Despite the drinks flowing freely in an alcohol-free zone, the riot squad’s presence turned out to be more of a precaution than a necessity, as no arrests were made due to the overall good behaviour of the crowd.

Sydney’s iconic beaches took on a vibrant, nightclub-like atmosphere when throngs of revelers descended upon the shores to enjoy a festive Christmas celebration away from home. Thousands chose to make the most of the sandy stretches, turning the area into a lively scene.

This year’s festivities marked a departure from the norm, as Waverly Council had advised against gathering at Bronte Beach. This decision came in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, causing many to reconsider their traditional holiday plans.

As a result, the crowd redirected their celebration to Coogee Beach, creating a lively and energetic ambiance. “We first headed to Bronte Beach, but it was quite empty. Someone suggested Coogee, so we hopped in a taxi, and it’s been much better here,” one partygoer shared with 9News.

The day wasn’t entirely without incident, as firefighters were called upon to extinguish a small fire that had spread from a barbecue. However, aside from this minor issue, the police primarily maintained a watchful eye on the merrymakers, ensuring the festivities continued smoothly.

Firefighters were called in to put out a small barbecue fire that started to spread but otherwise, police only needed to keep an eye on the crowd.

Previous celebrations attracted criticism for the mess left behind and today a single guard from Randwick City Council was on patrol, urging the crowd to leave the area as they found it.

But there’s already plenty of rubbish strewn across the area, with a big clean up sure to follow on Boxing Day.