A nudist who hikes through bushland in nothing more than his shoes and socks has questioned why more people aren’t comfortable going naked in Australia.
French-Australian Vincent Marty, 57, balances his cleaning business and security consulting with what he sees as his ‘real work’: building a naturist community.
Naturism is a lifestyle where non-sexual nudity in private and public is celebrated as promoting harmony with nature and enjoying the freedom nudity brings.
‘For me, nude hiking is both freedom and health. By the time I stop, remove my shoes and socks, and walk barefoot, I feel completely part of nature,’ he told Daily Mail.
‘I regularly hike 20km to 35km a day, often carrying a 17–25kg pack depending on how remote I venture… it feels like a walking meditation.
‘While it’s unlikely to cure any serious illness, it provides the exercise I need as I’m overweight, and those regular hikes help me keep my weight in check.’
But, while Australia has nude beaches, Mr Marty said there is only a handful of legal locations and many ‘unofficial grey areas’.
‘Australia loves its beaches and outdoors, but culturally we’re still conservative. In over 45 years of nude hiking, I’ve been “caught” a few times,’ he said.
French-Australian Vincent Marty (pictured) hikes up to 35km in bushland in the nude
The 57-year-old (pictured) said being a naturist, which is when he takes time to be nude outdoors without any sexual intention, has been beneficial for his health and mindset
‘People always stop, and the first thing they ask is: ‘Are you OK?’ because they don’t know what to say.
‘Then, as I explain my lifestyle, they smile, chat, or even admit they’ve skinny-dipped before. I’ve never had a negative encounter.’
Nude beaches can be found in all states and territories, from Maslin Beach in South Australia to Mauritius Beach near Exmouth in Western Australia.
Popular holiday spots also feature nude-friendly beaches, including Kings Beach in Byron Bay and Sunnyside North Beach in Victoria’s Port Phillip Bay.
‘Unofficial naturist spots are also widely used… these places operate in a legal grey zone and are tolerated by some, but always at risk of police enforcement or complaints,’ Mr Marty said.
He said some iconic naturist locations have also been shut down, such as Tyagarah Beach in Byron Bay which lost its legal status last year, despite an 8,000-strong petition and protests.
Australia also has a network of naturist clubs and private retreats but most restrict membership to couples or families.
‘Very few welcome singles openly, which is why many Australians choose to practice naturism independently, at beaches, on hikes, or at private gatherings rather than in club settings,’ he said.
Clothing-optional beaches, often associated with European countries like France or Spain, can also be found in several states and territories across Australia (stock image)
Mr Marty, who first experienced the naturist community when he was 12 years old, said he wants to see nudity accepted in more public areas including parts of city harbours and parks
For Mr Marty, the real barrier to normalising naturist lifestyles is outdated laws and stigma in Australia.
‘I’d like to see nudity accepted on more beaches in popular areas and all other beaches, in bushland, along riverbanks, in sections of national parks, and even in parts of city harbours and city parks, so city people have a safe space to practice,’ he said.
But he was quick to add that this is not about forcing nudity on anyone.
‘It’s about giving those who wish to practice non-sexual nudity for health and wellbeing the legal right to do so, without fear of fines or stigma,’ he said.
‘If we can set aside areas for dog parks, fishing, and bike lanes, we can set aside spaces for naturists.
‘Right now, naturist spaces are shrinking…. without action, the community is left to rely on unofficial areas at constant risk.’
The solution is ‘simple’, according to Mr Marty, who has taken matters into his own hands with a petition on Change.org calling for a change to legislation.
With 4,765 signatures since it was started in December 2024, he has proposed a ‘public decency and nudity clarification bill’.
Mr Marty said there are only a handful of legal locations with ‘many unofficial grey areas’ (pictured, a sign at yagarah Beach in Byron Bay after its legal status was revoked)
The petition would amend relevant legislation to differentiate between public nudity and lewd behaviour to ‘promote clarity, protection, and inclusivity across Australia’.
‘France, Spain, and Germany all recognised naturism legally nearly a century ago, and today they allow clothing-optional use in many public spaces, including trails and riverbanks,’ Mr Marty said.
‘Australia has the landscapes and climate to do the same, but instead we treat harmless nudity as indecency.’
Born in south-west France, the naturist activist said his ‘journey’ with the practice goes back to being 12 years old, spending his summers clothes-free at rivers, fields and in forests.
‘Later, I visited naturist villages like Cap d’Agde, where tens of thousands live nude every summer.
‘That showed me that naturism wasn’t fringe, it was cultural, healthy, and normal.’
Mr Marty has since founded the campaign group Naturism Resurgence (NaturismRE) and its spiritual branch ‘Naturis Sancta’.
The philosophy is something he said he embraces in every aspect of his life, even in his serious profession as a security consultant.
Mr Marty has taken matters into his own hands with a petition to change legislation
‘For me, naturism is not about shock or rebellion. It’s about freedom, equality, respect, and reconnecting with nature,’ he said.
‘The same values guide my professional life: I hold a Defence Broker Licence, one of only 18 in the country, and I’ve chosen to deal only in non-lethal technologies.
‘Just as I believe safety doesn’t need to mean violence, I believe naturism doesn’t need to mean indecency.’
Mr Marty is not alone, receiving dozens of comments on his petition to change Australian legislation.
‘People have a choice in following religions, I would like to choose to be at clothing optional events and camping grounds and swim nude with groups of other people who are similar minded,’ one person said.
Another said: ‘As we were born with nothing on, we should have the right to bare it off!’
There are also other naturist groups that celebrate the movement across the country, including Get Naked Australia and the Australian Naturist Federation.
