Uretiti Beach,
Whangarei, Northland

Description:

Once you are on the beach, turn to your right and walk for approximately 10 minutes. You will now be in the "clothes optional" area.

Outside of the holiday season, the camping ground is open (no gatekeeper) and you can drive in. Follow the road to your right and it winds around to the left eventually. Park anywhere to your right and there is an access walkway to the beach. Once again, turn right once you are on the beach, and the clothes-optional area is right there.

The beach has nice white sand and is protected from the prevailing Westerly by a dune running behind the beach. In the Summer months it pays to take an umbrella or gazebo shade - the sun can be fierce and there is no shelter. The water is safe for swimming, and is shallow for a fair distance out so is idea for children.

This is a popular beach in the summer time and is always busy over the holiday season, but it is never "crowded".

There are no shops nearby. Closest shops are at Waipu (10 minutes drive to the South) or Whangarei to the north. There are a couple of Service Stations between Uretiti and Whangarei.

The camping ground has flush toilets, cold running water, rubbish bins and a couple of cold showers "M.A.S.H." style - like an outdoor latrine with wooden walls!

This is an excellent beach within easy reach of Auckland ( 1 1/2 hrs drive ) and Whangarei / Northland.

It is pleasing to see a mix of females / males / children / families there - gives the beach a friendly atmosphere.

This beach is famous as being one of the places where the Tiri II (the second Radio Hauraki boat) washed up during a storm.
 

Getting there:

Pohutukawa Bay,
Hibiscus Coast, Auckland

Description:

Be careful of the hot sand underfoot mid-afternoon!

At the times we have been there the beach appeared to be popular with friendly like minded couples (and a good mixture of both young and old) and was a pleasant change from other beaches that are populated by an overwhelming majority of single males. Most males appear to frequent the south end of the beach while couples usually head towards the northern end.

Although a clothes optional beach some people still appear on the beach in trunks and mingle with clothes free sunbathers. Other members of the public are present at times, walking along the beach line to Long Bay. These people weren’t a problem and generally move on quickly once they realise were they are.

Swimming is generally done towards the middle of the beach and the water is clean and beautiful with no issues of harsh rocks under foot.

Boats were anchored out in the bay, and one colourful boat/barge in particular had about 5-10 nude sunbathers relaxing on it, soaking up the sun.

Overall in our opinion, it was the best clothes free beach in the Auckland area we have been to, and most likely the only one we will be returning to regularly!
 

Getting there:

Drive to the far end of the grounds and park. If the tide is low walk around the cliffs to the second beach along. If the tide is high take the pedestrian track over the cliffs. The walk over the cliffs is hilly and much longer than around the cliff line.
 

Orpheus Bay,
Huia, Auckland

Description:

Boats can be launched nearby at either Little Huia or at Cornwallis Beach but due to the sandstone that is revealed at low tide, care must be taken when approaching the shore and anchoring. There is an area near the western end of the beach that is sandy from high tide to low and this is undoubtedly the best anchorage and landing zone.

The bay is named after the tragic wreck of the steam corvette H.M.S. Orpheus, which foundered on the Manukau Bar on February 7, 1863.
 

Getting there:

Photos:

St. Leonard's Beach,
Takapuna, Auckland

Description:

All day sun and a wonderful view encompassing the Whangaparoa Peninsula, Tiritiri Matangi and Rangitoto Island make this an idyllic spot for a day's picnic or for a quick spot of sunbathing after fishing the Rangitoto channel.

Being a popular nude beach does sometimes have its downsides however and one of those downsides it that it becomes a haven for all those who would never be accepted into a nudist club. The beach has its share of none-to-subtle oglers and single men form a significant majority of the sunbathers at St. Leonard's. I would not recommend the beach to a single unaccompanied woman unless she is prepared for the extra attention she will receive. There are however plenty of couples and groups on the beach and overall the weirdos do not pose any significant annoyance.

Getting there:

St. Leonard's Beach,
Takapuna, Auckland

Description:

My best friend decided to join me for her first visit to a nude beach. (I've been a regular at St Leonard's for the last 3 years.) She's not a nudist herself, but enjoyed her visit. Her comment was that people seemed to accept the mixed textile/nude use of the beach. (She was afraid that she'd have to go starkers.) I've been telling her that it's clothing OPTIONAL. If you don't want to go nude, then don't. There was a good mix of couples, families as well as singles on the beach today. Once she got over her initial trepidation of seeing nude people in public, she relaxed and enjoyed herself. She had a good impression of the beach and she intends to visit many more times.

The tides have been relatively low as of late (2.9m high tide today). During a particularly high tide (3.5m) the beach all but disappears. It pays to check the tide tables or teletext page 494 before heading to St Leonard's. One plus in regards to the high tides is that it tends to discourage the looky-lous from venturing around the various rocky points.

St Leonards is an easy to access beach within 30 minutes drive from most places in Auckland. It's clean and the water is safe to swim in. However, do pay attention to the council signs regarding water quality after a particularly hard rain.

I would recommend it as a good "first time" beach for those interested in nude recreation. If you're female I'd recommend that you go with a friend until you feel comfortable or get to know the regular beach goers. (As it is a public beach there are a few undesirables about, which is unfortunate.)

The water doesn't warm up to a "comfortable" level until late-December/early-January. However, you will get very warm lying about on the sand and the swims are highly recommended for cooling off.

Getting there:

Little Palm Beach,
Waiheke Island,
Auckland

Description:

A nice smooth sandy beach with rocks at both ends, best place for swimming is in the middle, clear water, good footing. There is not much shade to be had so remember to take along a sun umbrella or some type of shade.

The day we were there, there was about 30 people at first, a lot more arrived over the time we spent there, couples, families, singles, mostly nude.

There were a few large boats moored just off the beach; these people either swam into the beach or came ashore in dinghies. Most of the ones I saw seem to be naked.

Word of warning, watch out for the mean boaties, who have a Bar-B-Q at lunchtime with an onshore wind.

There is a shop at the other end of Palm Beach for those ice creams etc. that you may need, also a toilet is just off the beach about half way along Palm Beach.

Well worth the trip, lovely place

Getting there:

Catch the Palm Beach bus ($3.00) and go to where the bus turns around, get off there. Tip if you are going back by bus check the timetable for your return trip. Return buses are timed for the ferries, which do not leave until all the buses are back. Nice.

Easy walk down to the beach, then go left around the rocks onto little Palm Beach.

Palm Springs Thermal Pools,
Parakai,
Auckland

Description:

Organised by the Hibiscus Coast Sun Club, swim night at Palm Springs is a great way to spend the evening on the last Saturday of the month.  As of June 2005 there is a second nude swim night held on the 2nd Saturday of the month and organised by the pool owners themselves. The times are the same but nudity is not optional but mandatory. Just 45 minutes from the central city, Parakai is host to several thermal pools, the largest being Aquatic Park with its hydroslides and commercial appeal to the masses.  Almost directly opposite is Palm Springs, a smaller operation with two large pools, a kids paddling pool and 3 spa pools.

On the clothes-optional night an opaque screen is raised outside the reception area to prevent visitors who unaware of the fact that nudity exists in the pool area from being inadvertently 'exposed' to the naturists within.  As you purchase your entrance tickets a sign is brought to your attention explaining that it is "natural swimming" night and that, if you find nudity offensive, you are welcome to return on another night.  Despite this, some folk still manage to make it all the way into the pool area and appear shocked before making a hasty exit!

Once inside there is a shop and then the first large pool, the cooler of the two, which is 2m deep at the deep end and has a mini-tramp for the more adventurous (mainly kids) to leap onto before somersaulting into the pool.  Immediately behind this pool is the second large pool, usually as hot as a spa pool and great for just lazing around chatting to friends in.  Often as not, you'll end up sitting on the edge of this pool to cool down a little before slipping back in to simmer a little longer.  Alongside this pool is a kids paddling pool, only a foot or so in depth and usually full of reclining adults who seek something a little cooler to soak in.  Heading back towards reception is an outdoor dining area where you can relax with a light meal from the shop.  Meals range from burgers and plates of chips to nachos and a variety of other snacks.  Milkshakes, soft drinks, beer and wine are also available from the shop and prices are quite reasonable.

A couple of steps down from the dining area are three spa pools and a barbecue area with picnic tables, although I've never seen the barbecues in action and am not sure what the procedure is if one wishes to use them.  There are also, apparently, private spa rooms for hire although, once again, I've never used them so can't describe them.

The swim night is clothes optional so nudity among the patrons is not 100% although naturists make up the majority of the patrons by far and the bathing costumed patrons are obviously comfortable and not unduly intrigued with the nudity.  On any given swim night there may be 80+ naturist patrons.  The atmosphere is friendly, fun and family oriented.  Artemis and I have been to the Palm Springs swim night several times now and it has become a favourite way to spend that last Saturday night of the month.

Getting there:

Ph: +64 (9) 420 8321

From Auckland City get on to the North-Western motorway and head west to the very end of the motorway and turn left (at Westgate) to Helensville.  Less than a kilometre along is a large roundabout where you turn right to go to Helensville and Riverhead.  Continue along this road, through Huapai, Waimauku and, at its end (another roundabout), turn left to Parakai.  Once in Parakai, keep an eye out on the left and you'll spot the sign for Palm Springs where you can turn in and park.

Remember, nude bathing is only after 6pm on the 2nd and last Saturdays of the month from February to November.  Entry (as at May 2005) is $10 per adult. On the 2nd Saturday of the month women and couples* (*male/female) get a special entry price ($15 for a couple). This pricing is intended to encourage more families and couples to attend.

Kaueranga Valley, Thames

Description:

The valley  winds from Thames into the Coramandel Range and the narrow road follows the Kaurenga River from it's semi-estuarine mouth into the Firth of Thames back to upper reaches in the valley. Various Department of Conservation administered campsites line the left bank as you drive up the road and camping fees at these sites are very reasonable. The valley is not, as such, a nudist location but in the quieter seasons it is possible to have an entire campground to yourself so at these times going "au naturel" is quite possible without causing offence to other campers. Indeed, even in the busiest season it is possible to find plenty of private locations to sunbathe or swim in the nude.

The river is stony and, during the summer months, the rocks absorb a lot of the day's heat and the river becomes positively tepid. It is a delight to pack a picnic lunch and find a secluded location near one of the many swimming holes on the Kaueranga River or one of its many tributaries to just laze the day away at in the sun.

Many tracks run through the bush throughout the valley and it is possible to see the remains of several historic Kauri logging dams that were active in the earlier part of the 20th century. These dams are situated on smaller tributary streams to the Kaueranga River and there are many small pools along the route that make for a great way to cool off during your hikes. Walks range from 20 minute strolls to all-day hikes.

I have been going to the Kaueranga Valley for over 20 years now and, while there have been many changes in that time, the valley still retains a genuine back-to-basics feel that gives a real sense of being at one with nature.

Getting there:

Opoutere Beach,
E. coast of Coromandel

Description:

The beach sand is quartz and so the water is generally clear. The four times I have been there, there were only small waves and I did not detect rip currents, though one has to be highly wary of rips all along the Bay of Plenty/E. Coromandel coast.

The beach, being so far away from any major settlement, is a very quiet one - I have had it almost to myself on Christmas day. By mutual, informal agreement, it is the central section of the beach that is clothes-optional, since the south end is the closest to the car park and thus favoured by non-nudist families, while the north end has a cluster of beach-baches behind it (there is no public access to the beach at the north end).

There is a non-nudist holiday camp in the pinewoods behind the central section, and people staying at the camp sometimes look surprised to see naked people when they walk out of the pines onto the beach.

Being in such a remote location there is no gay 'cruising'. Part of the beach is a dotterel reserve with the usual restrictions on dogs and foot access at certain seasons.

Getting there:

Parking for the beach is down a sharp right turn after going through the cluster of baches. Foot access from there is over a wooden bridge and into radiata pine forest.

Follow the sandy paths north and then eastwards to come out onto the beach itself - its about a 1km walk to the clothing-optional section.

Peka Peka Beach

Description:

Apparently the nude bathing is to the right when you walk on to the beach, but on the day that I went, there was no one on the beach at all. I wandered to the right for a bit, then back to towards the southern end of the beach. A 4x4 turned up within 10 minutes and another beachgoer arrived not long after that, so the three of us settled for an hour's sunsoaking and had a very good chat.

The beach is clean and tidy, with nice white sand and views as far as the eye can see. Swimming would be good as long as the weather was Ok, but being open to the sea due care would need to be taken especially with children.

There is no shelter and no facilities.

The two photos are of the beach the day I was there - one looking out to Kapiti Island, the other of the two souls that I had a good long chat with!!

Getting there:

Approximately 10 minutes north of Waikanae, find Te Hapua road on the left, turn and follow this road to the turning area at the end.

Park and walk down the fenced track to the beach.

Ototoka Beach

Description:

If there are no cars in the carpark, strip off and walk nude down the track to the beach, stop to admire the waterfall on the way.

The main beach is used by families and fishermen, if you walk north around the point you will have the beach pretty much to yourself.

Stop and explore the rock pools on the point.

Ototoka Beach is good for fishing so you may wish to take the fishing rod.

The main beach is quite shallow although being a West Coast Beach, the sands shift from one day to the next ,so watch out for holes if going in for a swim.

Also, watch the tides especially if heading around the point as if the tide comes in it may mean a scramble up the cliff.

You can walk for miles along the beach and not see a sole and if you do, chances are they will smile and say "Hello".

Getting there: