Blogger in the Buff in Australia - Kings Beach, NSW

Looking for a secluded beach surrounded by a tropical rainforest where you can swim and sunbathe sans clothing? Look no further. Kings Beach, which is part of the Broken Head Nature Reserve offers breathtaking natural scenery with a hint of aboriginal history too.

Where is Kings Beach and how do I get there?

Kings Beach is in northern New South Wales, Australia just south of the touristy beach town of Byron Bay. Byron Bay is the easternmost point in Australia and is known for its protected bay and resort town amenities with a small town feel. Popular with teen backpackers and families Byron Bay is a great hopping off point to visit many fine beaches, including a few nudist beaches.

From Byron Bay head south on Pacific Highway just past the small town of Suffolk Park. Turn left at the easy to miss turnoff for the Broken Head Caravan (RV) Park. Just before entering the Caravan Park there will be a road to the right directing you towards the Nature Reserve and Seven Mile Beach. Take the road, which is paved for about a second and then turns to gravel and dirt for about the next mile. At the end of the road is a small car park, no charge and no security. There are no amenities at the car park or the beach so be prepared with sunscreen and water. But keep your items to a minimum, the path to the beach is about a half mile of steep steps, which you will have to climb on the return trip.

Along the path a few benches are provided to rest or take in the natural beauty of the rainforest and the beach beyond. Set the locals at ease by saying a passing "Hello" or "G'day." Enjoy the sounds of the birds singing and the lizards chirping as you descend down the well maintained steps of dirt and wooden planks in anticipation of the refreshing salt water that calls to you from below.

As you step onto the beach, look at the rock outcrops known as the Two Sisters which spawned the legend of the Bundjalung people. Where two sisters went swimming in the strong surf of the bay. One was caught in the current and the other sister was also swept away while attempting to rescue her beloved sister. Let this be a warning to all that the swimming may be refreshing, but the surf is strong and can be dangerous.

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Now enjoy the crescent cove of Kings Beach, flanked by rocks and fringed with the trees of the rainforest.

Kings Beach is well known as a gay nude beach, however single men, gay couples, and straight couples can all be found happily coexisting in this stunning setting. Most of the beach goers tend to keep to themselves, either scattered about the beach on towels or shaded beneath the trees at the edge of the beach. Gay websites will reveal that there are trails in the bush (forest) where cruising takes place, so be aware that it does exist, however if this lone social activity occurred during our visit, it went unnoticed by us.

Enjoy the scenery, play in the water, sit on the rocks, then end the day with the return climb back through the rainforest and the short drive back to civilization.  

Social Nudity, Why?

I have had friends ask me, “Why are you a nudist?” I’ve been asked if I’m an exhibitionist, a swinger, a voyeur, or simply just weird. Maybe I am deluding myself, but I don’t think I’m any of those adjectives.

When I was a child I was a notorious stripper. Back then everyone just thought it was cute. “There she is again, naked as a Jay bird.” I’m sure the heat had a lot to do with the shedding of clothes. Also, as a child there were no concerns about how society would react to my nakedness, regardless of my resemblance to a Jay bird or any other bird for that matter. My only concern was for my own comfort, coolness, and freedom from the confines of my clothing. As I grew a little older, say my early teen years, skinny dipping became a more acceptable opportunity for being naked outside of my bedroom or bathroom. By then the pressures of society were upon me and so skinny dipping took on a new feeling of clandestine naughtiness. My friends and I would slip off our bathing suits and jump into the water blushing and giggling. Still, the desire to be naked outdoors stemmed from the feeling of freedom attained by throwing off our clothes which seemed to represent rules that our families, schools, churches, and the rest of society had thrust upon us. Adulthood seemed to bring with it tighter societal restrictions rather than the liberation I expected. In my mind cleavage and other bodily attributes needed to be well hidden under loose fitting clothes, especially while at work. Otherwise, eyebrows may raise, tongues may wag, and I would be presumed as nothing more than office eye candy rather than a business woman with a brain. So I remained covered up, in and out of the office, for decades. Then I discovered social nudism and rediscovered that childhood feeling of abandon. No clothes to weigh me down. Free from my burdens, even if only symbolically. I’m liberated.

But why public nudity, you may ask? Yes, I could certainly be naked in my home. But there is a different feeling when you are naked in nature rather than hiding indoors. The sun and wind caressing every inch of your skin is tantalizing and you can feel one with nature.

“Ok,” you may say, “I can understand being naked in nature, but why would anyone want to be around other naked people?” Well, there is something to be said about being around like minded people. I certainly wouldn’t feel comfortable walking around naked on a beach or at a party where everyone else is fully clothed. I would stick out like a sore thumb. Plus, the clothed people might be horrified and offended because they might not understand the reasoning behind my nudity. However, if everyone else were also naked then I would fit in and the others would share my viewpoint. Are you beginning to see where I’m coming from? Now let me ask you this question. When was the last time you went somewhere and made friends with fellow travelers or beach goers? I’m not saying it isn’t possible, but from my experience the greetings and conversations have been more temporary and superficial than those I’ve experienced when conversing with fellow nudists.  I think Tom Tiemann, from Bare Necessities Tour and Travel, summed it up perfectly when he wrote, “People who can shed their clothes in public (imperfections and all)---are also able to discard their emotional coverings as well. When they do this, their real self shines through and, they are ready for genuine friendship.”