Hundreds get naked for Hobart dip

More than 750 brave swimmers have waded into Hobart's chilly Derwent River for a nude solstice swim.

Participants take the plunge at the Dark MOFO festival?s winter solstice swim in Hobart. More than 500 have braved the River Derwent at Long Beach at dawn to embrace the midwinter. June 22, 2014. (AAP Image/David Beniuk)

Participants take the plunge at the Dark MOFO festival?s winter solstice swim in Hobart. (AAP Image/David Beniuk) Source: AAP

Some people will do anything for the chance to get their kit off and in Hobart 752 of them braved icy waters to be part of a nude solstice swim.

About 400 others who had registered, failed to show up for Monday's event organised by the Museum of Old and New Art as part of its winter festival, Dark Mofo.

With the air temperature hovering at about two degrees Celsius that's hardly surprising.

But it didn't kill the vibe as people of all ages, shapes and sizes dropped their towels to be at one with nature and embrace the 11 degree Celsius "awakening" of the Derwent River at sunrise.

"It's a good chance to get naked," Launceston man Ben Coxen, 35, told AAP after taking a dip.

"It's great to be able to see the snow on the mountain, get the clothes off and get wet."

Wearing red caps, which read "crack of dawn", there were plenty of gasps and screams as the swimmers entered the calm waters just after low tide.

Some barely got to waist height while others took the full plunge and swam to a line of markers about 50 metres off shore.


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Source: AAP


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