Welcome to our swim offerings on Saturday and Sunday mornings at Lake Tahi/Roto Kohatu Reserve, Sawyers Arms Road.

Here’s an uncomfortable truth: if you’ve never swum in open water, you’re not yet fully swim competent. A pool is where you learn technique and build fitness – but open water is where you learn to cope with different water temperatures, conditions, currents, and the disorientation of not being able to see the bottom or the wall. It’s the only way to build genuine water competency and it’s also the best way to develop specific skills for your triathlon or open water swim.  You also get a serious boost of health and wellness you simply won’t find in a chlorinated pool. A little practice in open water goes a long way — building your confidence and safety fast, while letting you enjoy swimming the way it was meant to be experienced: out in nature.

We realise there are many barriers to gaining open water experience, therefore we have decided to do our absolute best to ensure you have the opportunity to gain varied experience this summer with a comprehensive water skills program that covers the key outcomes for open water swimming:

SOCILAISATION and COMMUNITY – CONNECTION WITH NATURE – HEALTH AND WELLNESS – WATER CONFIDENCE – FITNESS AND PERFORMANCE.

Our Lake Tahi program for this summer runs 01 November 2026 through to 14 February 2027. Check the swim activity available and date carefully in the below table.

If you feel you would benefit from some 1:1 guidance before joining the Lake Tahi program we offer lessons in the pool at The RealSwim Centre, or at Waltham Pool. Plus we offer open water private 1:1 lessons at Lake Rua. If you would like an open water 1:1 please email: info@fitandabel.com. You should be able to swim 1000m continuously in a pool before heading into to the open water.

To learn more about each activity, scroll down.

Coached Open Water Group; 0700 – 0800

This one-hour coached group in the open water provides swimmers a safe setting in which to take their swimming from the pool to an open water environment to support their swimming development, water safety and environmental skills, water confidence, and swimming progression for open water swimming events.

This squad is for swimmers;
* transitioning from the pool to open water
* keen to develop their open water skills
* who enjoying training in a supportive group environment.

Group size limited to 20 swimmers. Bookings are essential.

Pricing options;
Upfront four month pass, access to all Lake Tahi activities: $300 ($15 per session if you attend all 20 available sessions this summer)
10 pass applicable to all Lake Tahi activities: $220 ($22 per session)
One off pass: $25 per session

Lake Swimming; 0630 – 0830

If you are ready for the open water, we welcome you to join us for our lake swimming mornings this summer, a truly unique offering here in NZ. You can start swimming anytime between 0630 and 0830. All swimmers must be out of the water by 0830.

We assess you on your first swim and can answer questions about the swim and the set course we use. Then swim for as long or as little as you like during the swim period outlined above, while meeting like-minded people in a wonderful open water environment.

These sessions aren’t competitive nor timed, they are for you to experience the water at your own pace in your own time. We setup, manage and provide safety for two courses on the lake; a 400m loop and a 900m loop, allowing you to choose your preferred distance, progress at your own pace and add variety to your training. It is compulsory to wear a tow float for the Lake Swimming sessions. 

You’ll need to build some fitness and skills in a pool first. The best measure is being able to comfortably swim 1000m in a pool and practice your sighting and floating/treading water. If you need help with these skills, please ask us; info@fitandabel.com.

Pricing options;
Upfront four month pass, access to all Lake Tahi Coached Group and Lake Swimming sessions: $300 ($15 per session if you attend all 20 available sessions, or $20 per session if you attend 15 of the 20 available sessions this summer)
10 pass applicable to all Lake Tahi activities: $220 ($22 per session)
One off pass: $25 per session

IMPORTANT DETAILS

• Last entry into the water for Lake Swimming is 0800, and last lap start is 0815. All swimmers must be out of the water by 0830.
• Swimmers must pre-register online or at the lake.
• When booking online for Lake Swimming purchase the “Lake Tahi 1 Swim Pass”, “Lake Tahi 10 Swim Pass” or “Lake Tahi Summer Pass” then register for the session/s you want to attend. Once purchased, the swim pass is valid for the 2026/2027 season only.
• When you arrive on the day, before entering the water, you must sign in with a staff member, and then on exiting the water you must sign out.
• There are some Saturdays and Sundays throughout summer that Lake Tahi activities aren’t operating due to other events, please check the dates above carefully.
• There will be no lake sessions over the Christmas/New Year period
• Minimum ability for Lake Fitness swimming is 1000m continuous in the pool. This is to ensure you feel comfortable whilst in the open water. If you are not yet at this level we recommend attending our Waltham Pool coached groups or having a private lesson with Dan or Chloe. We can support your development and help you build to a capable open water level.
• Parking is available next to the lake. The access gate will be open from 0600. Access is off Sawyers Arms Road, please look for the entranceway you see in the photo, it is past the main stone entrance into the reserve.

CONDITIONS OF SWIMMING

• The Lake is only open for swimming when FitandAbel are present and running one of the above activities. Please be aware of these times and ensure you adhere to them. No swimming outside of the set times, it jeopardises the access of all open water swimmers to the Lake.
• You must either register and pay online, or register online and pay on the day, before getting in the water.
• Swimming routes and procedures must be adhered to at all times please
• All swimmers must wear a bright cap: Orange, Pink or Yellow
• The Lake Swimming long course is approximately 900m in length for one lap, and the short course is approximately 400m in length for one lap.
• The Lake Swimming route is anti-clockwise, it runs directly between the four Fit&Abel/RealSwim buoys.
• Minimum age for Lake Swimming is 13 years on the day. Please contact us (info@fitandabel.com) if you have a younger child who is keen to swim.
• All other buoys are permanent fixtures in the lake and should be used as secondary navigation aids only.
• All swimmers must sign out of the water at the completion of their swim.
• Nervous swimmers/first-timers are encouraged to speak with staff before their swim.
• Swim Safety is provided. It is an additional safety layer but not a guarantee of your safety.
• You should be fit and comfortable before undertaking these swim activities at the lake. We also encourage you to swim with a buddy, any time you swim in the open water. If you require assistance roll onto your back and raise one arm in the air. Stay calm.
• Staff instructions should be obeyed at all times for your safety and for the safety of other swimmers.

For any inquiries about our Lake Tahi swimming activities, please email: info@fitandabel.com

A big thank you to the Canterbury Jet Sport Club and the ECAN Harbour Office for enabling this fantastic sharing of open water space.