Winter dip in Lake Wakatipu

What a way to celebrate the Winter Solstice! Around 30 people braved the chilly waters of Lake Wakatipu on Saturday morning for the Southern Lakes Swimming Club's Winter Solstice dip.

The water temperature was about 8°C. It was slightly warmer in Lake Hayes, where about another dozen took a dip too.

SLS founding member Lucas Fornes says the Lake Wakatipu event began about 10 years ago with just a few hardy souls but is becoming more popular each year.

"Cold water swimming is something that's growing in popularity all the time because there are heaps of benefits - you feel better, like you have more energy," Fornes says.

"We have about 100 people in the club now, mainly the big numbers through the summer months though, because with Lake Wakatipu and the other lakes, it's just amazing to swim here."

Several club members swam over 1km, and quite a few without wetsuits, on the day. Swim club members are training for the National Ice Swimming Championships held in Alexandra in July, where the water must be under 5 degrees and only togs and one swim cap can be worn.

Other people just turned out for a refreshing splash near the shore.

Queenstowners Soledad Torres, Camila Palominos, Carla Alarcon, all originally from Chile, took part for the second year on the run.

"It was so good," Alarcon says. "We want to join the club. I swim, but only inside, so I will have to do a course because swimming outside is not the same, and I want to be prepared."

"I only slept three hours last night but now I am fully awake," Palominos says, "like I had slept eight hours. It was amazing."

Timaru policeman Dave Hinds usually does the Winter Solstice dip in the Caroline Bay but happened to be in Queenstown this year.

"It's fresh, definitely colder than the sea. Ice cream head. It certainly makes you feel alive!"

SLS runs events throughout the year - details on Facebook.