New Zealand is full of cold-water swimmers, and winter water temperatures don’t seem to put any of them off.

Advocates of cold-water immersion say the benefits are numerous, if not simply for cleaning off dirt and sweat after tramping.

A bone-chilling dip can boost your mental health, help rid you of anxiety and provide a calmer mental state. Cold water can reduce inflammation, help with better sleep and circulation and aid in muscle recovery after exercise.

Keen tramper Louis Haigh fractured his T5 and T6 vertebrae after clipping a tree with his shoulder while mountain biking in April 2022.

He says the mixture of saunas and cold dips were an essential part of his arduous recovery.

“Now that I’m fit, healthy and back  out on the trails, it’s a tradition. I can’t walk past a body of water without wanting to strip off and jump in,” he says.

“It’s one hell of a wake-up, a refreshment after many miles on  the track, a great way to have a wash in the bush, a good relaxant, and it’s my favourite way to slow things down, focus on one thing at a time and put it all into perspective.”