Thousands of punters stripped down to nothing but red swimming caps before braving an early morning dip in Tasmania’s icy cold waters for the winter solstice swim on Friday morning.
More than 1500 people headed down to Long Beach in Tasmania’s Sandy Bay – quickly stripping down in temperatures of just seven degrees.
The winter solstice swim is held annually by the Museum of Old and New Arts (MONA) as part of the festival of the bizarre also known as Dark Mofo.
The festival’s organisers aim to challenge the public’s perception of art through a series of events and exhibitions – including a public art playground at Dark Park – running from June 15-24 in Hobart.
More than 1500 people (pictured) stripped down to just their red swimming caps before braving an early morning dip in Tasmania’s Sandy Bay for the winter solstice swim
Nude punters (pictured) quickly stripped down in temperatures of seven degrees at Tasmania’s Sandy Bay on Friday morning
Creative producer Megan Starr-Thomas took part in the annual solstice dip in Hobart saying she is still ‘defrosting’ after swimming in water temperatures as low as 14 degrees.
You literally feel every part of your body recondition itself in preparation for that first step into the water.
Megan told Daily Mail Australia about the adrenaline-rushing experience swimming that she shared with more than 1500 others.
‘The rush of adrenaline you feel when you are standing on the beach waiting is unbelievable.
‘You literally feel every part of your body recondition itself in preparation for that first step into the water. It is all a mental game… You see everyone staring out into the water, almost in a mediation-like state.’
Friday morning’s swim was not the first time she took the plunge in Tasmania’s winter waters.
She told Daily Mail Australia that she also swam in 2016’s Winter solstice event and has been attending Mofo for the past four years.
Megan referred to the experience as a sort of ‘cleansing’.
Megan Starr Thomas (pictured) swam in the solstice dip in Hobart on Friday morning. Megan told Daily Mail Australia she is still defrosting from the swim where she swam in water temperatures as low as 14 degrees
Thousands braved an early morning swim in Tasmania’s icy cold waters (pictured) for the annual swim – as part of the Museum of Old and New Art’s (MONA) festival of the bizarre also known as Dark Mofo
‘Today’s swim was my second and I felt much more prepared than last time. I get involved because I feel like the experience is a cleansing process.
When the flares go, it’s like being chased by a bull, just run… and remember to breathe
‘A time to contemplate your immortality. A time to forgive, to be forgiven, and to make a fresh start,’ she said.
As a creative producer and curator, Megan understands the importance of art events like the Dark Mofo Festival to challenge the public.
‘As a producer and curator myself, we aim to immerse and disrupt the norm, giving the audience a short break from reality.’
After attending the festival over the last four years, Megan said Dark Mofo has gone above and beyond and she looks forward for what the festival has in store for next year.
‘Being my fourth year at the festival, I have watched the growth and diversity expand every year and I can’t wait to see the bar taken higher next year.’
For punters hoping to join crowds in next year’s nippy dip, Megan shares her secret to the nude swim.
‘My tip is to get to the front of the pack… when the flares go, it’s like being chased by a bull, just run… and remember to breathe,’ she said.
Megan referred to the experience as a sort of ‘cleansing’. ‘Today’s swim was my second and I felt much more prepared than last time. I get involved because I feel like the experience is a cleansing process’
The winter solstice swim was part of the Dark Mofo festival, which aims to challenged the public’s perception of art and performance