The handful of remaining nudists in a northern West Australian tourist town are fighting to maintain their lifestyle, in the face of increased beach traffic, judgemental tourists and sneaky photographers.

Since the 1960s, naturists have gathered on a section of Broome's famous Cable Beach known as "north of the rocks", to sunbake, fish and swim in the nude.

But veterans of the scene say about a decade ago, things began to change. The local tourism industry boomed, and suddenly, the nudists were coming under close scrutiny.

Local Broome nudist Bobbie says numbers on Cable Beach have dwindled. ( ABC News: Erin Parke )

"There used to be hundreds of us," says Broome local Bobbie, who is shy about using her surname, but not about getting her kit off.

"But then the do-gooders came along, some of the tourists, and started saying things, saying they didn't like it and telling us to move along.

"So now there's only three or four of us that come down here regularly."

The "clothing optional" section of the beach sits close to the base of the beach access road, meaning each day hundreds of carloads of families and grey nomads cruise past, copping an eyeful of tanned skin and private parts.

It's also the same 100 metres in which the beach's three camel tour companies operate, meaning there are hundreds more sets of peering eyes moving slowly past.

Camel company owner John Geappen said it led to some awkward moments.

"Sometimes it is a shock to our customers, because there are no sign posts or anything to indicate that it's a clothing optional beach, so usually it's a shock, but we try to make light of it," he said

"One of the common lines I say to the ladies on the tours is 'you'll notice that everything looks very small from up there girls', either that or I ask them to put their blinkers on and look straight ahead."

"But you do get the occasional exhibitionist who feels the need to go for a walk or come out of the water just at the time you walk a camel train past."

Mr Geappen said the Broome naturist scene was a fraction of what it used to be.

Camel rides are a popular pastime on Broome's Cable Beach. ( Vanessa Mills: ABC News )

"It used to be much more pronounced than it was today, you'd have your regular locals, plus a lot of regulars that would come to Broome for the six months over winter," he said.

"I think it's more of a novelty I think these days ... it's a different era.

"To be honest most of those who do get their gear off are sort of the older brigade, so it might be a generational thing, because a lot of the youngies just aren't interested in it."

'It used to be very laid back'

Some are nostalgic for the nude scene that was.

Rose Holden and her partner have been travelling to Broome each winter for more than 20 years, and still strip off for a morning fish.

She said the scene seemed to be in decline, with young people apparently not interested in nuding up.

"It used to be very laid-back ... nobody had any secrets, it was just comfortable, and you enjoyed the sun.

"But the number of cars the number of camels has increased, and you certainly don't see the number of youngies that you used to.

"People seem to have got very shy ... I don't know if they think nudists are weirdos or what."

Is public nudity in decline across the nation?

It appears the decline of nude bathing is a national trend.

While the number of clothing-optional beaches has remained fairly constant, there is anecdotal evidence fewer people are opting to flash their flesh.

Stuart Whelan says social media has allowed the younger generation with an interest in naturism to connect. ( ABC Newcastle: Robert Virtue )

Stuart Whelan, from the Australia Naturist Federation, said the naturist scene developed in Australia post-World War II, and peaked about 40 years ago.

"I think the beaches were probably in their heyday in the 70s and early 80s, because what we saw there was a change in the way people viewed their bodies," he said.

"It's something that's declined a little bit and I think that's due to a couple of factors. One is a sense of sun safety, and that has dissuaded people from getting out there and laying in the sun.

"Also now a more conservative attitude to body has come in, probably over the last generation or so."

But the federation sees signs of a resurgence, driven by communities of young naturists forming on social media.

"What we are seeing is young people coming back, especially to the clothing-optional beaches, and the use of social media has seen groups of like-minded young people coming into the naturist circle," he said.

"I think it's got a very good future as people rediscover that naturism is a great stress-breaker."

"It's wonderful because you get vitamin D naturally as opposed to taking a tablet, and there is a social element to it as well."