One of Australia’s most iconic beaches transformed into a sea of festive red as throngs of merrymakers, clad in Christmas-themed attire, descended upon the shores to revel in the public holiday spirit.

Despite the overcast skies, the holiday cheer remained undampened as these celebrants braved the unusually cool summer temperatures to enjoy the waves at Sydney’s Coogee Beach on Thursday.

The bustling shoreline was a sight to behold, teeming with holidaymakers adorned in Santa hats, reindeer antlers, and red bikinis, leaving scarcely any patch of sand visible.

Amidst the festive throng, groups of friends exuberantly posed for photos, hands raised in joy, piggybacking on each other, and showcasing their coordinated holiday outfits.

This lively celebration followed a week of intense heat, as temperatures in the Harbour City took a sharp dip, dropping about 10 degrees Celsius after consecutive days soaring into the 30s.

Looking ahead, Sydney is set to experience this cooler trend over the coming days, with temperatures lingering in the low 20s Celsius over the weekend and potential showers expected on Boxing Day.

Although temperatures rose to a moderate top of 24C in Sydney on Thursday, grey skies left the air feeling a much cooler 17C.

But the lack of sunshine did not seem to deter visitors, with merrymakers still journeying to the coastline. 

Drone footage shows Coogee teeming with visitors as Sydneysiders flocked to the seaside 

Friends climbed onto each other’s shoulders as they posed for holiday snaps

Red swimming costumes were the dominant theme along Australian coastlines on Thursday 

Cloudy skies did not curb Christmas cheer as crowds braved the unseasonably cool summer weather

The festive spirit was on full display as tourists dressed in costumes threw back booze and food

The jaw-dropping turnout came after Waverley Council begged backpackers to not flock to Bronte Beach after revellers left behind a trail of destruction the previous year. 

Coogee Beach is one of the most famous stretches of sand in the country and is known to be a popular hangout for British and Irish tourists.

The remarkable sight was a stark contrast to beaches further north, with smaller-than-usual crowds spotted at both Bondi and Bronte Beach.

At Bondi, some beachgoers embracing the cooler weather went as far as to dress as Father Christmas himself by wearing head-to-toe red suits with white faux beards.

However, other men showed off their festive spirit by stripping down into red speedos.

Others were seen laughing and smiling as they gave each other piggy back rides across the beach, while other groups mingled on the grass as they enjoyed picnics. 

Couples were seen making the most of Christmas decorations erected on the beach as they posed for photos in front of a tree set up on the sand. 

Some tourists also seized the opportunity to snap up shots alongside lifesavers dressed in iconic yellow and red uniforms.  

One group of friends opted for matching red bikinis – a common sight across the Sydney’s east on Thursday

Holidaymakers were all smiles as they spent the day on the beach 

Despite the cooler temperatures, beachgoers braved the water 

The parklands was buzzing with activity – a stark contrast to beaches further north

A group of friends raise their hands in joy as they celebrate a grey Christmas Day at Bondi

Many holidaymakers opted for red outfits to embrace Yuletide festivities 

Some beachgoers walked along the shoreline in Santa outfits, complete with white beards

While the iconic beach was busy, the tourist mecca seemed quieter than years gone by as the nation continues to mourn the horrific Bondi shooting on December 14.

In the wake of the attack, a small memorial consisting of flowers and candles remained on the footbridge for revellers to see as they made their way between the carpark and the beach.

Police were also out in high visibility as units were seen walking along the promenade conducting patrols. 

Last year, the iconic beach was teeming with visitors as tens of thousands descended on Bondi for Yulletide festivities amid sunny skies and a top of 26C. 

Two women made peace signs with their hands as they posed for a photo

Two women made peace signs with their hands as they posed for a photo

A couple poses with a selfie stick while other Christmas revellers lie on the sand 

Christmas cheer remained high for this group of friends wearing matching Christmas-themed attire

Loved ones huddled up close for photos in front of a Christmas tree on the beach 

Chef Rami Tan, second right, dishes out tiramisu to young women as they celebrate Christmas Day at Bondi Beach

Even smaller crowds were seen further south at Bronte after the local council urged visitors to stay away from the beach due to safety concerns amid ongoing construction work taking place in the park. 

Bronte Beach has become a known Christmas hotspot in recent years, with more than 15,000 revellers hitting the shoreline on December 25, 2024. 

But the mass crowds have sparked outrage – among both locals and Waverley Council – due to the large mess left in the wake of the festivities.  

‘Roughly half of Bronte Park is currently off limits to the public while the development of the new Bronte Surf Club is underway,’ Waverley Council said earlier this month.

Other men showed off their festive spirit by stripping down into red speedos 

Families and friends mingled on the sand, chatting, eating food, and drinking beer

One group threw their hands up in the air as they celebrated the public holiday     

Floral tributes remained on the footbridge as Christmas Day festivities took place on the beach

Some beachgoers opted to skip swimwear and stay in clothes as temperatures felt unseasonably cool 

Two friends took a stroll along the beach despite the cloudy weather

Floral tributes remained on the footbridge as Christmas Day festivities took place on the beach

‘Temporary fencing has been erected in much of the area.

‘This means there is a drastic reduction in open space and only narrow channels available to move around.

‘The serious compromise to crowd flow is a safety concern on any day, let alone one that is prone to significant overcrowding.’

More than 15,000 people turned up to an unauthorised gathering dubbed ‘Orphan’s Christmas’ or ‘Backpacker Christmas’ at Bronte Beach last year.

The event left the shoreline covered in debris and broken glass as beachgoers took off without disposing of their rubbish.

The council said crowds of that size are ‘hugely challenging at the best of times’, and due to antisocial behaviour and crowd control issues witnessed last year, they had undertaken community consultation about how to better manage the impacts.

Very few beachgoers were seen at Bronte Beach on Christmas Day this year – a stark contrast to 2024

Waverley Council said it had invested more than $250,000 into measures to reduce overcrowding at the beach after massive parties in recent years left the area looking like a rubbish dump

As a result, the council said enhanced measures will be in place for 2025, including increased crowd management, bolstered supervision measures, and greater presence of police and security.

In total, the council said it has invested more than $250,000 on these measures – without the assistance of the government.

‘This year, that kind of crowd is simply not safe and Council’s message to those hoping to play at Bronte is clear,’ they said.

‘A zero-tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour will be enforced and alcohol and glass will be confiscated when detected.

‘Bronte is not a good option and brings significant personal risk.

‘Do not come.’