The 9 top nude beaches to get your kit off at

Australia

04 Sep 2024

These beautiful beaches are well worth a visit for the nude curious.

Australians love a reason to get naked. While there’s no official nude beach in Queensland, a (mostly) warm nude-friendly climate coupled with the world’s best beaches, means there are plenty of amazing Australian nude beaches for those who dare to go bare.

A recent worldwide study by pour moi put Australians as the keenest to nude sunbathe, closely followed by New Zealanders. So, here’s our list of Australia’s top nude beaches.

1. Lady Bay Beach, Sydney, NSW

This well-known, gay-friendly, nude beach in Sydney Harbour National Park has been a popular spot with naturists since it became one of Australia’s first nudist beaches in 1976. It’s a pretty small beach, so if you like your space it’s best to visit at low tide when there is more sand, given its city locale it can get busy.

the entrance of Lady Bay Beach — Dare to bare at Lady Bay Beach. (Image: John Yurasek)

Address: Between South Head and Camp Cove in Sydney Harbour National Park. From Camp Cove car park follow the South Head heritage trail to the beach.

2. Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT

Casuarina Coastal Reserve encompasses a large coastal area, including eight kilometres of white sand beaches, in Darwin’s northern suburbs. The central section of the reserve includes a ‘nudist zone’ on the beach north of Darriba Road.

Perfect for those taking their first foray into nude sunbathing given its remote setting and ample space to find some privacy. Combine your visit with a look around the heritage-listed ruins from World War II that can be found dotted through the reserve.

sunset at Casuarina Beach, Darwin, NT, Australia — Admire sunset views over Casuarina Beach.

Address: 445 Trower Rd, Brinkin, NT 0810

3. Armands Beach, Bermagui, NSW

Armands Beach is the only nude beach on the Sapphire Coast in NSW. A secluded and serene beach, there is very little shade so remember your beach umbrella.

Named after Armand Lemmeric, a French man who owned a farm behind the bay and regularly swam nude at the beach, nude cricket matches were reportedly played here in the 1930s, but it wasn’t given its official ‘clothing-optional’ status until 1993.

Address: Barragga Bay, Kullaroo Road, Bermagui, NSW 2546

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4. Samurai Beach, One Mile, NSW

Pack light and make a weekend of it at Samurai Beach in Port Stephens as behind the dunes that line the beach is a clothing-optional campground. A 4WD is a prerequisite to drive along the access trail that leads to the campground, via Gan Gan Road. Pristine waters, good surf and clean expanses of white sand in a beautiful setting make this a top spot.

Aerial shot of Samurai Beach — Show your skin some love at Samurai Beach, One Mile. (Image: Destination NSW)

Address: Tomaree National Park, (Near Port Stephens) One Mile, NSW 2316

5. Kambah Pool, Canberra, ACT

Not technically a beach but the sandy banks of Kambah Pool at the northern end of the reserve that sits on the Murrumbidgee River in Canberra’s south are nudist-friendly. Enjoy tranquil river views and perhaps a spot of fishing as you become one with nature.

Address: Off Kambah Pool Road, Kambah, ACT 2901

6. Sunnyside North Beach, Port Philip Bay, Vic

Sunnyside North Beach can be found on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. This small, sandy beach has held clothing-optional status since 1986.

Mornington Peninsula Shire Council ran a survey in early 2022 with locals to gauge whether the beach would continue to be nudist. The consultation showed strong support for this secluded beach to retain its clothing-optional status.

Address: North of Sunnyside Road Car Park. Mount Eliza, Vic 3930

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7. Maslin Beach, Fleurieu Peninsula, SA

This three-kilometre-long beach on the Fleurieu Peninsula was Australia’s very first nudist beach. With its beautiful sandstone cliffs as a backdrop, it has an allocated nude sunbathing area, and a good snorkelling spot too, so don’t forget your goggles and your water-resistant sunscreen.

an aerial view of Maslin Beach, Fleurieu Peninsula, SA — Laze on the soft sands at Maslin Beach.

Address: Maslin Beach, Fleurieu Peninsula, SA 5170

8. Point Impossible, Torquay, Vic

This long, open, dog-friendly beach on the Great Ocean Road has a designated clothing-optional section for those wanting to enjoy a day at the beach in their birthday suit, rather than their swimsuit. It’s a popular surf spot for the locals, providing some good entertainment while you catch some rays.

Address: 425 The Esplanade, Torquay, Vic 3228

9. Long Beach, Hobart, Tas

You’ll be hard-pressed to find an official nudist beach on the Apple Isle, amongst the abundance of ‘unofficial’ ones. So, if you’re looking to toe the line your only chance may be at Dark Mofo’s annual Nude Solstice Swim at Long Beach in Hobart.

In temperatures of around three degrees, this isn’t for the faint-hearted. Gather at dawn before running into the River Derwent en masse with your fellow nudists for an invigorating start to the day.

Dark Mofo’s annual Nude Solstice Swim at Long Beach. — Get nude at Dark Mofo’s annual Nude Solstice Swim at Long Beach. (Image: Dark Mofo and Rosie Hastie)

Address: Long Point Road, Sandy Bay, Tas 7005

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Janet Stone

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Unforgettable First Peoples tours and experiences in Victoria

31 Oct 2025

From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.

Victoria’s sweeping landscapes hold stories far older than any road map can trace – stories etched into stone, sung through generations and woven into every bend of river and rise of hill. From the lava flows of Budj Bim to the ancient middens of Moyjil/Point Ritchie and the volcanic crater of Tower Hill, the state is home to some of the most significant First Peoples cultural sites in Australia. These places, along with other immersive experiences, offer not only a window into a 60,000-year legacy, but a profound way of understanding Country itself. As more travellers seek connection over checklists, guided tours by Traditional Owners offer respectful, unforgettable insights into a living culture that continues to shape the land and the people who walk it.

Budj Bim cultural landscape

Budj Bim Cultural Landscape — Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is on Gunditjmara Country. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Venture beyond the surf and sand of the Great Ocean Road to discover a deeper story etched into the volcanic landscape. At Budj Bim, ancient aquaculture channels built by the Gunditjmara people to trap, store and harvest kooyang (short-finned eel) reveal one of the world’s oldest living cultures. While you’re in the area, head over to the state-of-the-art Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre, where you can observe the eels in a special tank, wander the shores of Tae Rak (Lake Condah), and enjoy a bite at the Bush Tucker Cafe. Also nearby is Tower Hill, a dormant volcano reborn as a wildlife reserve, offering trails through bushland teeming with emus and koalas.

eel tank — The kooyang (eel) tank at Tae Rak. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour

Dumawul walkingtour — Guests are guided through Kooyoora State Park on the Dumawul walking tour. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Step into a timeless landscape with Dumawul’s guided tour through Kooyoora State Park, around an hour’s drive west of Bendigo in north-central Victoria. Led by Djaara guides, this immersive half-day journey breathes life into Country, weaving together stories, bush tucker and ancient rock art. Known to the Dja Dja Wurrung people as Guyura – the ‘mountain of light’ – this dramatic granite range is rich with cultural and spiritual significance. The adventure begins with a meet-up at the Bridgewater Hotel on the banks of the Loddon River, before guests are welcomed onto Country with a traditional Smoking Ceremony – a powerful ritual that honours ancestors and cleanses those who walk the land. From there, it’s a gentle wander through rugged outcrops and open bushland, with sweeping vistas unfolding at every turn. Along the way, guides share their knowledge of how the Dja Dja Wurrung peoples have cared for and adapted with this land for generations, offering a rare and moving window into an ancient way of life that continues to thrive today.

Kooyoora walking tour — Knowledge of the Dja Dja Wurrung is shared on the trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Kingfisher Cruises

Kingfisher Cruises — Cruising the Murray with Kingfisher Cruises. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Glide quietly through the Barmah-Millewa forest – the nation’s largest river red gum ecosystem – on a scenic journey along the Murray River and into the Barmah Lakes with Kingfisher Cruises. Led by passionate guides who share stories of the cultural significance of this ancient landscape, these cruises reveal the stories, totems and traditional knowledge of the Yorta Yorta people. As you navigate narrow waterways and spot native birds, you’ll gain a richer understanding of how First Peoples have lived in harmony with this floodplain for tens of thousands of years. It’s a gentle, immersive experience that leaves a lasting impression – one where every bend in the river carries echoes of culture, connection and Country.

wawa biik

Taungurung leaders — Exploring Nagambie with Taungurung leaders. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Translating to ‘hello, Country’ in the language of the First Nations People and Custodians of the rivers and mountains of Taungurung Country in Central Victoria, wawa biik guides a range of authentic and deeply immersive experiences. Leaving from either Nagambie or Euroa, the tours are woven with ancient stories of the Taungurung, telling how a sustained connection and responsibility ensures the continued health of biik – benefitting the people, animals and plants that live in and around the Goulburn River. During the wawa Nagambie experience, guests participate in a Welcome Smoking Ceremony, and enjoy lunch and conversation with two Taungurung leaders as they cruise through the wetlands of tabilk-tabilk (place of many waterholes). The 4.5-hour tour begins at Tahbilk Winery, which is set in the wetlands of Nagambie on Taungurung Country and collaborates with Taungurung Elders to share knowledge of biik.

Bataluk Cultural Trail

Bataluk Trail — Cape Conran on the Bataluk Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

The Bataluk Cultural Trail winds through East Gippsland like a thread stitching past to present, tracing the deep connection between the Gunaikurnai people and their land. Starting at the Knob Reserve in Stratford, visitors walk among scarred trees and ancient stone tools once used for survival and ceremony. At the Den of Nargun near Mitchell River, the earth holds stories of women’s sacred spaces, cloaked in myth and legend. Further along, Legend Rock at Metung tells of greed and consequence, its surface etched with ancient lore. At Cape Conran, shell middens lie scattered like breadcrumbs of history – 10,000 years of gatherings, stories and saltwater songs still echoing in the wind.

Healesville Sanctuary

echidna at Healesville Sanctuary — Get up close with a resident echidna at Healesville Sanctuary. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Set on the historic grounds of Coranderrk Aboriginal Station, Healesville Sanctuary honours the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation through immersive storytelling and connection to Country. Along Wurundjeri Walk, visitors are invited to reflect on the land’s rich First Peoples history, with native plants revealing their traditional uses. Wurundjeri Elder and educator Murrundindi shares culture in-person with the Wominjeka Aboriginal Cultural Experience every Sunday, and most days during Victorian school holidays. Murrundindi’s smoking ceremonies, storytelling and bush tucker knowledge reveal the sacred relationship between people, animals and the environment. Bird-lovers can’t miss the incredible Spirits of the Sky show featuring native birds daily at 12pm and 3pm.

The Grampians

Rock art at Bunjil Shelter in The Grampians — Rock art at Bunjil Shelter in The Grampians. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Known as Gariwerd to Traditional Owners, the Grampians is a place of immense cultural and spiritual significance. This rugged landscape holds more than 80 per cent of Victoria’s known First Peoples rock art, offering a powerful window into the region’s deep heritage. Visitors can respectfully explore five remarkable rock art sites: Billimina and Ngamadjidj in the Wartook Valley, Manja Shelter near Hamilton, Gulgurn Manja shelter near Laharum, and the Bunjil Shelter near Stawell, where the creator spirit is depicted. Each site tells a unique story of connection to Country, shared through ancient handprints, dancing figures and Dreaming narratives etched into stone.