About twice the size of Texas but with just 230,000 people, the Northern Territory is the least densely populated part of Australia. About two-thirds of the population live either within the metropolitan area of Darwin, the capital city, or the nearby satellite town of Palmerston. Remote Darwin is the northernmost major town in Australia, and it lies more or less at the top of the country, on the central part of the vast, tropical northern coast. The climate of Darwin is quite hot, with little variation in temperature from month to month. Daytime highs are typically around 32°C (90°F). During the summer rainy season (December to March), the weather is quite humid. The weather is more pleasant during the dry season (May to October). April and November are transitional months.

Casuarina is a northern suburb of Darwin, and part of its beach within Casuarina Coastal Reserve has been officially designated as clothing optional since 1976. When you reach the parking lot, a track continues straight ahead beyond a gate that is an automobile barricade. You can follow this track, or you can go directly toward the beach then turn right onto a parallel track that runs directly behind the beach. Either way, it is a northeastward walk of about 500 meters to reach the start of the nude area, which extends about one kilometer. There are signs pointing the way. At the far end of the nude area, the beach continues a few hundred meters farther to the mouth of Sandy Creek, but area near the creek mouth is outside the designated nude area. Despite its legal nude status, there just aren't enough people in this part of the world for this beach to draw throngs of nudists. The beach is uncrowded even on weekends, especially since there is ample room to spread out. Gay men prefer the far (northeast) end of the beach. Casuarina Beach is a very broad beach, and at low tide it takes a few minutes to walk all the way across the sand to get to the water. Toilets, showers and drinking water are available in the textile area of the reserve.

Swimming is prohibited (and extremely ill advised) most of the year. There are highly toxic box jellyfish in the water from October to May, and their stings are potentially deadly. Swimming is much safer from June through September, although there is a low risk of being stung even during those months. Beach signs advise swimmers to have vinegar to help remove jellyfish tentacles and treat wounds. Saltwater crocodiles are also a threat, but the risk is low since crocodiles are removed from the area.

more info from Free Beaches Australia (scroll down to Casuarina Beach)

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GPS: -12.3481, 130.8778

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  Casuarina, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

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