Beachgoers attend ‘insane’ Christmas Day beach beach festivities

Partiers have packed onto a tiny beach amid reports of injury and assault, as cops patrol the ‘insane’ celebrations to prevent a repeat of last year’s ‘disgusting’ scenes.

Thousands of people have flocked to celebrate Christmas Day at a Sydney beach party that has been hailed as a “pretty special” event, despite reports of injuries and assault.

Police at the Bronte Beach event rushed to assist a man who suffered serious head injuries after he reportedly slipped while trying to jump off a cliff into the ocean pool.

A medical team was dispatched by helicopter and the man in his 20s has been rushed to St Vincent’s hospital in a serious condition.

Police have also attended the scene of an alleged assault that left a man unconscious.

Thousands people are celebrating Christmas Day on Bronte Beach. Picture: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

A man in his 20s has been hospitalised after he fell while trying to dive from a cliff. Picture: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Attendees have taken to social media to call the Sydney beach party “mental” and “insane”, with one tourist comparing it to Rio’s Carnival.

An industrious DJ has set up his decks and speakers on the parkland, playing music for the crowds of sunbaking beachgoers.

Bondi Lines, a platform for real-time information on night-life, reported that the event is “a staple” of Sydney’s Christmas offerings, particularly for expats.

The platform’s co-founder Callum Weatherall said the party has been around for years, and is predominantly attended by expats and backpackers including “Irish and South American people away from home”.

“They don’t have family over here, and I think it’s pretty special for them to be able to come down to one of the nicest beaches here in Sydney to celebrate together, so we’re really supportive of it,” he said.

Revellers have again flocked to Sydney's Bronte Beach for Christmas Day 2025. Image: Instagram

Police have been spotted patrolling Bronte Beach on horseback. Image: Instagram

“A lot of our followers are from Ireland, the UK, South America. They don’t have the privilege of sitting around having Christmas lunch with everyone and still want to have a good time with other people.”

Attendees have been flowing to the spot all day in buses and cars, with local residents sharing views of the packed attraction from their scenic apartments.

Partygoers filmed festively-attired police horses patrolling the crowds as the festivities stretched into the evening.

Police have been on site to monitor the crowds and ensure there isn’t any replication of the bad behaviour at last year’s event that left the beach and surrounding area covered in broken glass, rubbish and human waste.

Local business owner Fern Coop supported the Christmas Day party, saying that the council should work to “reduce the harm these parties add on our beaches”, including introducing additional toilet facilities, food trucks, rubbish collection and crowd control.

An industrious DJ has set up decks and a speaker on the beachfront park. Image: Instagram

Many of the beachgoers are dressed in festive attire. Picture: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

“We actually can’t stop all these people getting there and I do think it’s a beautiful park for these guys to enjoy their Christmases,” she said.

However, the business owner remained concerned about the amount of litter the event produces, saying she “can only assume there’s going to be a lot of rubbish” on Boxing Day.

Fears after ‘disgusting’ bash last year

It comes after councils warned revellers planning to hit the beaches to act responsibly after huge crowds left Sydney’s Bronte Beach covered in trash last year.

The raucous Christmas party was slammed as the “worst ever” and “disgusting” by some residents, one of whom said it was “worse than a third world country”.

Another said they felt “in danger” being near the event and it had made them want to move away from the pristine beach.

The celebrations have long been a mecca for thousands of tourists and backpackers travelling to Australia for a summer Christmas, but often draws the ire of locals.

It is traditional to wear red swimmers for the Christmas Day beach bash. Picture: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Lifeguards and police are patrolling the beach. Picture: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Waverley Councillor Joshua Spicer took to social media to assure furious locals the council has taken action to ensure last year’s wild scenes are not replicated.

“This includes extra rangers, security, and police, a dedicated cleaning crew with more bins and waste trucks, extended lifeguard patrols, and specific measures for Bronte Park, such as crowd control pathways and temporary toilets,” he wrote on Facebook.

“This has been a key priority for us, and we’re confident these steps will make a big difference this year.”

Locals remained sceptical, with one commenting “council and police won’t do anything about it”.

In a statement, Waverley Council said it would not tolerate anti-social behaviour and had taken “a number of significant proactive measures to ensure our community can relax and enjoy the summer”.

“The safe enjoyment of our public and recreational spaces is our number one priority,” a spokesperson said.

“We encourage everyone to enjoy our beaches responsibly and safely, ensuring they remain a welcoming space for all.”

Even the ocean pools are busy. Picture: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Beachgoers Ciara Rooney and Natasha Moore are enjoying the sun. Picture: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

The festivities are set to continue into the evening. Picture: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

NSW Police said they would conduct high visibility patrols of Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte Beaches “due to significant crowd numbers expected over the holiday period.”

A spokesperson said they were aware of a party planned at Bronte Beach for Christmas Day and have been working with organisers.

“There will be officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command, assisted by specialist police, tasked to patrol the area to ensure the safety of visitors and manage crowd numbers,” they said.

“People are reminded to check and abide by designated alcohol-prohibited and/or alcohol-free zones in the area. Alcohol and water don’t mix.”

Police reminded people not to swim or drive boats when intoxicated and said they would have a “significant presence” on the roads and in the water over the holiday period.

Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said up to 100,000 visitors could be expected to flock to the council’s 40 picturesque beaches on Christmas Day, depending on the conditions.

“We are fortunate that the majority of our beachgoers are well behaved,” she said.

Thousands of revellers descended upon Bronte Beach for Christmas Day celebrations last year. Picture: Instagram

The council has set up extra amenities on site this year to accommodate the influx of visitors. Image: Twitter

Visitors last year left the beach in far worse shape than they found it. Picture: NewsWire

“Council has rostered additional lifeguards across the festive season to assist and protect the beachgoers.

The various lifesaving clubs also roster additional volunteers to patrol the beaches.”

Ms Heins reminded beachgoers to be careful when swimming, hydrate on the beach, and protect the environment by disposing of rubbish.

“Your safety and enjoyment are our top priorities. Our goal is for everyone to return home safely after a memorable day on the Northern Beaches,” she said.

Originally published as Beachgoers attend ‘insane’ Christmas Day beach beach festivities