to Christchurch. Should I bring a wetsuit for open water swimming? What’s water temps around Christmas?
Many Thanks!
Open water temps will be cold that time of year, but with a wetsuit you will be fine. Lake Wakatipu (Queenstown) will be about 6-8 deg C and Wanaka will be a couple of degrees higher maybe. It has been a cold spring down there, with recent snow down that way, so meltwater will still be entering lakes and rivers. Up by Nelson it will be say 5-6 deg C warmer water than in the South. Plus Nelson has good open water ocean swim beaches. On the West Coast (Nelson to Franz Joseph) I don’t think there are any swimming pools and the ocean is not realistic unless you are tough, and a good swimmer. I’m not even sure if Queenstown has a public pool. After the earthquake, I’m not sure how many pools are open in Christchurch, but suspect at least one would be.
The big thing about open water swimming in the South Island is “Didymo” it’s nickname of “rock-snot” describes it pretty well. It clogs rivers and streams and stops bird, fishlife and such from breeding etc. Chances are you won’t see much or any of it in lakes (swimming in south island rivers is probably not wise. They are generally either deep and deceptively fast moving, or shallow braided type rivers that are fast flowing and too shallow to swim in.)
The big thing is to wash your wetsuit after each swim. Simple dish soap and water is enough to kill any bugs on your suit., then rinse in fresh water from say a shower in your hotel. Then dry fully inside and out. We want them all killed, so you don’t inadvertantly transfer eggs from a contaminated lake or river to an uncontaminated one. Do a google search on DOC (Department of Conservation). They give out free sachets of detergent and even spray bottles to kill the didymo. If you are flying into Christchurch I’m sure there will be a place in the city where you can pick it up free and if you ask nicely, they may even send it to your hotel!
At many races here DOC will have wheelie bins of soapy water to dunk your wetsuit in before and after races, just to be sure. They hand out the soap sachets and spray bottles (one sachet per bottle) like they are going out of business.
As noted, Wanaka is noticeably warmer than Wakatipu (Queenstown), but they’re both cold. There’s a great public pool in Queenstown (Frankton, actually, but same thing). Tekapo is warm enough to swim in, but still cold. Have fun!
Rather than lug a wet suit all the way, why not just rent one here in NZ? http://www.swimt3.co.nz/wetsuithire/index/national/reg/national/
I’d reccomend a suit for open water in the south island pretty much year round, the sea isn’t warm & the inland lakes are snow / glacier melt feed.
If you’re around Christchurch on the 11th December you could even sneak in a cheeky race http://www.triathlonfestival.co.nz/
Good point on the rocksnot prevention.
Gotta keep Didymo Dave on your good side.
for Christchurch : QE II (Queen Elizabeth) sport park pool … its the old commonwealth games complex and many triathletes have swum there,
the beach there is great for swimming, though sometimes you need to wear hood, gloves and booties
Jellie park for Christchurch swimming. QEII is closed.
BTW when you’re in NZ you’ll have to change your screen name to onyurright 
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WOOO HOOOO!!! Thanks for all the advice guys! Especially on the didymo! I prefer to keep my life free of invasive organisms
I don’t suppose you would also have recommendations on mountain biking in Queenstown? I am going to ride the Queen Charlotte Track, but want to do some more fun technical stuff in Queenstown.
you guys rock