Should all beaches be clothing-optional?

[David]

You may be alarmed to know that I've recently discovered a passion for nude swimming. Like most people, I was initially excited by the idea of doing something a bit weird and transgressive; as it turns out, it just feels so much nicer and more natural than swimming in a pair of board shorts. When I did it for the first time, I found myself wondering why everybody didn't do it.

Of course, as the law stands, it's illegal to swim naked on pretty much every beach in Australia. The number of designated clothing-optional beaches (official or unofficial) in the entire country probably numbers somewhere between 10 and 20.

They're not always easy to get to, either. If you're in Byron Bay, you're in luck: there's a beautiful, expansive beach over a hill to the north of the town. If you're in Queensland, you're out of luck. If you're in Melbourne, you're in for a 90 minute trip to either the backwoods of Geelong (Torquay) or Sunnyside Beach in Mount Martha, which is a grueling 10 minute walk over rocks from the carpark (not easy with a baby). When you get there, the place is ringed by steep cliffs and barbed wire. It's not really the most inviting place�it kind of feels like some nudist ghetto. Ironically, when Lola and I were there on Monday afternoon, there were scores of people there (while the much nicer and easier-to-get-to main beach was practically deserted). Does it have to be so difficult to have an unattired swim?

Of course, perhaps I should be thankful that any of these beaches exist at all. This was not always the case: in the '70s and early '80s, local campaigns led to a few beaches being declared clothing-optional. What the activists hoped for, I'm guessing, is that this would be the tip of the iceberg; that, in time, all Australian beaches would eventually be made clothing-optional. Instead, for 30 years, there's been no progress whatsoever, with some of the beaches becoming overgrown and unusable and others becoming primarily gay pick-up spots. The taboo against nudity on mainstream beaches is as strong as ever: even quickly undressing and getting into your swimsuit, as Lola often does on regular beaches, could still potentially result in a fine if you ran into a police officer having a bad day.

I have to confess that I don't quite understand why this should be the case. Nobody is forced to undress at a clothing-optional beach. If you're a prude, or feel uncomfortable being naked in the company you're in or because of your body shape or because of your religion or because you just like swimming in fabric, you don't have to change your habits at all. But, by the same token, those who want to be naked should be able to be. If you don't like it, don't look. People who are offended/disgusted by speedos or bikinis already exercise their right to look elsewhere; why should nudity be any different?

Perhaps some people are worried that this will turn regular beaches into sexual free-for-alls. On the contrary: public sexual behaviour is arguably more taboo on nude beaches, not less so (and the transformation of some clothing-optional beaches into cruising spots seems to be treated with considerable displeasure by actual nudists). Indecency is still indecency. There will always be voyeurs, just as there are at regular beaches, but making all beaches clothing-optional would make that far less of a problem (as there would no longer be designated beaches for nudists, your chances of going to a given beach and seeing someone naked would be considerably reduced). The same thing would happen to the cruisers, who could perhaps be left to enjoy the more secluded spots on their own.

Honestly, I'm not sure that there's a single good reason why nude swimming shouldn't be permitted at all beaches. It's natural, healthy, and probably only offends the most uptight (not a quality Australia usually has a reputation for). So, why is it that the status quo is the way it is? Do you support it, and if so, why?

[Culprit]

In my case clothing should be compulsory. So we need to add that in as well. Some people should not be seen naked. I am one of them.

[Wokko]

Australia not uptight!? We're one of the most socially conservative countries going around.

I feel that I should agree with you, but still feel a bit uneasy. Many people like to raise their kids in a conservative way, and those people wouldn't want their little ones exposed to that (pun intended). Beach going is one of the few totally free family entertainments left and I wouldn't want young families and kids chased away from the beach by waving wangs.

I would suggest that any beach that is not a 'main' beach in a town should be clothing optional and all beaches are 'topless' so sunbathing women couldn't get fined (this may already be the case, not something I've had to think about). Main beaches like Torquay front and surf beaches would remain as 'clothing mandatory'.

[Tannin]

Of course. Not just beaches, everywhere.

(Private property aside. You are entitled to require that visitors to property you own dress (or undress) according to the rules you set. It's your place. You decide. If you want to require all visitors to your church / pub / supermarket to wear shoes or hats or nothing or bikie leathers or a burka, that's your business. They can always stay away if they don't like your rule.)


(Wouldn't make any difference to me personally though. I am too wedded to that most wonderful of all civilisation's many inventions: pockets.)

[Skids]

hmmm... slip, slop, slap takes on a whole new meaning.

[David]

Doesn't it ever! I don't think I've ever been so thorough in applying sunscreen�wouldn't want to miss a spot.

[Skids]

[David]

Many of those are only de facto clothing-optional beaches, and there were reports of arrests at the Queensland ones towards the end of Campbell Newman's reign of terror (as if people needed another reason to vote him out). But I'll confess the total number is a little higher than I thought it would be.

The trouble is that the majority of these beaches are secluded and difficult to get to. Not overly welcoming locations for families or curious first-timers at all.

[1061]

[David]

Thanks! Haven't heard of it, but might look into it. Port Melbourne is certainly a lot easier to get to than Mornington.

When we went to Sunnyside, it wasn't a complete sausagefest. Probably about 10-20% women, I reckon.

[Tannin]

[watt price tully]

This thread is further evidence that David has far too much time on his hands

[think positive]

[think positive]

[Dave The Man]

Most of Nude Beaches would be a Sausage Fest