Despite, or perhaps because of, all the publicity about Byron’s legal clothing-optional beach at Tyagarah, nudists say the beach is more popular than ever.
Byron Naturists counted 100 people at lunchtime on Sunday (December 30) within the 800-metre confines of the official clothing-optional beach, which they say is a record for 2018.
Spokesperson Debra Conomy said in a media release, ‘We have been keeping statistics on beach use this year and this is the first time we have counted 100 people at one time!’
The breakdown included 35 couples (70 people), 18 single males, and an organised group of young people in their 20s under a large tent.
Ms Conomy added, ‘The Council safety trial has transformed beach culture and the vibe over the holidays was relaxed and fun’.
‘Our members noticed beach users bringing their Eskies to make a day of it, having fun in the waves, walking, reading, playing Frisbee, and sun baking. But they did not observe any harassment or sexual activity’.
She said the beach north of Grays Lane appeared to be quiet even though it was busy in the designated nude area.
‘This is a win/win situation. Nudists have a space and local residents have a sublime and relatively empty section of beach that stretches all the way to Brunswick Heads,’ Ms Conomy said.
Spot on ! Despite the blue bottles it was a great crowd and fantastic to see a lot of younger people, who were happy to chat with anyone. A first timer asked permission before he laid his towel down (let’s face it with 100 people it was pretty crammed), nonetheless, so thoughtful not wanting to encroach my space. I’ve never been to a more welcoming beach.
Great to hear ,lets hope we get more people to the C/O section.
I am not so sure it is becoming more popular. The same three people have been chatting there on the otherwise empty beach in every article about this for months.
Jan. You are saying locals walked 200 metres south of the carpark and were chased out of the CO area.
I call bullshit.
In over 20 years i have never seen any one chased out of the area. Clothed or not.
This sound like what Cr Jan Hackett said in the November Council meeting: “It has become over the last 20 years a nude beach only – clothed people are not welcome. In other words, it has become a private beach for nude bathers”.
My partner and I go to Tyagarah frequently and there is NO insistence on nudity there. It’s clothing-optional. OPTIONAL being the key word.
It is not unusual to see couples where one person is nude and the other is in swimmers. Lots of people also walk or jog through the designated clothing-optional zone and feel no pressure to disrobe.
Tyagarah residents have choices. They can either use the glorious mainstream beach that stretches several kilometres north to Brunswick Heads from the entrance track at the Grays Lane car park. Or they are free to walk 200m south of the entrance track to the designated clothing-optional section which they can use in swimwear or without.
I personally know many “local nudists” and the claim that some of them have chased, harassed and threatened other local residents seems ludicrous to me.
Based on my experience, I can categorically say that Tyagarah is not the private province of naturists but is an inclusive public space.
I’m not sure why, if you’re not a nudist, this affects you? In that sense it’s no different to the same sex marriage debate.
As someone mortified of removing clothes in public, I can honestly say, to those who receive a sense of liberty and solitude from it, go for it!
There are numerous beaches in our shire for those who wish to wear clothes.. there has to be egalitarianism here, not fear mongering as Jan has espoused. It’s quite comical to see people so prude and rejecting of someone that scares them for its lack of perceived modesty.
Welcome to 2019, Jan.
I don’t see what they are complaining about, Werribee in Victoria used to have a CO beach, but they closed it and made it a “dog beach” instead!
I was there yesterday with my hubby, there were a few people down there, so d within bathers some without. Had a conversation with a guy that was there for the first time.
Couldn’t really go for a swim due to bluebottles (no warning signs by the way and no sting kits in the car park).
We went for a walk up and down the beach, saw no unlawful behaviour, saw nobody get chased away.
I wouldn’t know who was local or not.
Had a wonderful start to the year ohh and yes we were nude.
Yippee commonsense at last, thou a small section near town would be great.
Why not sunrise to 9am nude Belongil, 7pm to sunset ? win win.
Namaste
Spot on Sally, a little area for an early morning dip near the creek after yoga. We need to reclaim Byron before it’s just another costal town with wall to wall franchises and no soul and spirit
Namaste to you too
XOXX
My partner and I drive from Brisbane to specifically visit Tyagarah as it’s one of the closest legal clothes optional beaches for us, we’ve been down there a few times now and we absolutely love it. We’ve even met up with other friends due to feeling so comfortable – we’ve never witnessed anything lewd or unlawful, indeed any time we’ve chatted to anybody else while there we have always found people to be respectful and courteous. I can’t wait to go back down soon, as you just feel so free and connected to nature. Nothing at all remotely sexual about it.