As she climbed up the mountain, Sterre realised she had picked a track that was covered with the kind of massive spiders that Australia is famous for.
The only way she could fight them off was with a large stick, her only form of protection. Sterre’s clothes were at the bottom of the hill, and she was completely naked.
‘There was no track and I was doing it nude. I felt like Bear Grylls,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.
Sterre, 21, is better known to her 56,000 followers as a.naked.girl, an Instagram account full of cheeky posts of her posing nude in nature.
Sterre, 21, is better known to her 56,000 followers as a.naked.girl , an Instagram account full of cheeky posts of her posing nude in nature across Australia
Sterre was inspired to create the page after she stumbled on the popular getnakedAustralia Instagram account, which has more than 218,000 followers
Although Sterre is from the Netherlands, it was Australia that first inspired her to shed her clothes.
She didn’t see the point of having an Instagram account until, one day, she stumbled on a page called Get Naked Australia.
The popular account, with more than 218,000 followers, shows people posing naked throughout the nation.
‘It kind of changed my life, it inspired me,’ Sterre said. ‘It looked like great fun and I decided I needed to try it.’
Sterre naturally chose Australia to begin her journey, and found that it was full of secluded places where she could ‘bare it all and just enjoy myself’.
And as she began to strip off her clothes and feel the air on her skin, Sterre became hooked on her new adventure.
Sterre naturally chose Australia to begin her journey, and found that it was full of secluded places where she could ‘bare it all and just enjoy myself’
Getting naked in nature has been a learning experience for Sterre, who has had her fair share of encounters with bugs and strangers
‘I love nature in general, and with clothes on it’s still enjoyable. But enjoying nature naked, it’s an incomparable experience,’ she said.
Getting naked in nature has been a learning experience for Sterre, who has had her fair share of encounters with bugs and strangers.
Sterre lived in a car as she made her way through the country, and one night got eaten alive by mosquitoes.
‘The result of this was I had a lot of red spots on my body that you could see in the photos,’ she said.
‘I got a lot of comments on that until I learned to use the spot remover. But it was kind of a funny experience, and I learned to be more careful about the little dangers of nature.’
Surprisingly, Sterre has only once been caught naked by a passerby. She says she spends a lot of time researching natural places that are very remote.
Surprisingly, Sterre has only once been caught naked by a passerby, as she spends a lot of time researching natural places that are very remote
Sterre has done everything from climbing up a mountain to trekking through trails and waterfalls in the nude
But one day, as she hiked through the Finch Hatton Gorge in Queensland, Sterre got caught as she swam naked in the ice-cold water of a secluded river.
‘I noticed someone had also taken the same path as me and saw me swimming naked,’ she recalled.
‘He saw me looking back, and the weird thing was that I didn’t feel embarrassed because I was naked – but he felt embarrassed because he saw me naked, and took off.’
Sterre ran into the man again, fully clothed, later on as she continued down the track and he turned away to avoid her.
It was a learning experience for the young traveller, and one that cemented why she wanted to continue her Instagram page.
‘Being naked still makes other people uncomfortable,’ she said. ‘It is really a shame that not everyone can see the pleasure of being naked in a non-sexual way.
‘I started Instagram without any purpose, but it quickly changed after I received so many comments and questions.’
Many of Sterre’s followers admitted that they enjoyed being naked, but that their society or environment didn’t allow it.
Sterre’s dream is to visit every country in the world and continue to take naked pictures in gorgeous places
But Sterre has a soft spot for Australia, where she has trekked through the states – sometimes with a travel partner, often alone – with her trusty phone and tripod
‘I wanted to help change that,’ she said. ‘To spread body positivism with Instagram and show people that being nude is not sexual or weird.’
Sterre’s dream is to visit every country in the world and continue to take naked pictures in gorgeous places.
But Sterre has a soft spot for Australia, where she has trekked through the states – sometimes with a travel partner, often alone – with her trusty phone and tripod.
‘This country is now a part of me,’ she said. ‘It’s so beautiful and big, every state is different and has provided me with awesome shots.
‘I am sure I will find other amazing countries, but I will always love Australia because it is the place where my adventure started.’
Many of Sterre’s followers admitted that they enjoyed being naked, but that their society or environment didn’t allow it
Sterre hopes to continue spreading body positivity and encouraging her followers to embrace their own natural state and take off their clothes
‘I had a dream to visit every country in the world while being nude in nature, and with the support and love of my followers I know I can make my dream come true.’
And Sterre hopes to continue to support and encourage her followers to embrace their own natural state and take off their clothes.
She recommends that those who are curious about baring it all start with a naked walk in the forest or a cheeky skinny dip.
‘The sensation of freedom, the adrenaline, the beautiful touch of the wind on your skin, all of those things are the joys of getting yourself naked in nature,’ she said.
‘My naked adventures outdoors have filled me with happiness, self-knowledge, and a great perspective of truly enjoying life as it should be.’
‘First your space, take a little step, and just dare! It feels so good to have nothing but a smile on.’