he weather conditions were less than ideal on Thursday (December 25) as locals and tourists descended on Australia’s iconic Bondi Beach to celebrate Christmas.

The crowd size was noticeably smaller than previous years, with the windy conditions, threat of rain and the recent shooting deterring people from participating in the Australian tradition of Christmas on the beach.

Fifteen people were killed and dozens injured in the mass shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi on December 14, a shock attack that prompted calls for tougher gun laws and stronger action against antisemitism.

English tourist, Mark Conroy, is visiting family in Sydney over the holiday period and whilst he said he was excited to experience his first Christmas on Bondi, his thoughts were with the victims of the attack.

“People here are out on the beach because it’s a celebration, but everybody has got it in their memories and everybody is respectful of what happened,” he said.

People posed for photos in front of a Christmas tree in the sand, many wearing Santa hats to get into the festive spirit.

Amid the tourists and locals, volunteer lifeguards who patrol the sandy shores were keeping a watchful eye as well as a visible police presence along the foreshore.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (DECEMBER 25, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. PERSON TAKING PHOTO WITH CHRISTMAS TREE ON BONDI BEACH

2. STAR ON TOP OF CHRISTMAS TREE

3. PEOPLE TAKING PHOTOS WITH CHRISTMAS TREE

4. BONDI SIGN NEXT TO TREE

5. PEOPLE POSING NEXT TO TREE

6. PEOPLE ON BEACH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH TOURIST, MARK CONROY, SAYING:

“This is the first time in my life (spending Christmas on Bondi beach). I won’t tell you me age but it’s a long time but it’s the best Christmas we could have. On a white Bondi Beach on Christmas day with me family, it’s the best.”

8. VARIOUS OF FLAG FLYING AT HALF MAST OUTSIDE BONDI PAVILLION

9. POLICE CAR AT BEACH

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH TOURIST, MARK CONROY, SAYING:

“I think it’s tragic, and I think everybody respects and is very sad for what happened, and I think people here are out on the beach, because it’s like a celebration but everybody has got it in their memories and everybody is respectful of what happened, and everybody and I mean everyone is feeling for the family and friends who are going through the worst possible thing you could imagine.”

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH TOURIST, CHARLIE EVANS MURRIE (RIGHT), SAYING:

“Oh it’s totally different, I’m pretty sure its like zero degrees at home right now and we’re sat here, I mean this is like the coldest day it’s been for two weeks and this is still so hot, never experienced anything like it.”

(SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH TOURIST, JACK ALEXANDER (LEFT), SAYING:

“Yeah it’s so much nicer. To not have any rain, to not have miserable weather, is completely different. It’s so much nicer.”

12. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ON THE BEACH

13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH TOURIST, JACK ALEXANDER (LEFT), SAYING:

“I think it’s nice that everybody’s coming together, celebrating Christmas, everybody is clearly enjoying the beach, enjoying Christmas day, so it’s nice that can happen even though there’s a lot of upset that’s happened recently.”

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW ZEALANDER, MEGAN EGGLESTON, SAYING:

“It’s definitely not your quintessential Australian Christmas, but I think you kind of just have to make the most of it, that’s why everybody’s down here anyway.”

(SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH CITIZEN RESIDING IN AUSTRALIA FOR TWO YEARS, TIAH DEVANEY, SAYING:

“It’s a bit windy but it’s alright, it’s not raining.”

(SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW ZEALANDER, MEGAN EGGLESTON, SAYING:

“Yeah it’s fine.”

15. PEOPLE IN WATER

16. SURF LIFE SAVING VOLUNTEERS IN COSTUME POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPH

17. SURF LIFE SAVING VOLUNTEERS IN TENT

18. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SURF LIFE SAVING PATROL CAPTAIN, THOMAS HOUGH, SAYING:

“It’s not the best conditions for Christmas Day today, it’s a bit choppy. We’ve got a fairly blustery southerly wind but it’s not stopping people from coming down. It’s fairly busy, but some big surf and some gusty winds. So not ideal but people are still here.”

19. SURF LIFE SAVING VOLUNTEERS DRIVING IN BUGGY COVERED IN CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

20. PEOPLE ON THE BEACH

21. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE PLAYING GAMES

22. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ON THE BEACH IN SANTA HATS

23. PEOPLE SAYING (English): “Merry Christmas”