Some people choose church on a Sunday morning, but for a growing group of locals, a cold dip in Lake Wānaka is their chosen way to start the day.

The Wānaka Waves cold water dip club was set up by Fionn (pronounced Fin) Watkins, who moved here from Queenstown in May last year.

Inspired by the Queenstown Chilly Dips club, and hoping to meet people, Fionn put up a poster inviting people to come to the waterfront on Sunday at 9am, and “people came”.

The weekly event usually attracts 15-20 people, who afterwards pop across the road for coffee at Kai Whakapai. 

“We aren’t big on actual swimming,” Fionn told the Wānaka App. 

“Just getting really cold, doing the hard thing first thing, and socialising.

“The cold water is great for the mind. It’s a really nice way to decompress at the end of the week and prepare for the week.”

He said some people just dunk underwater, while others swim to the pontoon.

“The ritual of it - it brings me a lot of joy,” he said.

“What I’ve loved is seeing people who hated it and now they are converted.”

A crowd of Wānaka Wavers in October.

The group has been braving the lake throughout winter - since June 1, and the warmer summer temperatures are not putting them off.

“It felt more rewarding when it was colder but now it’s a nice social thing,” Fionn said.

“Because of the community we’ve formed, we’re often doing things. There will be a ‘welcome to summer’ party coming up soon. And we’re going to try to do some more evening dips.”

Fionn said there have been a lot of friendships, and even a romantic relationship, form within the group.

Keen cold water dippers can check out Wānaka Waves on Instagram, or meet at 9am on Sundays on the Wānaka waterfront by the Lakeland Adventures bench.

PHOTOS: Wānaka Waves