• This weekend, the last swim of the NSW ocean swimming "season" - the Mona Vale Cold Water Classic (or the second swim of the NSW season, if you take our definition of the ocean swimming year, which starts on June 1 and ends on May 31). It's not really cold, you know. Water's around 20C at the moment, isn't it? Usually doesn't get "cold" in Sydney until July or so. Lovely day out in an uncomplicated swim at a pretty northern beach: swim goes around the Mona Vale rock platform, conditions permitting, which means you have a lovely bottom to watch all the way. Just four divisions: Newd and Wettie, M/F. That means, no age groups, which we reckon is not a bad thing. Afterwards, everyone gets a mug of Mrs June Dibbs's minestrone, which is something alone that makes the swim worth doing, even if you aren't into nice bottoms. Online entries close Saturday, June 23, at noon. Please remember: there are no entries to this swim taken on swim day. You must enter online by noon on Sat'dee.
  
• ABC TV premieres a three-part series on Sundee night, 7:30, on Australia's sporting achievements, fronted by John Clarke, whom we first saw on telly in New Zealand 37 years ago as Fred Dagg, long, scraggly hair and garbo's singlet. The series includes the last footage shot of Murray Rose, who died in April. Sounds like a nice show, and will be interesting to see how Clarke handles the subject matter. After Roy and Haitch G, he has a hard act to follow. Clarke interviewed Rose especially for the series. If you miss it on Sunday, you'll probably be able to catch it on ABC iView.
• We've set up a new website specifically to handle our oceanswimsafaris, now spanning the South Pacific and the Sarf of Fronce. See oceanswimsafaris.com

If you'd haven't already booked to come to Heron Island for the Great Barrier Reef Swim, then we have a deal for you... It's a deal aimed at encouraging swimmers to travel early and/or stay a bit later than the swim's core dates of October 18-22. This is because of the pressure on flights into and out of Gladstone, the airport for Heron Island, and on the daily ferry from Gladstone out to Heron.

The Heron Island people say -

Heron Island has been overwhelmed with inquiries for the 2012 Great Barrier Reef Swim (18-22 October) and is almost sold out. Flights to and from Gladstone have also filled very fast and therefore Heron Island are offering special extended stay rates if you wish to extend your stay either before or after the four days, starting from just $149.50 per adult per night including all meals. Please contact Heron Island on 1300 233 432 or email travel@dncinc.com to secure one of the last few spots.

So there you go.

Heron Island has just one resort -- and a very noice one, too -- so it's not as if you can just decide to turn up. It's 70km off the coast of Queensland -- the sun sets over the sea; you can't see Queensland whilst you're there; and to rub it in, the Heron Island people exist in their own time zone, an hour ahead of Queensland all year 'round.

Just click the banner at right, then contact the Heron Island people and book.

Do it now. It's selling out.

It really is a very special swim, and a very special four-day break. Those who go there know they're in a very special place.

PS: The swim is held in turtle nesting season.

More info... click here