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More than 50 older Australians have bared all and taken the plunge in a sunrise skinny dip at Melbourne’s iconic Brighton Baths in what is being heralded as a celebration of ageing.
Organised by Levande, one of Australia’s leading retirement living providers, the nude swim saw older Australians, including Levande’s own residents, strip off their robes in a bold response to all-too-common misconceptions about ageing, and in a celebration of the independence, confidence and joy that can come with getting older.
They made the splash as new research from Levande revealed that, despite three-quarters (74%) of older Australians feeling younger at heart than their biological age, almost half (45%) believe society unfairly considers them ‘too old’ to do certain activities, and the majority (54%) believe that society underestimates them due to their age.
When asked about which activities they believe society considers them “too old” to do, ‘showing off their body’ and ‘going skinny dipping’ took out the top two spots; prompting Levande to organise an opportunity for senior Aussies to do exactly that.
“We wanted to start a conversation that reshapes what people think getting older genuinely looks like. We can see a clear disconnect between how older Australians view themselves, and how they feel society perceives them”, said Kevin McCoy, Chief Executive Officer at
Levande.
“This was never just about taking clothes off. It was about taking on some of the assumptions we place on ageing, and showing that getting older doesn’t mean ‘fading into the shadows’. It can mean trying something new, feeling confident in your skin and living life with freedom and confidence.”
The sunrise skinny dip was captured by former Olympic synchronised swimmer turned fine art photographer, Francesca Owen who saw an unique opportunity to show that you’re never ‘too old’ to be bold and playful: “What a privilege to capture older Australians feeling so liberated and free. I believe that that feeling should never be limited by age, and your dreams should have no expiration date,” Owen comments.
“My photography is about capturing those beautiful, expressive moments of letting go and supporting people to feel comfortable stepping outside their comfort zone. With my own mum approaching retirement and with a baby at home, I’m often reminded that at every stage of life, we should continue to embrace new experiences and follow our dreams.”
Levande’s new research further backed this up, showing that having fun (74%), trying new things (57%) and new experiences & adventures (51%) are all considered key components of ageing well by older Australians.
Professor Tracy Comans, Director of the National Ageing Research Institute agrees: “People are living longer and, increasingly, remaining active and engaged for more of their later years. Research consistently shows that maintaining physical activity, social connection and engagement in new experiences are vital to quality of life as we age. Ageing well is not just about managing our physical health, but continuing to participate, connect and find meaning in our lives.”
Across NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and the ACT, Levande operates 59 communities which are home to more than 10,000 retirees.
“At Levande, we take care of the must-dos, so people can spend more time on the things they want to do. Support, connection and convenience are all close at hand, so residents have the freedom to choose how they spend their days and to focus on whatever brings them joy. Whether that’s catching up with friends, learning a new skill or, in this case, going skinny dipping, it’s all about making the most of a very special time of life,” said Mr McCoy.
This sunrise skinny dip took place in the lead up to Levande’s Spring Open Week events, happening across villages Australia-wide next week.
The survey was conducted by a third party provider, YouGov, in August 2026, and completed by 1,157 Australians over the age of 65.
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