Thousands of international backpackers have celebrated Christmas Day across Sydney's iconic eastern beaches, marking a significant shift in festivities from previous years. In a move welcomed by local authorities, the massive annual gathering moved away from Bronte Beach to Coogee Beach, following explicit warnings and in the sombre shadow of the recent Bondi Junction terror attack.
A Change of Scenery After Council Pleas
For years, Bronte Beach has been the unofficial epicentre for a backpacker Christmas party, drawing crowds in the tens of thousands. The 2024 event saw an estimated 15,000 backpackers descend on the location, resulting in what Waverley Council described as anti-social behaviour, excessive noise, and a mammoth mess that sparked a costly clean-up. This year, the council launched a strategic campaign urging travellers to stay away, a request given greater weight by the tragic attack at nearby Westfield Bondi Junction less than two weeks prior, which left 15 people dead and 40 injured.
Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh confirmed the campaign's success. "Our warnings were heard, and it was a peaceful day at Bronte," Mayor Nemesh said. "I am pleased we did not see a repeat of the chaotic scenes of 2024, and I am sure locals are relieved too." Council staff and police reported low and manageable crowds at Bronte throughout the day, with the area remaining clean and pristine by dusk.
Celebrations and Clean-Up at Coogee
Instead, the backpacker population relocated their festivities to neighbouring Coogee Beach, within the Randwick City Council area. Massive crowds were captured dancing and celebrating, with a 7NEWS reporter even being swarmed by the rowdy bunch. However, the party left a familiar trail of litter across the grass, requiring council staff to commence a significant clean-up operation on Christmas Day.
Randwick City Council acknowledged the effort on social media, posting, "A big thank you to all our lifeguards, rangers and waste and cleansing staff for all your hard work under difficult circumstances on Christmas Day." Waverley Council staff were also deployed to assist their Randwick counterparts with the aftermath.
Bondi Beach Sees a Return to Normality
Meanwhile, crowds also returned to Bondi Beach itself, the scene of the horrific attack on April 13th. Residents and visitors were seen enjoying the sun and barbecues, signalling a tentative return to life for the popular location. The simultaneous gatherings at Coogee and Bondi highlighted a community and visitor population navigating celebration while respecting recent tragedy.
The outcome this Christmas demonstrates a complex balance. While the strategic communications from Waverley Council successfully prevented a repeat of the Bronte chaos, the sheer scale of the backpacker celebration inevitably shifted the logistical and clean-up challenges to another coastal suburb. The day underscored the ongoing appeal of Sydney's beaches for holidaymakers and the perennial task for local governments in managing large, unofficial events.
