Opoutere Beach weekend

Well after all the fabulous events during the summer, you wouldn’t think there could be anything better. But there was! Our third annual weekend at Opoutere Beach was once again a great success. The endless summer carried on and we had two wonderful sunny days, with little wind to spend at this recognised naturist beach.

A large group camped in the campground. Some went fishing. The results didn’t supply us with much fresh fish, although one member did catch one and the fishermen learnt a new skill – how to catch pipis (shellfish) with a fishing rod! All of the group went to the beach and although the surf was a bit unpredictable, managed to catch some good waves with their boogie boards. On Saturday night we all joined up for happy hour and a shared meal. On Sunday morning after our own naked chef cooked us all breakfast, we all headed back to the beach, with six of us walking the 5km stretch along the beach to the ‘island’ wearing nothing but a hat. Magic!

The one thing that was evident during this weekend was the age of the group members present. Although the ages ranged from 2 to over 70, the average age would have been much younger than at many previous naturist events we have been to recently. These members sure enjoyed themselves this weekend and it is great to see this new generation of naturists coming to the fore. Although I don’t keep stats on the age group of members, I can certainly see that the group is attracting many ‘generation Y’ naturists to the fold – which can only be good for naturism in New Zealand. 

Napier's Art Deco Weekend

A group of ten BOP Naturists camped beside the sea along Marine Parade for Napier’s Art Deco weekend. Here we met for Happy Hour and then all went along to the RSA for dinner, decked out in our 1930s gear. After dinner, we all went our separate ways and enjoyed the night-time events, whether it was dancing in the streets to the live jazz bands or watching the free concert at the Soundshell.

This city sure knows how to rock (or should I say Charleston)! Everything about the weekend (actually it is a whole week) is geared around how the city was after the 1931 earthquake, when it was flattened and rebuilt in Art Deco style. Many of those buildings are still standing (or if demolished, the facades are still there) so put everyone in 1930s dress, have about 200 vintage cars around the town, get out the steam engine, traction engine and vintage bus, fly old planes overhead and have a few jazz bands playing in the streets and you would think you had been transported back in time to the 1930s.

It is very hard to explain how great this weekend is unless you have been there, because it is the atmosphere that drives it. Everyone is having fun – including the children – who also get into the swing of it (they even have their own soap box derby!). There are no drunken louts in the town to spoil this fun family weekend. Most events are free and if you haven’t been before you really must experience it at least once in your life. I guarantee that then, like us, you will want to go year after year.

The vintage car parade went on for about ¾ hour. Then they were displayed for everyone to see along Marine Parade, while jazz bands played in the streets. 

On Sunday we went to the Gatsby Picnic, where we enjoyed the picnic atmosphere along with hundreds of others, who were picnicking with their fine china, silver tea service and old music. The jazz bands entertained us again and the Red Checkers and Harvards did aerobatics over the sea. We met up with some more BOP Naturists at the picnic and joined them at their gazebo for a spot of champers! What a great day!

Fun and games at the Bay of Plenty Sun Club

The weather was great, the turnout was great, there were a lot of visitors and the games were fun! What else can I say about the BOP Sun Club’s fun games weekend apart from fantastic! Many BOP Naturists (also members of BOPSC) were there and certainly got involved in the fun and games. We played horseshoes, petanque, croquet, mini-golf, pool golf (that’s swimming pool golf) and no-one got wet – take note Waikato! We also tried out a new game called fling golf. After a shared happy hour and BBQ, we finished the day with a darts competition.

Of course I must also mention the newly formed water volleyball team, which got in a lot of practice in the pool. It helped that the water was warm and someone brought a net and ball! Our visitors from Rotorua and Wellington enjoyed themselves, staying over the weekend and beyond.