By car, St. Leonards Beach is about 10-11 kilometers northeast of the Auckland city center and about half that distance as the crow flies, but this small urban beach is secluded and surrounded by cliffs. St. Leonards is located in Takapuna, which is on the southern end of the conglomeration of suburbs known as North Shore. It has historically been the most popular, albeit unofficial, nude beach in the Auckland metro area. However, the beach has faced some troubles in the new millennium.

Authorities have historically turned a blind eye to nudity, but as a means of curtailing lewd behavior at the beach, in 2002 they trotted out a previously unenforced local law that prohibits genital exposure. Naturist activists reacted to preserve the beach for nude use, and here is how the situation has panned out: Nude use continues, and authorities have agreed to leave nude bathers alone provided that they 1) are at least 50 meters from the steps that lead down to the beach, 2) abstain from any suggestive behavior, and 3) always stay at least 30 meters from any textiles. The textiles you encounter away from the immediate area of the access steps are likely to be people passing through walking their dogs. The 30 meters you need to keep between you and a clothed person is about the same space required to parallel park five or six cars.

The area shaded in green approximates 50 meters on either side of the access steps where clothing should be worn. The two areas shaded in red roughly approximate areas where nude use takes place, but most nudists tend to prefer the area south of the access steps (to the right when facing the water.)

Nudity remain a perfectly viable option for naturists who know the accepted protocol, and nude bathers continue to visit the beach, but attendance has fallen substantially since the 80's and 90's as many naturists are put off by having to be aware of textile passersby. Another North Shore alternative to St. Leonards Beach is Pohutukawa Bay Beach, which is an unofficial nude beach that has not been as heavily scrutinized by authorities. Pohutukawa Bay is about 20 kilometers north of St. Leonards, or an additional 15 kilometers from the city center.

more info from Free Beaches New Zealand

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GPS: -36.7998, 174.7912

suburb, region, island, country
  Takapuna, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand

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