Maslin Beach is an outlying coastal suburb of Adelaide, located about 40 kilometers south of the city center. Maslin Beach also refers to the large, west-facing, sandy beach of this suburb, which extends almost 3 kilometers and overlooks a huge inlet of the ocean called Gulf St. Vincent. The southernmost kilometer of Maslin Beach is designated for nude bathing. It has been that way since 1975, which gives Maslin the distinction of being Australia's oldest legal nude beach. Maslin is one of the largest and most popular nude beaches in all of Australia, and the scenery is hard to top. The nude part of the beach is backed by multi-colored, barren cliffs in hues of red and brown, reminiscent of the scenery of northern Arizona and southern Utah, except with sparkling blue water in front. Few other beaches anywhere in the world have such a dramatic and gorgeous setting.

The nude area of Maslin can be directly accessed from its own parking lot (but nudity is not allowed until you get down to the beach). From the lot, a path about 250 meters long gradually winds down to the beach, and there are restrooms with showers about halfway along this path. Facing the ocean at the end of the path, the designated nude area extends about 600-700 meters to your right (north), up to a large sign letting you know that clothing is required beyond that point. To the left (south), the nude area extends just under 400 meters, all the way to the end of the beach at a headland, and this end of the beach is the preferred gay area. The nude beach can also be reached by parking in the large lot in the community of Maslin Beach (at the end of Gulf Parade). No downhill walk is required if you park there, and it takes just a few minutes to walk southward to the northern boundary of the nude area.

Maslin has no shade at all, so be sure to bring sunscreen. Many visitors bring beach umbrellas or pitch small tents for shade.

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GPS: -35.2416, 138.4693

suburb, city, state, country
  Maslin Beach, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

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