For the first time in its history Dunedin's chilly winter swim has been forced to move location, because of huge sinkholes on the waterfront.
The 85th annual Dunedin Polar Plunge takes place on Saturday morning.
Normally held at St Clair Beach, the event has been moved because of the large holes, some 50 metres wide, which opened up several weeks ago when the sea eroded sand dunes underneath the esplanade.
This year's event will be held at Middle Beach on Victoria Road.
The chair of the St Clair Surf Life Saving Club, Antony Mason, says the swim usually attracts up to 700 participants and 2000 spectators, but the crowd may be smaller this time because of the different location.
The event is expected to raise about $4000 for the surf club.
