A stark awareness of body and mind, on a whim of unconstraint.
In its most literal sense, to skinny dip is to swim naked. Sounds simple enough right? But if we break it down, we’re talking about pure nakedness in the eye of public spaces. In this context, I will refer to it as the action of stripping bare on a fleeting whim in the dead of night. Unlike sunbathing on nudist beaches, there is an unmatched sense of excitement, exhilaration and freedom.
For me, I got to experience this exactly how I’ve always pictured it. On a girl’s trip away, staying in a remote area around Lake Taupo. We started on the drinks and soon enough, two of us thought this would be a great idea. Bear in mind that this was the middle of winter and therefore, arctic. Nonetheless, we disregarded this fact and relied on nothing but the fuel of alcohol as nature’s blanket.
Metaphorically, skinny dipping encapsulates freedom in its rawest form. It requires an individual to break down all self-barriers of constraint and expose themselves in a way that is not generally explored. It is a process of leaving all materialistic items upon the shore as you free your mind. You are submerged in darkness, and all sense of sight is diminished.
Instead, you focus on the sound of the waves as it laps over your toes. On the wind and the cool air as you feel the goosebumps rising. Are you cold? Or are you feeling a way that you have never felt before? Here, you may enter a gateway into uninhibited thought as you feel the shackles of constraint loosening, momentarily relieving the pressures of life. In this very moment, there is a stark awareness of body and mind, as this is all you have left.
Here are some places you can try skinny dipping out:
Au Naturale
This is as pure as you can get – find a beach, find a time, collect some company and away you go. No matter where you are, remember safety first and always be aware of the dangers of swimming at night. Perhaps finding a lake or even chasing waterfalls may be more fitting.
Pohutukawa Bay / Little Palm Beach
These are just two of some of Auckland’s nudist beaches and the nicer ones at that. While there are no official nudist beaches in New Zealand, these have been established within the community to make for safe exposure with like-minded people.
In saying this, I prompt a warning with Ladies Bay near St Heliers. Previously renowned for its nudist status, but is now less than recommended due to its shady reputation. I have seen this first hand.
There is nothing stopping you from this experience as there are plenty of ways to go about this in accommodation for your own comfort. So, round up some friends and use safety measures no matter what you’ve got planned. Good Luck!
