Nude Beaches Around Adelaide and Perth: A Complete Guide

Australia’s southern and western coasts offer completely different approaches to clothes-free beach days. Around Adelaide, you’ll find dramatic cliffs, bright white sands that seem almost unreal, and remote freshwater shores that feel like the edge of the world. Around Perth, the scene shifts to reliable city beaches and wide stretches of Indian Ocean coastline.

We visited both regions in December 2025, and what struck us most was how different the nude beach cultures in these two places are. Adelaide offers variety and a bit of adventure. Perth gives you accessibility with a side of afternoon wind. Both are worth your time, but for different reasons.

The greater Adelaide area gives you three distinct options, each with its own character. One is on a freshwater lake hours inland, another has some of the whitest sand we’ve ever seen, and the third comes with high cliffs and decades of nude beach history.

Pelican Point is on the shore of Lake Bonney in the Riverland, roughly two to three hours inland from Adelaide. This is South Australia at its most expansive. Wide sky, open water, and a shoreline that makes you slow down without thinking about it. The drive out carries that “more horizon than anything else” feeling, and by the time you arrive, the landscape has shifted into something quieter and more elemental.

When we were there, we found the entry path half-fenced and the sanitary block closed. This appears to be a leftover from 2023, when the government briefly considered removing Pelican Point’s nude beach status. The local community pushed back successfully, and the beach remains officially clothes-free. The shoreline itself has changed in recent years too. Flooding stripped away much of the grass that used to line the edge, leaving more exposed sand. We didn’t enter the water during our visit, but we’ve since had it confirmed that Lake Bonney is safe for swimming.

The name sounds unfortunate, but don’t let that stop you. When we visited, there was no smell whatsoever. What we did find was some of the most beautiful beach scenery we’ve encountered. Bright white sand, clear blue water, and a long, open stretch that makes you want to keep walking just to see if it ever ends. Officially, the nude section runs for about 500 metres. In practice, there’s no signage marking boundaries, so if you’re trying to find where the nude zone ends, you might be in for a very long walk.

Stinky Beach is at the edge of Sunland, Australia’s only coastal nudist resort. The property covers more than 100 hectares of forest and sand dunes, which means if you’re not someone who can stay put on the beach all day, there’s plenty of space for a naked hike. Sunland also provides the best access point to the beach and the most practical option for overnight stays. The resort offers both rental accommodation and camping pitches, along with a pool, sauna, and clubhouse.

Maslin Beach is the most famous nude beach in Australia, and we’ll admit we went in with expectations slightly tempered by that fame. We figured the reputation had more to do with history (Maslin was Australia’s first official nude beach) than with the beach itself. We were wrong. Once we saw the wide stretch of sand backed by high cliffs, we understood what the fuss is all about.

What also makes Maslin compelling is how close it is to Adelaide. Only a short drive south of the city centre, yet once you’re down on the sand, it feels far more isolated than the map suggests. Unlike Stinky Beach, there’s no ambiguity about where the nude area begins. The unclad zone stretches along the southern half of the beach for about a kilometre, and it’s clearly marked by a huge sign. Access is straightforward too. There are two parking areas, one at the top where you can take stairs down, and another toward the northern end where you can walk along the beach.

Perth’s nude beach scene presents a different picture. The city offers easy access to one major beach, and when you start travelling south, you’ll encounter more nude beaches after every hour of driving or so.

Swanbourne is Perth’s most famous nude beach, and it earns that status through sheer convenience. Close enough to the city that you can make it a spontaneous decision, and access couldn’t be simpler. There’s a small parking area with a path that drops you near the nude section. The area is clearly signposted, so there’s no wandering around wondering if you’re in the right place.

The beach itself is massive and wide, with plenty of room to find your own spot. Near the start of the nude section, we found the typical nude beach energy. People reading, napping, and just enjoying the sun in a relaxed, comfortable way. Further along, however, the dunes seemed to attract a different crowd. The beach goers there appeared to be on a mission, if you know what we mean. Our advice would be to stick closer to the entry point.

In Port Kennedy, about an hour south of Perth, Warnbro Beach has this “wild, but still close to the city” kind of feel. Simple parking, a short walk, and then the beach opens up with signs confirming you’re in the right spot. The sand here is bright white, the water is clean, shallow, and blue, and the setting genuinely invites you to stay for a few hours.

Timing matters though. The best time to visit Warnbro, or any beach in this area, is in the morning. Past midday a famous breeze nicknamed “The Doctor” rolls in, and suddenly your sarong isn’t just for sitting on anymore but for protecting yourself from windblown sand. It’s a reliable beach with a pleasant atmosphere. Just plan your visit for the morning.

By the time you reach Mindalong Beach, you’ve long left Perth’s city boundaries. But if you’re willing to drive a bit further to South Bunbury, you’ll find something genuinely special. A nude beach where you might have the entire stretch of sand almost entirely to yourself.

We visited on a Sunday at the end of December, which is peak summer, and we had this massive stretch of coast nearly all for ourselves. It’s the kind of place that reminds you what you enjoy so much about nude beaches in the first place. The chance to slow down, stop overthinking, and just exist without the layers.

Both cities offer worthwhile nude beach options, but they serve different purposes. Adelaide gives you variety. Maslin has the history and dramatic cliffs. Stinky Beach offers spectacular scenery and connection to a resort. Pelican Point provides genuine remoteness. If you want to explore different types of nude beach settings, Adelaide rewards that curiosity.

Perth offers accessibility with a few caveats. Swanbourne is convenient and reliable and has the busy city vibe. Warnbro and Mindalong are more wild and desolate. Australia’s southern and western coasts offer more than most people realise and we definitely believe that both Adelaide and Perth have options worth your time. So what are you waiting for?