Smoky Cape is the name of a headland topped by a prominent white lighthouse in Hat Head National Park, near the town of South West Rocks. It is about halfway between the major towns of Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour on the northern coast of New South Wales, and it is about 450 kilometers north of Sydney. There are beaches that extend in either direction from Smoky Cape. To the south, there is a textile beach called Smoky Cape Beach. This beach is easily accessible via a turnoff that is about a kilometer or so before the end of the road to the lighthouse, and there is camping next to the beach. Smoky Cape Beach is part of a huge, continuous beach that extends south over 15 kilometers to the town of Hat Head.

To the north of Smoky Cape, there is a smaller beach called North Smoky Beach that requires more effort to reach and is frequented by nude bathers. Beginning on the north side of the parking lot next to the lighthouse, there is a moderately challenging trail that goes downhill to the beach. The last part of the trail is a wooden staircase. North Smoky is about 400 meters long (shaded in red), and a low rocky outcropping across the central part of the beach splits in into two coves at high tide. However, the outcropping is very easy to cross. Just north of North Smoky, you can negotiate your way around a somewhat more challenging rocky outcropping to reach a tiny hidden cove (pinpointed) that is also potentially nudist.

Along the trail down to North Smoky, there is a sign that reads "Caution, nude bathers use beach ahead." Despite this sign, North Smoky seems to be an unofficial nude beach, and it is one of the more obscure nude beaches in New South Wales. It is never crowded and often deserted, so don't expect company.

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GPS: -30.9170, 153.0859

town, state, country
  South West Rocks, New South Wales, Australia

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