Swimming the Length of Lake Wānaka: A Conversation with Livi Schmid

If you can lap it, you can protect it.

As part of our summer campaign, we’re speaking with locals whose lives are shaped by the lakes and rivers around them.

In 2025, swimmer Livi Schmid took on the greatest challenge of her career, swimming the entire 44-kilometre length of Lake Wānaka in 13 hours and 11 minutes.

The swim raised more than $20,000 for WAI Wānaka and the Wānaka Swim Club.

One year later, we asked Livi about how the challenge came about — and what inspired her to dive in.

WAI: What inspired you to swim the length of Lake Wānaka?

Livi: In short, many many things. When I came to Wānaka in 2023, my first job was as a swim coach for the Wānaka Swim Club. While coaching I was introduced to colleagues, Cameron Stanely (who swam the lake in 2020) and Belinda Donaldson (ex-legendary marthon swimmer and total badass). They were hugely impactful with my decision to swim the lake. Also, coaching the kids truly reignited my love for swimming after a very competitive swimming career through University. And finally, curiousity. I’ve always been a very curious person. And I just wanted to see if my mind and body were capable. 

WAI: Any reflections now, one year on?

Livi: I’m approaching my one year mark quite soon and its brought up a lot of memories. I look back at the experience so fondly. I miss the exploration aspect of training the most. Every long training swim in the lake felt like an adventure, and being able to swim in parts of the lake where not that many humans have been was really special. And I miss the fitness, I truly felt like a superhuman!!! (WAI: we still think you are!)

WAI: What message do you hope people will take away from your epic feat?

Livi: You are capable of so much more than you could imagine. Dream up the most impossible dream, then start talking about it. You might just surprise yourself with what you can accomplish. 

WAI: Why do you think it matters right now to protect these precious waterways?

Livi: I’ve swam in many lakes in the States, in places where people aren’t making conscious efforts to protect the waterways. Lakes that smell of sewage, and are so brown you cant see a metre in front of you. We are so lucky to have the beautiful Lake Wanaka. Even over the past couple seasons, I’ve seen a decline [in water quality]. You can’t swim around Ruby Island without getting covered in lake scum these days. 

The lake is what gives all of us life. It’s endlessly abundant. And if we all make an active effort to protect it, we might just be able to sustain it for the future generations.  

WAI: Any future plans, what’s next?

Livi: I have a couple ideas brewing… but nothing I’m quite ready to share yet. In the meantime, I have been enjoying hiking, climbing, surfing and kayaking all over the beautiful South Island. I’m still finding ways to explore our great outdoors, but spending lots more time on land.

Photos by Elie Babin.

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