Beachgoers attend Christmas Day beach festivities after previously leaving ‘worst ever’, ‘disgusting’ scenes

Revellers have again flocked to a tiny beach for Christmas Day celebrations, with police patrolling on horseback after huge crowds left it in a “disgusting” state last year.

Visitors and locals have shared footage of a Sydney beach heaving with people as police manage crowds on horseback.

Bronte Beach has again welcomed scores of people looking to beat the Christmas Day heat, as tourists and locals alike set up camp at the beachfront in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

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

Police have been spotted patrolling the crowds on horseback, one police horse wearing a festive wreath and reindeer antlers. Image: Instagram

Attendees have been flowing to the spot all day in buses and cars, with scarcely a spot left to set up at Bronte Park on the beachfront.

Local residents have shared views of the packed attraction from their scenic apartments.

Visitors started flowing in from early morning to set up towels and shade structures. Image: Twitter

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

This 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.

Tens of thousands of people flocked to the stunning beach to celebrate the holiday last year and left it covered in broken glass, rubbish, and human waste.

The raucous Christmas party was slammed as the “worst ever” and “disgusting” by 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.

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

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.

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 beachgoers were packed onto the sand last year. Picture: Instagram

They left the beach in far worse shape than they found it. Picture: NewsWire

“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.”

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.

Councils are urging people to be responsible and respectful this year. Picture: NewsWire

NSW Police will be patrolling Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs beaches. Picture: NewsWire

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.

“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 Christmas Day beach festivities after previously leaving ‘worst ever’, ‘disgusting’ scenes