In late December last year, on a 26C afternoon, Isaac Ryan and his partner, Zack, were enjoying one of their favourite pastimes – sunbaking and swimming in the secluded white sands and gentle surf of Kings beach in northern New South Wales, a 20-minute drive south of Byron Bay in Broken Head national park.
The couple had packed a picnic lunch, brought books to read and made the short 1km hike down the lush forested path to arrive at Kings beach, a slice of paradise nestled amid sheltering white booyong, rosewood and red bean trees, with native brushturkeys roaming the undergrowth amid the shady Pandanus trees. The beach has been a significant spot for the LGBTQ+ community for decades, many of whom enjoy being naked here in relative safety.
