Why 30 Aussies are sailing around the Whitsundays in their birthday suits

A crew of 30 Aussies are stripping off and sailing around the Whitsundays in their birthday suits this weekend.

It's not the first time the naturists have taken to the seas without clothes, with the group having enjoyed eight nude cruises through Sydney Harbour.

And it's certainly not the most unusual activity they have done naked.

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They've also rock climbed, done yoga, been on camping trips, gardened, gone hiking, swimming and run beach games events.

Get Naked Australia is Australia's largest group of naturists aged under 50.

It has 1400 members around the country, with the largest groups in Sydney, south-east Queensland, Melbourne, Townsville and Canberra.

Push to destigmatise nudity

Their goal is to change the way society views the naked body and to promote "healthy outdoor nudity".

Founder Brendan Jones said the group wanted to change the way people perceived nakedness - with it tending to be seen either as sexual, or as part of art.

"There doesn't really appear to be a middle ground where it's just the body," he said.

"When we post photos, we get people that particularly sexualise it and say, 'Wow, that's a hot piece of arse.'

"And it's like, 'No, that's not the intent behind the photo.'

"The intent behind someone posting that photo is to share their experience or to grow in confidence.

"They're not trying to gain comments about how sexy they look.

"This goes down to society, how we always sexualise nudity, and it really doesn't have to be the case."

Jones said being naked was about "being one with nature, as some may say" and about enjoying being in a natural, free state.

"Nudity is the most natural thing ever," he said.

For many, it is also empowering, particularly after trauma.

"We have a number of people in the group, particularly women, who have had sexual trauma or eating disorders," he said.

"Coming out and being involved in in a really positive community where there is no judgment about how you're looking, a lot of people say it's really empowering.

"They can just be in this in this safe space.

"Insecurities are all internal when you're in a safe group of people.

"The benefits of (naturism) are endless."

Practicality does trump nudity

Going on a naturist weekend sailing trip does beg some questions about practicality.

Jones explained the group didn't mean members had to be naked at all times.

"If it's cold at night, we're all going to rug up," he said.

He said the group's attitude was about being comfortable with nudity, rather than mandating it, which set it apart from other nudist groups.

"They're more about just being naked all the time. And we're not really like that, and I think that's why our group has grown so big."

Because Get Naked Australia is more about outdoor nudity, Jones said most of the events were run in the warmer months, or in warmer parts of Australia in winter.

However, tens of group members braved the cold to hike and swim in June's wintery conditions in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in celebration of the group's five-year anniversary.

Keeping the group a safe space

Not just anyone can join Get Naked Australia, with every member having to be highly vetted before being admitted to the group.

Jones said the thorough screening process was about creating a safe and comfortable space by ensuring people were there for the right reasons, and also to maintain a gender balance.

"We don't advertise events too much, because you just get heaps of creepy blokes wanting to join," he said.

Jones said the group had lots of requests from people who did not have the purest intentions, and also had a lot more men wanting to join than women, meaning men had to go on a longer waiting list.

"We can't let them all in because then the girls don't come," he said.

"It is a tough challenge."

But he said the wait was more than worth it.