Papamoa Beach, Hawkes Bay

There are times in life when you just have to shrug off the oppression of day-to-day life. As philosopher Freddie Mercury once said, “I want, I want, I want to break free!” For some, that means heading down to the beach, shedding their clothes with reckless abandon and running down to the surf where to frolic with nothing between them and the fish (other than a smile and a layer of sunscreen, that is). If you’re in New Zealand, unafraid to be the butt of a few wise-cracks, and in the mood to hit the sand in your glorious natural state, then read our guide to the best nudist beaches in NZ.