gonatural - September Issue #222 out now!

Another eagerly anticipated issue of gonatural Magazine, packed full of interesting articles and photos, is now available.

In this issue we look ahead to the warmer months and particularly gonatural Week in October where we showcase and promote clothes free recreation. Donna, the NZNF Communications Officer, gives hints and advice for club open days and how to make the most of the opportunities provided during this annual nationwide promotion. 

Articles from around New Zealand feature in the magazine with the story of a "good southern bloke - naturally" in the magestic Central Otago region ; stories of the Bay of Plenty Sun Club members and their trip to Rainbow Mountain in the Rotorua region; The Orchard participating in World Naked Bike Ride - Otago style; and Cantabrians also have a few stories of their own after a large group bared all at Spencerville Beach.

From around the world we bring the story of walkers taking part in the 'Bay to Breakers' 12km fun run in San Francisco naked; and also an article and photos from a well known UK naturist photographer.

You can subscribe online to receive the printed version of this beautiful magazine by mail or if you prefer a digital version this can also be ordered online. The publication is also available at specialty magazine stores nationally.

Spring has (almost) Sprung...

Today we welcomed the 1st of August. 

If you go by calendar months we are now two thirds of the way through winter - a very uplifting thought indeed. 

The very early signs of spring are out there - the smell of grass and onion weed; daffodil about to open; trees and shrubs beginning to bud; and lambs cavorting in the paddocks. 

With that in mind I'm sure you feel heartened that the end of winter is now in sight and you can put your thoughts towards making plans for the summer.

So let us help you with some ideas and links to start your search for places where you can head to and options for the perfect summer getaway.

Firstly, and probably most importantly, there is the 61st NZNF Rally. Every year, the NZNF (New Zealand Naturist Federation) holds an annual rally to coincide with their Annual General Meeting.  The rally runs for 7 days from 28 December to 3 January and includes a full sports programme and the host club puts on entertainment each day and evening. 

This year the rally is being hosted by the wonderful and talented members at Wellington Naturists (Inc.). 

It is shaping up to be a fantastic festival and their theme is "A New Age of Aquarius". They would love you to join them in celebrating the food, fashion and music of the last Age of Pisces, and welcome in the New Age of Aquarius, looking ahead to imagine what that could be like.

Next, order a copy of Holidays NZnaturally for a comprehensive guide to accommodation and camping options for all New Zealand naturist and naturist-friendly homestays, B&Bs, clubs and resorts. This recently updated booklet, compiled by Kay Hannam (co-owner of Wai-natur and editor of gonatural magazine) includes details, up to date contacts, maps and directions for places to spend your next naturist holiday. The guide is available in print, on CD, and also as an e-guide and can be ordered online or by sending a cheque to the address on their contact page.

The NZNF website has links to the individual websites of naturist clubs and locations around New Zealand. Follow those links to make enquiries directly with the club secretary or resort regarding camping or cabin (where available) accommodation options and availability. 

If you are thinking of heading further afield (overseas), then check out the INF's (International Naturist Federation) website. This site has links to naturist locations, resorts and clubs all around the world. 

So chase any lingering winter blues away with thoughts and plans for a wonderful summer. Reconnect with old friends at the Rally or make some new ones by staying at a club you haven't visited before. But most importantly, take some time out to reboot and recharge yourself naturally.

Holidays NZnaturallly - Now Available

So it's winter. The lawns aren't growing that fast and the pruning is done; the fire is roaring and you have a lovely cup of tea beside you as you lounge in your comfy armchair. You're dreaming of sunny days and remembering warmer times.  
Why don't you plan your next New Zealand naturist holiday while you have all that spare time!

Holidays NZnaturally - a comprehensive booklet on accommodation and camping options for all New Zealand naturist and naturist friendly homestays, B&Bs, resorts and clubs - is now available.


Recently updated, this publication is available in printed format, as an e-guide (PDF format) and now also on CD. The guide includes up to date contact details, maps and directions on where to spend your next naturist holiday.

Order your copy online now and don't just dream of sunny days...plan for them.

61st NZNF Naturist Festival - Wellington 2012/13

Every year, the NZ Naturist Federation holds an annual rally to coincide with the Annual General Meeting.  The rally runs for 7 days from 28 December to 3 January each year and includes a full sports programme, with trophies fiercely fought for.  In addition, the host club puts on entertainment each day and evening.

In 2012-13 the 61st NZNF Rally will be hosted by Wellington Naturist Club.

Come and celebrate as we farewell the last 'Age of Pisces' and welcome in the 'New Age of Aquarius'. 

We will be looking back at the last Age, celebrating the food, the fashion, the music, and then looking ahead to the New Age of Aquarius. 

The Festival will be a chance to reconnect with old friends, make some new ones, a time to "reboot" and time to imagine what the new era could be like. New Years Eve is going to be a blast. 

Wellington Naturist Club have a dedicated festival committee working on an exciting programme, with plenty of activities during the day and evening - the Programme will be available shortly.

We want to promote a positive awareness of naturism both locally and nationally. As part of "imagining the future" we want to look at where we, as naturists, might be in the future.

For as little as $150 p/person ($140 p/person if paid in full by 31 October 2012) you can treat yourself to a wonderful holiday from 28 December 2012 until 3 January 2013 on the Wellington Naturist Club grounds at Te Marua, Upper Hutt.

Register and pay in full by 31 October 2012 and pay only $140 p/person, plus go into a draw for a free festival.

Click here for a registration form.

- Ken Mercer (Festival Co-ordinator)

gonatural - June Issue #221 out now!

The much anticipated and eagerly awaited June issue of gonatural magazine is now available.


You will love the mix of articles featured with accompanying photographs in this mid-year edition - and all of them are about New Zealand.


Two are from the most southern clubs in New Zealand - in fact Southern Sun is the southern most naturist club in the World! And it’s always great to receive naturist travel articles - The Ozzie Travellers, Skinnydip Tours and ex-pat Ross Reid all bring you their own experiences in New Zealand. 


A weekend with BoP Naturists and the annual Nudie Foodies Sounds Adventure are brought to you by regular writers for gonatural while the Blenheim Sun kindly allowed us to bring you a report on the annual Nude Golf International. There are also articles and photos from recent World Naked Bike Rides in NZ.


You can subscribe online to receive the printed version of this beautiful magazine by mail or if you prefer the digital version this can also be ordered online. The magazine is also available at specialty magazine stores.

We're Social Creatures...!

We are social creatures. But being a social creature doesn't just mean having heaps of friends - it indicates having a reliance on others for many aspects of our lives. For example the food we eat being grown, packaged and distributed by others; the house we live in being built by a raft of tradesmen; and also the things that we're interested in drawing us to seek out others with similar interests. 

Social media connects us with the people around us who are interested in the same things that we are and also the organisations who can provide an avenue for those interests. 

Just as we might communicate with each other in different spoken languages, we each have different preferences of the social networks we engage with. Not everyone is a Facebook user and not everyone "tweets". 

"It's not what you know; It's not who you know; It's who knows you..." - Anonymous 

The NZNF is serious about getting as many people as possible to "know" us and to reach and engage with these people via their preferred media. Our goal is to connect to people in New Zealand and all over the world who are interested in the naturist lifestyle and to promote it extensively.

Currently we engage with people in 4 different avenues apart from this blog:

• Facebook 
• Twitter
• Pinterest 
• Google +

“A brand is no longer what we tell the consumer it is – it is what consumers tell each other it is.” - Scott Cook, Co-founder of Intuit

So engage with us and share us with those interested in similar things. We will keep bringing you naturist news of interest via various social networks, because we are after-all...social creatures.

Summer is going - so what now?

Summer is going, so what now?

Do we just hide away until the temperatures have returned to a level more compatible with the naturist lifestyle? No, definitely not.

There are so many opportunities and ways to continue clothes free activities in winter too - and planning your next naturist escape is just one of them. You could take a trip to a resort in northern Australia, or go even further afield to a naturist location in Europe.

OR you could get adventurous in your own back yard!

Many naturist clubs in New Zealand have regular spa or sauna afternoons/evenings, and lots have themed fancy dress social events - both of which are great ways to socialise, meeting new people, whiling away those winter hours. Then there's always the cheeky mid-winter swim! Check out the list of "what's on" featured on our website.

Those who live near Auckland have the benefit of the Parakai Springs Naturist Night (the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month) or the Palm Springs Hot Pool and Spa Night (the last Saturday of each month) towards Helensville - north-west of the city.

A long weekend or week stay at a club or naturist resort like Katikati Naturist Park or at a B&B like Wai-natur  gives the opportunity for a change of scenery along with comforts like spas or saunas close at hand. Check out the list of locations around New Zealand on our website.

And closer to home, why not work on ways you can create "hot spots" in your own space so that you can enjoy the freedom of wearing no clothes even while the rain is pouring outside? You could cover in a patio or terrace with plastic "curtains" and instal a standing outdoor heater or gas run brazier? The feeling of liberation enjoying the warmth against your skin while outside it's freezing. Make the house super warm and invite friends around for a mid-winter luncheon and games afternoon.

Gardening and doing physical outdoor jobs will keep you warm even on a sunny winter's day - so do it without clothes and it will warm your heart as well.

Whatever you do, the fun is not over. We might have to take it indoors for a while and swap a cold beer and crisp wine for hot chocolate and mulled wine, but there is much you can still do.

Although you can't beat lying on a beach soaking up the sun, that isn't all naturism is about. It's a year round lifestyle - a way of life, a state of being - and we are creative people who can adjust to the conditions. Don't ask "what now?" but "why not!" and dare to be bare - all year!