But apparently not everyone always wears swimmers out there in the bush, so let us share a few local skinny dipping adventures from friends who bared it all back in the day.

"IT WAS a hot summer's day when a few of us girls decided to go out to Meryla for a swim after work," writes an old friend.  

"Mid-week and not a soul in sight, so we stripped off and jumped in. No swimmers, no nothing.

“Not long after a few of the lads from work came out to join us. How embarrassing it was. We convinced the lads they should take off their togs as well. Eventually us girls climbed out and I guess we gave the boys a bit of a thrill.

“We got dressed then the boys plucked up the courage to come out. Despite the water being pretty cold, I suspect three pretty good-looking young girls climbing out of the water with nothing on made their exit even more embarrassing.

“It was funny at work the next day with some knowing looks exchanged and a bit of blushing. All good fun and one of the girls even ended up marrying one of the blokes. 

“Not sure if it was that afternoon skinny dipping at Meryla that lit the fuse. Who knows?"

ANOTHER friend and her new boyfriend were skinny dipping, having a lovely time, when out of the blue, a young couple appeared in full bridal attire, with their wedding photographer to get some photos taken at this quiet, idyllic spot.

"I realized we were in the background so I was trying to quietly mermaid myself out of the water, but alas I was sprung when the photographer called out and they all waved," she recalls, still laughing at the memory years later.

A MITTAGONG mate went out to Meryla for a swim with his girlfriend. Nobody was around so they stripped off everything and left all of their clothes neatly sitting up on a rock.

By chance, one of his mates was passing and recognised the ute. Putting two and two together, he quietly sneaked down to collect both sets of clothing and towels, while they cavorted naked upstream. Fortunately he did leave their car keys.

What a journey home it must have been for those two young skinny dippers – all the way from Meryla Road through Moss Vale and Bowral to Mittagong with not a stitch of clothing on. And imagine what his girlfriend's parents thought when he dropped her at the front door – stark naked?

A YOUNG local lad was out on a two-day bushwalk by himself when he discarded all his sweaty clothes for a refreshing swim in the river.

"I was miles from anywhere. Well, so I thought until I walked back up from the river to meet face to face with three very amused young ladies on a bushwalk. I had nowhere to go apart from stop and say hello, with not a stitch of clothing on and nothing to hide behind.

“Aside from the fact I was absolutely naked, what made the situation worse was the girls were up for a chat. They wanted to know which way I had come, what was the best way from there, were there any problems with creek crossings, while I stood there stark naked and embarrassed for what seemed like an eternity.

“Goodness only knows what stupid answers I stammered out."

DUDLEY'S lovely daughter Georgina stripped off to go skinny dipping at Meryla when she spotted a council ranger watching her undress.

“Hey miss, you can’t swim here. This is the council's water supply.  See that sign on the tree saying swimming is prohibited.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that before I took off all my clothes?” asked a startled Georgina.

“The sign doesn’t say anything about not being allowed to get undressed.”