Going ahead this weekend, the Tathra event features a series of 600m age swims ahead of the headline 1200m splash for cash. 

All entrants enter the water at the historic Tathra Wharf and navigate around one of two sets of ocean buoys before heading into the beach in front of the Tathra Surf Life Saving Club. 

Name sponsor Brendan Harris of Harris Plumbing said the Wharf to Waves would be a great way to bring people together after the devastating bush fires last year.

“The way people give their time to run it and support it is incredible,” he said. 

“People from all over NSW, Victoria and the ACT are coming to support the place, everyone is doing what they can,” he said. 

With one of the local holiday parks out of action, Mr Harris had some concerns numbers would dip from last year, but a kind weather forecast bodes well for a fantastic turnout. 

Officials said many wait to make their entries with registrations available at the Tathra Surf Club from about 7am on Sunday morning. 

“You get a last minute flurry of entries as everyone likes to make sure of the conditions,” a spokeswoman said. 

Mr Harris said he was going to make particular effort to swim this year, but hoped for mild seas. 

“Fingers crossed for good weather and calm waves – nothing too crazy in the surf,” he said with a laugh.

The early weather forecast looks largely positive. 

Saturday’s 2km fun run and the 30km mountain bike ride, have a 50-50 chance of being met with a bit of rain according to the radar, but clouds are expected to ease by Sunday morning, clearing to a warm 23-26 degree day. 

Updated wind forecasts are also predicting a mild 10kmh wind, but said it should be blowing out of the south east, which will largely be blocked by the Tathra headland, while easing one-metre swells will mean pleasant conditions in the water for both new and experienced swimmers. 

The water temperature is also expected to be around the peak 20-22 degree mark for the weekend. 

Life savers said the conditions would be ideal as the geography of Tathra meant nor-easterly blows were the ones that picked up choppy conditions. 

“A nor-easter would just put a lot of slop and chop into their faces and been an impact on the longer leg,” lifesaver Tony Rettke says. 

You can register online now for the Wharf to Waves bike ride and Sunday’s beach swims, but registrations for the 2km fun run on Saturday will be in person only. 

Swimmers can register online at this link

Bike riders can register online at this link

Registrations can also be made at the Tathra Surf Club on Friday night as well as Saturday until 5pm. You can register at the Surf Club on Sunday morning with an 8am cutoff, but officials warned Sunday entries would incur a late fee.

Tathra Beachside have taken over the coordination of the fun run event and all entries will only be taken in person. You can register at the Tathra Surf Club on Saturday morning between 9.30am until 11am. 

A little over 200 people have already registered for the swims on Sunday, but officials said many wait to confirm the weather conditions and there is always a late flurry. 

About 400 people are expected to take the dip at the Tathra Wharf. 

The Age Swims are a 600m distance ocean swim between the wharf and the beach.

Events are broken into about 8 categories for mens and ladies with entrants as young as 10 able to enter. The competition has also had competitors well into their 80s. 

“It's an amazing event and for anyone that ever wants to do it,” Swim coach Zoe Philipzen says. 

“You hear people on the beach saying ‘I wish I could do that’, but you can!”

The Splash for Cash is a 1200 metre ocean swim. 

Attracting around 140 swimmers last year, the headline event is open to anyone older than 13 and requires swimmers to circle around a wider buoy before turning back for the beach and the finish line. 

There is a $500 prize for the first finisher in both the men’s and women’s event with the pair also receiving a framed unique landscape image from event photographer Kit Goldsworthy. 

Swims start at 9.30am after an 8.30am briefing with the 1200m swim scheduled for about 11.30am, full listings here 

SWIMMERS: A free transport bus will run between the surf club and the Wharf to get entrants in place for their race. You will also be provided a bag to place any belongings in that will be returned to the Surf Club for you.

The Bike ride spans 30km of various roads and trails between the Tarraganda Fire Shed with the finish line at the Tathra Surf Life Saving Club. 

Event director Richard Gallimore makes one thing very clear, the ride is not a race. He said safety is tantamount for organisers and encouraged riders to look out for each other on the trails. 

Slower riders get to shoot early with a staggered start aimed at allowing a majority of the riders to finish at a similar time. 

The ride takes in some scenic bush trails as well as a finishing run along the road into Tathra where many visitors and locals gather at the roadside to cheer on entrants each year. 

One lucky rider will receive a brand new bike courtesy of Tathra Beach and Bike through a random draw. 

The rides start at 4.45pm, registrations can be made at the Fire Shed until 4.30pm.

The 2km fun run is a beach course with a start opposite the Tathra Beach Country Club. 

Runners will be given number tags upon registration that must be worn to identify entrants and determine prize winners. 

This is a family friendly event and everyone is able to enter. 

The Fun Run starts opposite the Tathra Beach Country Club at noon. 

There will be one key addition to this year’s event for anyone interested. 

Matthew Nott from Clean Energy For Eternity is encouraging everyone to help form a human sign on the beach to read: Renewable Energy Now. 

W2W organiser Jane Funston said the sign would be for an aerial photograph planned for about noon. 

“It will be between the finish of the 1200 swim and the actual presentations, so about noon,” Jane Funston said. 

A popular seaside market will return at this year’s Wharf to Waves with a number of handmade local crafts on offer as well as local produce and some healthy snack options. 

The Markets will run on the west (road) side of the surf club between 8am and 1pm on the day. 

You will be able to get your hands on hot food, cold drinks as well as a coffee van at the markets. 

There is also a beachside public barbecue for bacon and egg roles and the usual fare. 

About a minute stroll north of the Surf Club there is also carnival rides in town for the whole week including dodgem cars. 

Other stalls on the day will feature local creations including hand-blown glassware, leather backpacks, skincare products, clothing and more. 

There is also a skate park and outdoor gym area next to the Surf Club in close proximity. 

Tony McCabe directs a fleet of surf rescue boats, surfers and regularly Marine Rescue and even Water Police boats to ensure safety for all the swimmers in the Wharf to Waves. 

“Tony is incredible out on the ducks (IRBs) making sure everyone is safe,” Ms Philipzen said. 

“If you want to feel safe for your first ocean swim, there is no place better to start than Tathra,” 

“There are helicopter fly-overs and drones to give everyone total piece of mind.”

There is regularly three to four surf rescue boats, but also paddlers on SUP boards and the bigger boats monitoring each race. 

Any swimmer who is struggling can simply raise a hand and they will be helped by lifesavers. 

“Tony puts everyone at ease,” Ms Philipzen said. 

“There are about 400 people swimming, but his knowledge and knowing where to put the cans are based on his years of experience.” 

It is a similar story for the bike ride with officials saying there was a small army of volunteers on hand to guide riders including members of the local fire service to help direct riders as they merge with traffic. 

Mr Gallimore himself even rides vanguard to the entrants to ensure everyone completes the ride safely. 

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