Location
Australia
Status
Informal / Traditional
Suitable for
Families and adults
Terrain
Sand
Best season
May to September
About East Pretty Pool Beach
East Pretty Pool is a stretch of tidal Pilbara shoreline east of the Pretty Pool area of Port Hedland, on the Indian Ocean coast of Western Australia. Locals have long used it for clothing-optional bathing, and Australian Traveller reports the council approved it in 2001 as the area's first nudist beach; we could not find the council's own record of that decision, and FreeBeach lists the beach as unofficial but tolerated. Guides place the nude stretch roughly 500 metres east of the beach entry, or about a kilometre east of the Town of Port Hedland sign at the Matheson Drive car park past Cook Point; the two reference points may describe the same area. The coast here is flat, with a huge tidal range, so the water retreats a long way at low tide. It is very quiet. Hazards are real: extreme summer heat, marine stingers from October to May, possible crocodiles, cyclones from November to April and no lifeguards.
Getting there
Drive to the Pretty Pool area of Port Hedland and use the car park on Matheson Drive past Cook Point, then walk east along the shore; parts of the coast may need a 4WD. There is no public transport, so a car is essential. The walk is on open sand and mud flats with no shade, so carry plenty of water and time your visit around the tide. Not suitable for wheelchairs.
What visitors say
Few reports exist. They describe a very quiet, remote beach used mainly by locals, with lots of space at low tide and almost no one around. Visitors stress the hazards more than the atmosphere: heat, stingers in the warmer months, crocodile risk, and the long tidal retreat. Guides recommend the cooler dry season and suggest checking local conditions before going.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Amenities
Legal context
Western Australia has no general ban on non-sexual nudity, but indecent acts in public are an offence under the WA Criminal Code. A 2001 council approval is reported by one travel magazine but we could not find council documentation, and FreeBeach lists it as unofficial but tolerated (checked 2026). There is no signage reported.
Naturism at East Pretty Pool Beach sits under Australia's rules for traditional tolerance — custom more than statute.
Full country law: Australia public nudity guide.
Researched 24 October 2026. No official source confirms naturist status, so treat it as unverified.
Location
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Approx. -20.3158, 118.6514
Visitor tips
- 1 Informal / tolerated site — be discreet and leave no drama.
- 2 Towel, water, sunscreen. Sit on your own towel.
- 3 No photos without clear consent.
- 4 Check access, tides, and parking before you go.
- 5 House rules and local custom can be stricter than the law.
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Frequently asked questions
Is nudity legal at East Pretty Pool?
It is long-tolerated clothing-optional use; a 2001 council approval is reported but we could not confirm it from the council. Avoid any behaviour that could be seen as indecent.
Where is the nude section?
East of the beach entry, roughly 500 m to 1 km east of the Matheson Drive car park past Cook Point.
When should I go?
May to September, outside stinger and cyclone season and away from the worst heat.
Is it safe to swim?
Take care: marine stingers occur from October to May, crocodiles may be present and there are no lifeguards.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
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