It’s a Tuesday morning, the infinite blue sky of Byron Bay has opened up and the six naturists – four men, two women – have stripped down to their birthday suits for a quick dip in the buff.
This section of beach – an 800-metre stretch along the vast coastline – forms the only legal clothing-optional beach in the shire. Among those taking advantage of the opportunity to be out in the open is Duncan James, vice-president of Northern Rivers Naturists, who is something of an evangelist for “embracing the beach as Mother Nature intended.”
“Many of the beach users have described the clothing-optional beach as their happy place, a place where they can disconnect from modern day stresses, a place they can feel at one with nature,” he says.
There is, however, a metaphorical cloud on the horizon. On Sunday, Tyagarah is set to be stripped of its status as an official clothing-optional beach.
“I guess these values aren’t shared by New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service [NPWS], who are hell-bent on closing one of Byron’s last alternative community hubs and experiences,” James says.
I experienced the same at “regular” beaches out in Greece. Topless women and Speedos were just as normal as any other beachgoer. It was really rather relaxing thinking back to it now.
Because topless != nude in most of Europe. Hell, you can see topless women at pretty much any seashore when it’s warm enough.
The Speedos were the French. They do love their budgie-smugglers for some reason
It used to be required at a lot of camping pools because the longer shorts would take too much water out of the pool… nowadays it’s not often required anymore in my experience.
It’s still required at pools because the downhill (VTT) bikers will wear board shorts, get covered in mud then try to just walk into swimming pools with them
I also remember being told it’s because they’re more hygienic (less pubic hair escaping). Always hated them though and would avoid places that enforced that.