The Nude Beaches around Adelaide
Adelaide, Riverland and Limestone Coast
Australia’s first official nude beach, a resort-backed coastal escape, and a remote inland lake worth the drive.
snapshot
South Australia’s clothes-free scene reaches well beyond Adelaide’s own coastline, from an inland freshwater lake in the Riverland to a resort-backed beach near the Victorian border. Maslin Beach, Australia’s first officially declared nude beach, anchors the group just south of the city. Pelican Point offers a remote lake setting that has weathered a real threat to its status, and Stinky Beach pairs a long, quiet shoreline just a few hours south of the city.
season
October – May
LEGAL STATUS
Nudity legal
GETTING THERE
Car recommended
Vibe
Diverse and remote
where we are
REGIONAL orientation
These beaches could hardly be more different from each other, and that’s really the point. Maslin is located just south of Adelaide, easy to reach for an afternoon and backed by dramatic cliffs. Pelican Point is a proper haul, a freshwater lake beach two to three hours inland in the Riverland, with a wide open, sparse landscape that feels closer to outback than coast. Stinky Beach lies further away again, close to the South Australia and Victoria border, next to what used to be Australia’s only coastal clothes-free resort, but which is unfortunately closed now.
Official nude beach status is not something South Australia hands out casually, and Maslin’s place in the state’s history reflects that. Pelican Point’s status has come under real pressure in recent years, and while it remains clothes-free, arriving to find fencing or a closed amenities block isn’t out of the question.
A car is essential for this entire trip. There’s no version of it that works without one.
the nude beaches
ONE BY ONE
Pelican Point
-34.22487000951171, 140.44142077168678
Pelican Point sits on the shore of Lake Bonney in the Riverland, a freshwater lake that feels more like open sea once the horizon disappears. The setting is stark and quiet, with wide water and a strong sense of remoteness that regulars describe as closer to nature than to a typical beach day. Recent flooding stripped away much of the grass that once lined the shore, leaving more open sand behind.
QuietRemoteNatural settingSandyNo facilities
Stinky Beach
-37.345228544974326, 139.87043316825637
Stinky Beach, despite the name, is one of the more striking nude beaches in South Australia. Bright white sand runs alongside blue water for a long, open stretch, and a reef a few hundred metres offshore acts as a natural breakwater that keeps the swimming conditions calm. The official nude section covers about 500 metres, though there’s no signage marking where it starts or ends.
QuietRemoteNatural settingSandyNo facilities
Maslin Beach
-35.24410266568004, 138.46861927475845
Maslin Beach, a short drive south of Adelaide, was officially declared Australia’s first legal nude beach in 1975. Wide sand backed by high cliffs gives it a dramatic setting that feels far more isolated than its closeness to the city suggests. The unclad section runs along the southern half of the beach for about a kilometre, with no ambiguity about where it starts.
LivelyAccessibleNatural settingSandyNo facilities
WHO THIS IS FOR
WHO SHOULD GO & who should not
Great for
- ✓ Travellers who want to pair a beach day with real driving time
- ✓ Anyone who wants an official beach with real historical weight behind it
- ✓ People happy to accept that one stop might not run exactly as planned
not ideal if
- ✕ You want everything within a short drive of central Adelaide
- ✕ You expect facilities to be guaranteed and open every time you visit
practical
GETTING THERE & what to know
getting there
Distances vary hugely across this trip, and a car is necessary for all of it. Maslin is a short drive south of central Adelaide, realistic for a half-day trip. Pelican Point is two to three hours inland in the Riverland, near Barmera. Stinky Beach is further still, close to the Victorian border near Robe and Beachport, best treated as its own leg of a longer South Australian trip rather than a day out from the city.
best time to go
Summer brings the most activity to all of these beaches, though the Riverland heat around Pelican Point can turn intense by midday. Maslin gets busiest on warm weekends, simply because it’s the easiest of the group to reach from the city. Stinky Beach and Pelican Point both stay quieter mainly due to distance, so a summer weekday tends to be the calmest choice wherever you’re headed.
legal status
Every beach in this group carries official clothes-free status, though nothing about that status is set in stone. Pelican Point’s designation came under real threat in recent years, and while it remains officially clothing-optional, expect the occasional closed facility or fenced-off section along the way.
what to bring
Bring your own food and drink to Pelican Point and Stinky Beach, since neither has reliable facilities. A hat and water matter everywhere, especially at Pelican Point, where the open Riverland landscape offers little shade.
WHERE TO STAY NEARBY
virtual visit
SEE FOR yourself
Sometimes a two-minute watch tells you more than a page of text. Our video shows you what the beaches in this overview actually look like.
FAQ
most asked questions
Is nudity mandatory, or can I keep some clothes on?
You can keep clothes on anywhere on this list, there's no rule against it. Every beach here carries official clothes-free status though, so going without is the norm once you're within the designated section.
Are these beaches good for first-timers?
Maslin is the easiest introduction, since the nude section is unmistakable and the beach itself is well used. Stinky Beach works well too. Pelican Point suits someone who already feels comfortable with the idea, given its remoteness and the occasional access disruption.
Are these beaches family-friendly?
Not especially. None of them are set up with children in mind, and Pelican Point's remoteness and unpredictable access make it a poor fit for a family day out. Maslin's proximity to Adelaide makes it the most workable option if family logistics matter.
Do I need a car to visit?
Yes, without question. None of these beaches are realistically reachable without a car, and Pelican Point and Stinky Beach both involve significant driving time from Adelaide. Maslin is the only one close enough to consider without a full day set aside for travel.
What time of year are the beaches at their best?
Summer is the busiest and warmest season across the group, though the Riverland heat near Pelican Point can be intense by midday. Weekdays tend to be quieter everywhere, and Stinky Beach and Pelican Point stay relatively uncrowded year round simply because of how far they are from the city.
Are there toilets or food available at the beaches?
Barely. Pelican Point's amenities block has been closed during some visits, and Stinky Beach itself has none. At Maslin you can find toilets on the parking lots.
Is Pelican Point still open and clothing-optional?
Yes, though its status has come under real pressure in recent years. Parts of the access path and facilities have been closed at times, but the beach remains clothes-free and community efforts have kept its designation intact. Check current conditions before making the drive, since the situation has changed before.
