Eight swim spots across Horizons Region vie for upgrade

Mosquito Point, a Whanganui River swim spot upriver from Aramoho, won the competition last year. Photo/file

Last year it was Mosquito Point. Which region swim spot will win an upgrade by Horizons Regional Council this year?

The council has a list of eight finalists for its Spruce Up Your Swim Spot competition. All are favourites with the region's fresh water swimmers.

The Rangitikei River has two spots in the running - at Mangaweka and Vinegar Hill. The Whanganui has one, at Cherry Grove near Taumarunui.

For the Manawatu it's a spot at Hopelands, for the Ohau it's swimming at Gladstone Reserve. People chose Horseshoe Bend for swimming in the Tokomaru River, and Raumai Reserve for swimming in the Pohangina.

Wiritoa was the only lake nominated. Near Whanganui, it's used for both boating and swimming.

Voting in the competition is done on Horizons' Facebook page, and the competition closes on March 25.

Last year's winner, Mosquito Point, got a new changing shed structure, steps to the river, seats and some vegetation clearing. A competition to design a mural for the wall of the changing shed runs until the end of February.

Horizons' second swimming-related competion, #swiminour region, asks people to share photos of themselves enjoying the region's waterways. Using the hashtag and tagging the location makes entrants eligible to win a water-themed adventure package worth up to $1500.

Last year's winner was Halcombe teacher Di Simpson, who used the prize to take her class whitewater rafting on the Rangitikei River.