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.

  • Spectrism@discuss.tchncs.de
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    4 months ago

    They can still be innocent at nude beaches. There aren’t any orgies there or whatever you think a nude beach is.

    Creeps gonna creep. Only way to avoid them is to not go outside. And honestly who cares? Maybe I’m a bit desensitised, but if someone stares at me at the beach, why should I care? Same goes for the ones staring at children, with the difference that children don’t even worry about stuff like that. I also think you overestimate the amount of people who actually go there to creep. It’s not even necessary to go to a nude beach for that, I’ve seen plenty of naked kids at regular beaches.

    “[…] because they don’t understand the severity of the situation.” What severity? What’s going to happen to the kids? Do you seriously think they worry about being sexualised? When I was a kid, we would run around naked in our backyard, lots of neighbours were able to see us. Did I worry about that in the slightest? Nope.

    You’re worrying too much.