South Island

27-year-old Barry Devonport was the first person to successfully swim across the Cook Strait when he crossed from North Island to South Island on 20 November 1962 in 11 hours 20 minutes

The South Island or Te Waipounamu is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean.

As it has a 33% larger landmass than the North Island, it is often known as the "mainland", however only 23% of New Zealand's 4.5 million inhabitants live in the South Island.

Open Water Swimming

• Barry Devonport was the first person to swim across the Cook Strait when he crossed from North Island to South Island on 20 November 1962 in 11 hours 20 minutes.
• Several dozens of channel swimmers have since successfully crossed between North Island and South Island, many under the guidance of Philip Rush.
• In February 2020, Rob Hutchings swam 256 km along the length of the Clutha River from the outlet at Lake Wanaka in the Southern Alps to the mouth at the Pacific Ocean, escorted by Sam Blummers and Laura Tomson over the course of 4.5 days.

Swimming across the Cook Strait

Mark Sowerby and Joanne Norman swimming across the 23 km Cook Strait between North Island and South Island in New Zealand under the escort of pilot Grant Orchard in 8 hours 3 minutes on 31 January 2024. Videography by Jeff Tseng.

Clutha River Adventure

The Clutha River or Mata-Au is the second longest river in New Zealand and the longest in the South Island.

External links

• Andrew Packer, John Curley En Route To The Toughest Thirteen
• The Beauty and Challenges of the Cook Strait - and the Smiles of Success
• Aloha: Caitlin Completes Catalina – Onwards to Oahu
• Andy Donaldson Sets Cook Strait Record In 4 Hours 33 Minutes
• Rob Hutchings to Release Downriver Nomad
• Facing Eddies, Undertows, Rapids With Rob Hutchings
• 10K Under 10°C, Ger Kennedy Joins Cold Water Swimming A-Listers
• Youth Is Served Again And Again And Again – Caitlin O’Reilly Completes NZ Triple Crown
• New Zealand Open Water Swimming Association Kicks Off With Record Swim By Jonathan Ridler
• River Rush: Fun, Fast Freestyle with Rob Hutchings
• Catalina To The Mainland Or Mainland To Catalina?
• World Open Water Swimming Association
• Open Water Swimming
• Quienes Sueñan y Construyen, The Life Of Antonio Argüelles