There are two swim distances on offer.

The main event, the Rock to Rock, is a 1.5km swim around a triangular course in the bay and the Mini Rock is a 600m straight swim across the beach.

Elizabeth Beach is quite well protected from the worst weather conditions and big swell. As a relatively calm and safe beach, the event is suitable for competitors of all abilities, including those new to the sport.

• 8:30-10:00am – Registration & late entries open (Pacific Palms SLSC)
• 10:30am – Mandatory safety briefing for 600m swim
• 11:00am – Mini Rock 600m swim start
• 11:30am – Mandatory safety briefing for 1.5km swim
• 12:00pm – Rock To Rock 1.5km swim start
• 2:00pm – Prizegiving (Pacific Palms SLSC)

While at Pacific Palms you could check out Smiths Lake (Frothy Coffee), Wallis Lake (The Recky & Pacific Palms Markets), Charlotte Bay (Foodworks & Service Station), Blueys Beach (Blueys Cellars, Kembali Café, Drift Café, Boomerang Beach Surf Co, Pacific Palms Pharmacy), Boomerang Beach (Moby’s Beachside Retreat & Sips Restaurant), and Booti Booti National Park (walk over to Seven Mile beach)

For variety on the way home, run up to Forster, have a cuppa at Beach Bums, head over the bridge through Tuncurry, and come back to the highway at Nabiac.

If you have some time, cross the highway and come home through Gloucester, Dungog/Stroud/Clarencetown (say hi to Clarence on the way through, as Rotten ol’ Herbie used to do), and rejoin the expressway at its start between Maitland and Hexham. Or, take the Booral Road from Buladelah across to Bucketts Way, then across through Clarence Town, Morpeth or Hinton (stop for a break), and on through Thornton to the expressway South.

The mid-drive classic stop these days is Morpeth: it’s pretty well right about halfway and Morpeth is a pretty, heritage town which, believe it or not, was once a river port. There’s a boutique brewery in the Commercial Hotel and lots of cafes for a cuppa and snack. It’s a lovely drive and a beautiful day out.

The event’s major sponsor, Pacific Palms Real Estate, has accommodation for anyone wanting to make a weekend of it.

Drive

With the main event (R2R, 12pm) back to a noon start it’s easily doable from Sydney for a day trip (Mini Rock, 11am). Driving to the lower north coast from Sydney and Newcastle is easy on Easter Sunday. Everyone who’s going away is already away, and not yet coming home. Traffic is light. It’s a good run on expressway almost all the way. Take the Lakes Way turn-off from the Pacific Highway just north of Bulahdelah.

Parking

Park in the car park to the west of the Pacific Palms SLSC clubhouse.

Public transport

Bus from Broadmeadow, Train from Central to Broadmeadow.

Under 18 swimmers

Parents/guardians of swimmers aged under 18 must complete the online entry form, not the swimmers themselves. They must include their consent to the entry with full name and phone contact, in the Emergency Contact field. Just a phone number, a first name, or a number and first name will not do. Entries of U18 swimmers are not complete without this complete parental/guardian consent and will not be accepted. Entries of Under 18 swimmers must use the parent’s email address, not that of the Under 18 entrant.