Wild scenes as thousands strip off for icy nude swim at end of Dark Mofo

Thousands of naked bodies surged into icy Tasmanian waters at sunrise to close Australia’s most daring winter festival.

At sunrise on the shortest day of the year, thousands of naked bodies surged into Hobart’s icy River Derwent, baring all to farewell one of Australia’s most daring festivals.

The annual Nude Solstice Swim marked the end of Dark Mofo 2025, with 3,000 people shedding their clothes for the final “cleansing” ritual.

When the swim was first proposed in 2013, police threatened to arrest participants, sparking controversy around the provocative event.

Since then, it has become an officially sanctioned and wildly popular highlight of the festival, selling out every year as thousands embrace the daring winter tradition.

The infamous ritual has become a beloved part of the festival. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones/ NewsWire

Thousands ditched their clothes and towels by the water. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones/ NewsWire

Wrapped in towels and donning matching red swim caps, swimmers gathered in the dark before sprinting into the water to the sound of drums as the first rays of daylight hit the horizon on Saturday morning.

With the mercury dropping to 10 degrees at 7.42am, many only dipped in briefly, but dozens lingered on the pontoon taking in the sunrise over the hill.

After a cancelled 2024 festival, Dark Mofo Artistic Director Chris Twite said organisers had worked hard to rebuild the provocative event.

“This morning, after two years of hard work, it was tremendous to see 3,000 courageous souls gathered once more on the shore of the Derwent to brave the freezing waters for the Nude Solstice Swim to cleanse us and bring this year’s Dark Mofo to a close,” he said.

“The response in 2025 has been incredible. The streets of Hobart have come alive with locals and visitors celebrating winter and Dark Mofo again.”

Organisers describe the event as a “cleansing” and a final embrace of the winter darkness. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones/ NewsWire

Swimmers take to the water at sunrise on the shortest day of the year. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones/ NewsWire

The 2025 program was the first full-scale edition of the festival since the pandemic and drew massive crowds, with more than 480,000 entries and $4.6 million generated at the box office.

Dark Mofo’s Executive Director Melissa Edwards praised the overwhelming support behind the festival’s return.

“We could not be more thankful for the ways that everyone has come together to return Dark Mofo to Tasmania this year,” she said.

Originally published as Wild scenes as thousands strip off for icy nude swim at end of Dark Mofo