Werns Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 So, this might sound a bit weird, but I need some information about how the people dress (or lack thereof) on the beaches, especially Queensland where we are heading.I read an article about them trying to make topless bathing illegal and then saw that they said that it is fairly common in Australia.I want to know how common is this?Can one safely go to the beach without covering your and your kids eyes half the time?I have heard that their are several nude beaches in Australia, so I thought this kind of behaviour would be restricted to those beaches, but it seems it isn't.I'm hoping someone can put me to rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaL Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 I live in Queensland and most people wear bathers at the beach, I think I've seen someone topless sunbathing once in Perth and once In Queensland and it was most likely tourists. There are nudist beaches around the country.I don't think you are going to have any problems, there are so many wonderful isolated beaches...where exactly are you headed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Werns Posted October 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Thank goodness!I was hoping that that would be the case, and that what I read was blown a bit out of proportion.We aren't sure exactly where yet, but we're thinking Gympie or Maryborough, with Hervey Bay or Bundaberg outside possibilities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sa2Nz2Oz Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Gold Coast - didnt see any nudes!!! Maybe like people say it will be on private beaches in smaller places. I once bust this guy on Surfers beach harassing girls sitting on the beach - me as a SA person - very observant saw this guy just going from girl to girl on the beach and you could see the girls were moving off fast - kind of a creep guy! I reported it to Police patrolling the beach and gave the the information of who he is and what he is doing - it wasnt 10mins that he was approached and taken off the beach!! Sorry a bit off the nude beaches! The was a programme in Oz called Surf Patrol I think and it would of been a good one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elliemellie Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Hi,We visited beaches around Perth, Geraldton and on the Gold Coast. I would say that they are very similar to SA beaches in regards to how much or how little is covered.One can go to the beach without covering the eyes too often (i suppose one can't get away from speedo's and cellulite!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sa2Nz2Oz Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 (edited) Speedo - In Aus its called a Budgie Smuggler! Edited October 2, 2012 by Sa2Nz2Oz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rozellem Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 There are nudist beaches, like in any country, but they are normally difficult to get to (like Sandy Bay in RSA). You wont sumble on them by accident with your toddlers in tow. Compared to Europe, and I think even RSA, they are mega conservative on the beach. Most young girls wear board shorts with a bikini top. Kids are very covered up, you wont see naked babies/kids. My 4 year old nephew stripped himself on a beach and kids came up to us and said "why is this boy 'rudy nudy' ?" In 4 year I have never even seen a topless woman. In general their sunsafe habbits influence what they wear. You will find the chick on Bondi Beach with the g-string to be a tourist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaL Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 My friend in Perth refers to topless sunbathers as white pointers..... Hervey Bay is lovely, but can be a bit touristy, Gympie is more regional but still about an hour to beaches etc. You are quite well placed to travel around some great Queensland spots from any of those areas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21yearsoutofrsa Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 (edited) Topless sunbathing is legal in Australia. If you were to complain to the police that someone was sunbathing topless you will be given an odd look and nothing will be done about it.The more touristy the beach the more likely you are to encounter it.It is easy to avoid if you want, even on touristy beaches. It is extremely unlikely that someone will come right up to you and strip off. If they did you would be expected to move, not them. If you don't want to see topless sunbathers don't sit next to them is my advice. Edited October 3, 2012 by 16yearsoutofrsa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikej Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 I'm hoping someone can put me to rest.Gee Werns I hope you get to see Australia before that happens. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronwyn&Co Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 (edited) Werns what's wrong with topless sunbathing? Doesn't bother me or my kids, I reckon live & let live (but I also get that it's not your preference) Edited October 3, 2012 by Bronwyn&Co Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OubaasDik Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 Gee Werns I hope you get to see Australia before that happens.THAT'S an SA sense of humour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunnyskies Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 (edited) Only seen it at Bondi, but who cares. You will see enough flesh on people who are fully dressed - in Melbourne the skirts can be super short and on the Gold Coast I've seen plenty of low cut tops. As Bronwyn says live and let live.People are more concerned if you whip out a camera and start taking pics of potentially other people's kids on the beach or public pool. Everyone is super concerned with Internet kiddy porn. Edited October 3, 2012 by Sunnyskies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emille Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 you obviously dont have many problems if this is the extent of your worries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizM Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 I grew up going to beaches in Cronulla and Wollongong and two of my aunts and some of their friends would suntan topless. You'll see it here and there but with the awareness of skin cancer I think it's going to become rarer.When we were there in December/Jan I was far too busy body surfing and looking after my boys I didn't even notice. I'll have to ask hubby if he did Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikej Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 Don't believe them Werns it is not safe in Australia, there are naked people everywhere. Save yourself RUN 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaL Posted October 4, 2012 Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 Yep, I agree with what most people have said, I also don't have any issue with topless sunbathers.....I do have issue with hubby nearly falling down in the sand trying to have a perv. You do see some interesting fashions with a lot of skin exposed...... My pet hate is those little tiny denim shorts which are so tiny that the interior pockets hang out.....but maybe I'm just a grumpy old woman. You will likely see more moobs than boobs on the beaches.........ugh, shield my eyes.Just out of interest, I find it quite funny that those of us who have lived in RSA have issues with breasts given that bare breasts are such a common part of various Indigenous people's culture in RSA.I think you will find Australia a much more cosmopolitan and accepting society in that we don't judge people because they have tattoos or dress differently. I know that some people take umbrage to the amount of swearing you will likely hear, but I like that people are so comfortable in themselves that they don't pretend to be anything different than they are...... I find less facades here and I like that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaL Posted October 4, 2012 Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 Ooh, I forgot to say, you will be less concerned with nudity on QLD beaches than trying to make sure you don't get stung by a box jellyfish. http://www.qldbeaches.com/stingers.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansaPlease Posted October 4, 2012 Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 I thought this kind of behaviour would be restricted to those beaches, but it seems it isn't.Don't worry, most ladies you will encounter on the beach with their knockers out are likely to be well behaved... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Posted October 4, 2012 Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 (edited) Ooh, I forgot to say, you will be less concerned with nudity on QLD beaches than trying to make sure you don't get stung by a box jellyfish. http://www.qldbeache...m/stingers.htmlThat's like saying she will be eaten by a crocodile in the Brisbane River. Your geography is a bit out, don't get them or crocodiles down south of queensland I remember getting my only case of sunstroke when my early teens self happened to end up next to some admirable white pointers. They didn't move for a long time so I didn't either Edited October 4, 2012 by Fish 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaL Posted October 5, 2012 Report Share Posted October 5, 2012 (edited) That's like saying she will be eaten by a crocodile in the Brisbane River. Your geography is a bit out, don't get them or crocodiles down south of queensland I thought stingers were only really from Gladstone upwards and Werns did mention possibly moving to Bundaberg.....but, last year when I was at Surfers Paradise a girl I know was stung by what she says was a marine stinger....of course the scientists are linking it to global warming and increased ocean temperatures There is growing concern that Irukandji and Chironex fleckeri may migrate south along the Queensland coast as ocean temperatures continue to rise. Irukandji syndrome has been reliably reported from stings as far south as Bundaberg for some decades. In 2007 carybdeid jellyfish were captured as far south as the Hervey Bay region but no cases of Irukandji syndrome were reported in the area that yearhttp://www.marinesti...f/msar_0910.pdfA signifi cant increase in bluebottle stings was also reportedthis season in the South-East region. This increase was due to acombination of weather factors which contributed to a greaternumber of blueblottles.http://www.lifesaving.com.au/downloads/Media%20Releases/SLSQ%20Annual%20Report%202009-10.pdfI'd still think there is a greater chance of being stung by something than being deluged by naked people on Queensland beaches Edited October 5, 2012 by AndreaL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaL Posted October 5, 2012 Report Share Posted October 5, 2012 (edited) Oops, trigger happy fingers posted twice. Edited October 5, 2012 by AndreaL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaughanroe Posted October 5, 2012 Report Share Posted October 5, 2012 Something I have come to realise is that things only become an issue when you generally make them an issue.Topless sunbathing does not occur often in Perth. I would surely have seen by now.If it did occur however i doubt there would be a right big South African sized fuss about it. Just because a girl is topless does not mean she is going to do a lap dance and offer services to every man and his dog. I understand being conservative etc and with two young sons I am going to have some kinda challenge in about 10 years but kids will be kids and you tell them they will go blind from looking at nude women (or deaf or hairy) then you know what? They gonna see if that is true. Then they gonna find out you lied to them... and then any guidance you give them when they need it will only carry half the impact it may require.I digress however. Topless beaches are not the worst thing in the world. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Posted October 6, 2012 Report Share Posted October 6, 2012 (edited) I thought stingers were only really from Gladstone upwards and Werns did mention possibly moving to Bundaberg.....but, last year when I was at Surfers Paradise a girl I know was stung by what she says was a marine stinger....of course the scientists are linking it to global warming and increased ocean temperatures http://www.marinesti...f/msar_0910.pdfhttp://www.lifesavin...ort 2009-10.pdfI'd still think there is a greater chance of being stung by something than being deluged by naked people on Queensland beaches Yes, if you're talking about the bog standard blue bottle that curses much of Australia than yes, more worrying than white pointers...but box jellyfish down south is limited to extremely rare sitings in newspaper reports and global warming talk so I'd say there are far more white pointers to worry about if you are averse to them Edited October 6, 2012 by Fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaL Posted October 6, 2012 Report Share Posted October 6, 2012 Is there a man alive who is averse to white pointers? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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