1 event in Melbourne, Victoria

Sunday 1st March 2026

The date is set for the this season's WOW at the iconic Williamstown Beach.

1.2km | 2.5km | 5km SWIMS

Unfortunately, we are unable to run the 10km swim this year :-(

The Williamstown Open Water Swim– The "WOW” is for everyone – champions, weekend warriors, kids, fast, slow, young and old!

All swimmers are in the [DEL: running :DEL] swimming to win a $600 2XU VOUCHER.

The WOW is swum at Williamstown Beach on our 1.2km and 2.5km courses. This year on the 2.5km course we have a beach start and you will swim in an anti-clockwise direction. Your first turn will take you around the Rock Groyne and over The Crystal Pool (aka "The Crystals"), a much loved local diving and snorkelling site. A left turn close to the boat harbour takes you out into deeper water and after another left turn, you’ll head East onto the legendary WOW Back Straight. With a final left turn, swimmers head back to the beach area, to your well-deserved feeding station or finish arch on the sand.

Event Details

1.2km from 8:30 am Order: Male, Female, Junior; Mass starts

5km from 9:00 am Mixed Gender, all age groups; Rolling starts

2.5km from 10:00 am Mixed Gender, all age groups; Rolling starts

NB. Weather conditions may see the course reversed back into a clockwise direction. We want you to have any wind behind you on the back straight.

Please scroll to the bottom of this page for our Suspension & Cancellation Policy

The event is conducted by the historic Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club. Swimmers of all ages and abilities have the opportunity to choose from a range of swim distances.

The WOW is a highly anticipated Great Victorian Swim Series event has proudly raised funds for not-for-profit organisations each year.

Swimmers who registered before midnight 31st January 2026 could receive a complimentary event t-shirt.

All swimmers may choose to swim in a wetsuit.

No additional buoyancy aids such as pull buoys, hand paddles or fins are permitted.