This is from the Whakatipu Legend website: their description of the race..
Legend has it that Hakitekura, the daughter of Tuwiriroa, a Katimore chief, was the first to swim across Lake Whakatipu.
Now you can follow in her wake. Ferried from the start line across the mighty Lake Whakatipu at sunrise, you will be delivered to Refuge Point.
From here you have a 5km open water swim over the mystical, deep crystal waters. 3km will take you over depths of 400m to the shoreline of the Kelvin Heights Peninsula.
From here you follow the rocky shore line, past the watchful goats and into the narrows, around the peninsula into the shelter of the Kelvin Grove Beach to find the finish line.
The Whakatipu Legend Website: https://www.thewhakatipulegend.co.nz
This is the first time this event has been run. This is also the first time I have ever done a swim event this long.
