Among the many benefits of living in a city like Sydney, is the relaxed attitude that makes nude beaches not only easily accessible, but also insanely popular. Even though we arrived fairly early at the lovely little cove that contains Cobblers Beach, the clean crescent of sand and even the flat portion of cliff above, was already occupied by a long line sunbathers, happily freed of all their clothing. We were lucky to get a comfy little portion of beach before the afternoon got even warmer and there was more flesh than sand. If the idea of being at all close to a nude stranger makes you uncomfortable, then this certainly isn’t the beach for you. It’s all nude, all ages, all shapes and sizes, very popular and very friendly.
Before you even think to ask, no, I did not spend the day sans clothing. My bathing suit parts have never seen the sunlight, and considering my sensitivity to sun in general, I’m not sure they ever should. I also happen to think my bikinis (what the Aussies call a swimming cozzie) are pretty cute, so I prefer to wear them. But if nudity was a private club that required a member’s invitation to set foot inside the front door, then Gabe is my entry ticket. I was, however, happy to exercise the option of changing out of my swimsuit without the necessity of an overused beach bathroom, or an ineffective towel shield. Very convenient.
Cobblers Beach is on one of the many peninsulas in Sydney that has been left as a nature reserve, and is a short, tree-lined walk away from the nearest parking lot, so it’s surrounded by nothing but trees and rocks. Like all Sydney beaches, the sand is squeaky soft, and the water is blue and sparkling. But of all the beaches I have had occasion to visit so far, I’ve enjoyed this one the most. Even though it was a definite hot spot on this unseasonably warm spring Sunday, it was worlds away from the touristy buzz of Manly or Bondi. And the type of people who seem to be drawn to choose a nude beach over the many other options in Sydney, are not only (clearly) uninhibited, but also very friendly. In fact a great many of them seemed to know each other, and were either meeting friends on the beach or catching up in passing. Judging from the many people who’s only tan lines were in the fold under their butt cheeks, I figured there were lots of regulars.
The legally nude zone also includes the portion of water within the cove, which made this area equally popular with boaters. Several boats were anchored just a short swim away from the beach, where their passengers lay nude on the deck. But being isolated on their own boats made them no less gregarious. They were shuttling their dinghy’s (and I don’t mean that as a metaphor) to each others boats, and by the end of the afternoon there was the beginnings of a nudist colony on the deck of one of the larger vessels.
The accessibility to boats also made it possible for the tiny boat selling refreshments, to get close enough to the beach for his customers to only have to wade knee deep to place an order. And the cooperative nature of the people on the beach became even more evident,as they grabbed the tow line to help him steer to the shore, and each patiently took turns holding it to keep the boat straight, as the person in front of them placed their order. The cappuccinos, made fresh on the boat as it bobbed in the tide next to the growing line of nude customers, were excellent. If the man who runs the refreshment boat has no competition, then he’s not only a shrewd businessman, but must be a master at making cappuccinos on dry land. And just in case you were wondering, he did not take advantage of his brief visit to the beach to serve coffee naked. Although, I’m sure no one would have found it strange.
After I got over the initial strangeness one would understandably feel when suddenly surrounded by naked strangers, I actually found it very comfortable. There is something about being around people clearly free of inhibitions and judgments that peels away all the ones you might have arrived with. I now know that, with the exception of a few gentlemen who looked like they were still wearing speedos when they had in fact been removed, the Aussies are a fairly clean-shaven bunch, regardless of sex or age. I’m much more familiar now with a few trends in piercing that I seem to have missed. Ouch. And I will probably never be uncomfortable in a bathing suit (a.k.a. cozzie) ever again.
The only thing I would have asked of this beach, was a slight increase in the temperature of the water. Anything a few degrees above the icy temperature that must have been somewhere between a meat locker and gelato, would have been nice. But I was still very happy that I took a dip. And in keeping with the theme of the beach, all it took was Gabe and I venturing into the water to encourage several other people to try it as well. According to some of the well tanned regulars, the water is actually quite nice in the summer. I will definitely come back, and maybe next time I wont bother with the cozzie.
