Nude swimming, once a cherished tradition at Tyagarah Nature Reserve near Byron Bay, has been banned. The National Parks and Wildlife Service recently claimed jurisdiction, erecting signs prohibiting nudity and imposing $500 fines. The decision has sparked disappointment among former students and visitors who enjoyed the clothing-optional area.
After a 1700-kilometer drive from Melbourne to northern NSW, my partner and I were looking forward to a dip in a long-time favorite nude swimming spot just north of Byron Bay, the tea-tree lakes and beach at Tyagarah Nature Reserve . We parked the car and walked in through a gap in the red lilly-pilly, green-leaved rose walnut and other trees that make up these stunning coastal marsh and swamp sclerophyll forests, stripped off and dived into the warm, tea-colored lake.
We were immediately approached by a group of locals in swimming gear who informed us that nudity is no longer allowed in Tyagarah. Not wishing to cause a problem and feeling suddenly self-conscious, we apologized and moved to a quieter part of the lake. Byron Shire Council approved the area as clothing-optional in 1998 and in 2018 rejected plans to abolish it despite complaints about lewd behavior. However, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, which only recently discovered that it had jurisdiction over the land, erected signs at the main entrance, pointing out that this is no longer a clothing-optional area and $500 fines would apply. I’m both stunned and saddened because as a former student here in the 1990s, naked swimming was one of the things I loved most about the area. Signs at Tyagarah Beach, in February last year, outlined where swimmers could strip down – and where they couldn’t. Since then, the clothing-optional signs have been removed. Nude bathing is no longer an option. Having just returned from six months in Europe, I can’t shake the feeling that Australia is becoming much more prudish
Nudity Public Bathing Australia Environment Tyagarah Nature Reserve
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Blake Lively says she was pressured to do It Ends With Us scene nudeThe actress says her co-star and director Justin Baldoni insisted she perform a birth scene naked, without prior discussion.
Read more »
Blake Lively says she was pressured to do It Ends With Us scene nudeThe actress says her co-star and director Justin Baldoni insisted she perform a birth scene naked, without prior discussion.
Read more »
Blake Lively says she was pressured to do It Ends With Us scene nudeThe actress says her co-star and director Justin Baldoni insisted she perform a birth scene naked, without prior discussion.
Read more »
Finding the Perfect Nude Lipstick: A Controversial New HackAn internet theory suggests that the perfect nude lipstick should match the color of your nipples, complicating the straightforward task of choosing makeup. This article explores the validity of this hack and recommends simpler, more elegant options.
Read more »
Reserve Bank Faces Pressure for Interest Rate Cut Amidst Economic WoesNew figures show the deepest hit to Australians' living standards in decades, putting pressure on the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates. Treasurer Jim Chalmers faces criticism over economic management as the economy struggles with only 0.3 percent growth in the September quarter.
Read more »
A terrible set of numbers for a treasurer and Reserve Bank governorNo matter how much Jim Chalmers tries to find a golden thread in these bleak economic numbers, there’s no getting away from the fact consumers are scarred.
Read more »