The Tauranga resort area is on the Bay of Plenty, the long bay that forms the prominent indentation on the eastern side of the north shore of the North Island. Tauranga is 200 kilometers southeast of Auckland and 85 kilometers northwest of Rotorua. The actual town of Tauranga lies just inland from the Bay of Plenty on a smaller back bay. A few kilometers from town, there is a chain of beach resort communities lining the coast. A segment of beach between Omanu Beach community and Papamoa Beach community is popular with nude bathers. The nude beach is widely known simply as Papamoa Beach, but technically it is the far western end of Papamoa Beach and is actually closer to Omanu Beach community than to the center of the Papamoa Beach community.

Papamoa is one of the most easily accessible nude beaches anywhere. A coastal road runs alongside the beach, but the beach is shielded from public view by sand dunes. Parking is along the street. Walk 50 meters through through the dunes and you are there. The beach usually draws 15 to 20 nudists on weekdays, with larger weekend crowds.

Nudity has continued at Papamoa even though the surrounding area has seen an explosion of growth and development over the past few decades. On the plus side, authorities have been friendly toward naturists who use the beach responsibly. On the down side, the growth of the area has meant more textiles pass through the nude area. As a result, many visitors choose to sunbathe nude in the dunes rather than on the open beach for a bit more privacy.

more info from Free Beaches New Zealand

more info from Let's Get Naked New Zealand

VISUAL RESOURCES

GPS: -37.6787, 176.2482

town, region, island, country
  Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, North Island, New Zealand

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