Otago Polytechnic sport and exercise student Jemimah McIlroy is planning a swim across the Cook Strait next summer.
To help challenge herself before the big event, the Warrington Surf Life Saving Club member has devised a regional goal.
She recently shared a video of herself swimming around Quarantine Island on social media.
"I made a promise in that video that I was going to swim around every island in Dunedin," McIlroy said.
Her post gained "a lot more attention" than she thought it would and has so far attracted more than 4000 likes.
She is planning to swim around the other local islands, which include the Green, White, Bird, Goat, Pudding and Rabbit Islands as well as Moturata (Taieri Island).
Her longest coastal sojourn will be a 6km swim to Green Island, scheduled for this Saturday, weather permitting. The challenge is a way to "spice up" her training.
"But it is really fun and I really like getting to see different places," she said.
"You never get to see something in the way you see it when you are swimming, you know."Her journey into open water began about two years ago with the local White Island race before she completed The Ruby 10km island swim in Wānaka.
Her Cook Strait crossing will take place between December and March under the guidance of swimming veteran Phil Rush. Her exact start date is to be confirmed in August based on tides.
"So he provides all the boats and all the safety stuff for you," she said.
"And plans out, picks your perfect day."
McIlroy needs to build up to 50km a week before braving the 23km inter-island swim this summer.
"I am currently doing 30, so at the moment I’m just trying to slowly, slowly increase it to get to 50km without getting injured.
"Also cold tolerance is a big part of it, because you are in the water for ages."
She has been practising in the Otago Harbour as a member of the Frozen SeaDogs open water swimming group.
"This will be my first winter swimming through the winter, so that will be quite something."
