O Swim NZ

O Swim NZ Ocean Swims in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Island Swim tours & holidays in Sāmoa, Aitutaki, Tahiti, Bora Bora and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Subsidiary of Sāmoa Events and Swim.Tours

SWIM OF ORIGINS - RA'IĀTEA Swim.ToursAfter two nights in Tahiti, we transferred to Ra'iātea for two nights. This is the ...
07/10/2026

SWIM OF ORIGINS - RA'IĀTEA
Swim.Tours
After two nights in Tahiti, we transferred to Ra'iātea for two nights. This is the homecoming moment of the tour. From here, long before James Cook and the HMS Endeavour, the Tainui and Te Arawa wakas sailed for Aotearoa circa 1100-1200. Other Waka traditions such as the Aotea and Takitimu journeys are linked here. Ra'iātea (Rangiātea) was the centre of Ma'ohi-nui civilsation and the home of the World Heritage site, the sacred Taputapuātea Marae. The marae visit will be a key moment of the tour.

In the meantime, we arrived at our homestay just in time for a magical sunset swim. Our home, with its own jetty sits at the edge of the Uturoa lagoon, sheltered from the turmoil of the prevailing SE wind that is on full show this week. The group was ecstatic at such a setting, this tour keeps getting better.

After the swim, we dined at the amazing Fish & Blue restaurant, set in a magical spot on the waters edge.

SWIM 3 done

06/10/2026

Interview at Matavai Bay
Great to be interviewed by a media pro - thanks Trudi Nelson, voice of The Breeze NZ
Swim 2

05/10/2026

SWIM OF ORIGINS TOUR - Swim 2
Swim.Tours

SWIM OF ORIGINS TOUR - Swim 2 The Swim of Origins tour swim 2 features a marquee 1.6 km swim at Matavai Bay and Point Ve...
05/10/2026

SWIM OF ORIGINS TOUR - Swim 2

The Swim of Origins tour swim 2 features a marquee 1.6 km swim at Matavai Bay and Point Venus, a significant historical site visited by Captain James Cook and the crew of the HMS Bounty. Swimmers navigate a 30-meter drop-off over a black sand seafloor before pausing in the bay for reflection and a traditional karakia. You can read the full swim description at Matavai bay on our dedicated swim holidays page at Swim.Tours

SWIM OF ORIGINS - Swim 1 We took a day trip to Mo'orea and visited Cook's bay (Paopao 'ō'o'a - bay) and 'Ōpunohu bay, th...
04/10/2026

SWIM OF ORIGINS - Swim 1

We took a day trip to Mo'orea and visited Cook's bay (Paopao 'ō'o'a - bay) and 'Ōpunohu bay, the two bays that give Mo'orea its lizard like appearance and name. There are two pieces of James Cook history that involve Mo'orea - 1769 & 1777.

Cook first arrived in Tahiti in 1769 to observe the transit of Venus across the sun. That took place on 1 June, '69 at Point Venus (our swim site tomorrow). Cook also despatched a party of men to a site on Mo'orea in 'Ōpunohu bay to also set up an observation station. That site was at 'Irioa motu, a sandy island facing Le Tipaniers where the first photo is taken. We had lunch here after our first group swim. The wind was high today, and we kept the swim close to shore, a distance of 1.2 km. At lunch, we can see the motu, and reflected on the history of Cooks men who set up station there two and a half centuries ago.

Then, Capt James Cook's only visit to Mo'orea was on his third visit to Tahiti in 1777 on the HMS Resolution. On Sept 30, 1777, the Resolution and supply ship Discovery pulled anchor in 'Ōpunohu bay. Cook then trekked overland to what is now Cooks bay, named in his honour. On this visit, until Oct 11, ship master and surveyor William Bligh surveyed both bays - significant historical records from that era.

These areas a important sites for Swim.Tours.

SWIM OF ORIGINS TOUR (Tahiti, Ra'iātea, Mo'orea, Bora Bora)This is a swim tour with a difference — a journey through the...
03/10/2026

SWIM OF ORIGINS TOUR (Tahiti, Ra'iātea, Mo'orea, Bora Bora)

This is a swim tour with a difference — a journey through the history, culture and waters of Tahiti, Moʻorea, Raʻiātea and Bora Bora.

What makes this tour unique is the extraordinary historical connection between these islands and Aotearoa and, centuries later, Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.

We explore the ancestral voyaging links between East Moana-nui and Aotearoa, including the traditions of the great waka migrations of Tainui, Te Arawa and others. We then follow another remarkable period of Moana-nui history — the encounters of the 18th century, including the story of Tupaia, Captain James Cook and the voyages that would connect Tahiti, Aotearoa and Australia in new ways.

Along the way, we swim some magnificent waters and visit the places where this history unfolded.

A major highlight of the tour is the visit to Taputapuātea Marae. The religious and political centre of Ma'ohi-nui civilisation. The marae is now a protected UNESCO World heritage site.

Follow the tour, stories and visits to these extraordinary historical sites on our dedicated Swim.Tours page.

Photo: Mark Withers - taken at the swim in Matavai Bay in Mahina, the very spot where the HMS Endeavour anchored in 1769 and the point where Tupaia departed Tahiti for good.

SĀMOA EVENTS
Sāmoa Swim Series

Good eating is an important part of the ocean swimming culture around the world. More so after a great swim in the Aitut...
17/09/2026

Good eating is an important part of the ocean swimming culture around the world. More so after a great swim in the Aitutaki lagoon. Thank you 360 Tours Aitutaki for catering so well for us. Meitaki maata. Faafetai tele lava!
SĀMOA EVENTS

16/09/2026

Another great week of ocean swimming in beautiful Aitutaki Swim.Tours
360 Tours Aitutaki
Sāmoa Swim Series

Our favourite part of the Swim.Tours is the people who share a common interest and find their swimming paradise Sāmoa Sw...
16/09/2026

Our favourite part of the Swim.Tours is the people who share a common interest and find their swimming paradise Sāmoa Swim Series 360 Tours Aitutaki SĀMOA EVENTS

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