The 8 Best Sydney Beaches Where You Can Spend Your Christmas Day

Here are some beach suggestions to make your trip during the Christmas season more festive and enjoyable.

Summer in Australia is a season of fun, sun and celebrating some festive times including Christmas. It is a great to experience this festive season during summer, and what better way to enjoy Christmas Day than by visiting one of the beautiful beaches in Sydney? Swim in pristine waters, relax alongside Sydney’s coast and take in the Christmas vibe. Bring some meat, prawns along and have a beach-side BBQ! Below are some beach suggestions for your Christmas Day.

Bondi Beach

Photo: Getty Images

Only 7 km (5 miles) from the Sydney’s CBD, Bondi Beach is the epitome of holidaying, summer in this dazzling city. People visit this beach to enjoy surf, sunshine and a true Aussie Christmas. You can get there by bus or train.

Manly Beach

Manly Beach is situated among the Northern Beaches of Sydney. Have a pleasant ferry trip from Circular Quay across Sydney Harbour to Manly. Water quality, great waves, a good atmosphere and an attractive streetscape are also some of the beach’s attractions. There is lots to see and do at Manly beach. Manly has access to the Manly Scenic Walkway, one of Sydney’s best walking tracks, and Manly’s harbourside beaches are some of the favourite spots among Sydneysiders and visitors.

Cronulla Beach 

Photo: Cronulla Beach Backpackers 

Located just 40 minutes south of the city, Cronulla Beach is the heart of the Sutherland Shire. The beach has an excellent range of surfing breaks, some of the best scuba diving in Sydney and countless treasures and wildlife in the rock pools. It’s just fantastic to take a picnic on the shore with some food. What a nice place to visit for an action-packed Christmas Day!

Palm Beach 

Photo: LesterLost 

Palm Beach is one of the best beaches in Sydney and is only 90 minutes by public transport from the city centre. Take in the breathtaking sights of rolling sand dunes, sparkling waters, amazing rock pools and abundant native Australian animals and plants. Enjoy swimming, surfing, kayaking and sailing in this beautiful beach. There are lovely picnic spots, beach-side restaurants and favourite cruises and ferry rides.

Balmoral Beach 

Photo: jbreiti

This lovely harbour beach is another option when you study English in Sydney and want to spend Christmas Day on the beach. It is easily accessed by bus, train. You will love its golden sands, breathtaking water colour and amazing views. There are great grassy areas perfect for picnicking and fantastic facilities available at this beach. Its safe surf and swimming conditions and spectacular surrounds make Balmoral Beach a great place to go with friends this Christmas. 

Bronte Beach

Photo: LesterLost 

Located in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, this is a wonderful part of the city's coastline. It is 2 kilometres south of Bondi Beach and north of Coogee Beach. It has a good stretch of sand, beautiful views of the coast, relaxing surroundings, pristine parkland with at least three large communial BBQs and a number of beach shelters and shaded areas. The beach has good waves for surfers and even has an ocean swimming pool.

Coogee Beach

Photo: LesterLost

This beautiful beach is described as Bondi Beach’s younger sibling. The beautiful waters, the sand and the rocks make the beach one of the natural gems of Sydney’s coast. The location is convenient to eateries and has easy access to public transport and nearby points of attraction. There are a number of BBQs areas on the sea front. The facilities are well-maintained and easily accessible from the beach.

Milk Beach

Photo: Transient 20s 

Located at the base of Hermit Bay within the Sydney Harbour National Park, surrounded by the Heritage-listed Strickland House, Milk Beach offers gorgeous views of Sydney. This harbour-side beach has nice calm waters perfect for everything from swimming, snorkeling to fishing. It is also a great place for sunbaking. There are lots of little spots for picnic. The beach can be accessed via public transport or boat.

Source: The 8 Best Sydney Beaches Where You Can Spend Your Christmas Day | Scots English College

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How Do People in Australia Celebrate Summer Christmas?

Christmas in Australia in mid-summer is more likely to involve a barbie (BBQ), full of seafood and quality steak than a traditional European roast dinner.

Christmas is observed on 25 December each year to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. In Australia, it was introduced as a result of British settlement in 1788 as the cultural norms were transferred to the new colonies.

Australia is located in the Southern hemisphere. When it is winter in the Northern hemisphere, it is summer down here. The heat of summer in Australia has an impact on the way Australians celebrate Christmas. There is no frost and there is no snow. It’s different and it has its charms.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, people hang decorations in their homes, send out greetings cards, sing carols; children delightedly anticipate a visit from Santa Claus. On Christmas Day, family and friends gather to exchange gifts and enjoy special holiday food.

1. BBQ

For lunch, Australians often have freshly caught seafood outdoors at a BBQ. Either, they have a traditional roast turkey and Christmas pudding with plenty of beer and good cheer. Many families eat outdoors if it’s not too hot.

2. Beach

If you are looking to celebrate Christmas differently, replace the snow and lights with sand and sunshine at a Sydney beach. Image: Getty 

Many people spend Christmas outdoors, going to the beach for the day or heading to camping grounds for a longer break. The Beach is the coolest place to be on hot Christmas day. Also, as about 80% live within just 50 kilometers of one, why not head there to play with the waves, meet up with friends, drink ice cold beer and have a climate-appropriate BBQ? Bondi Beach is one of most popular destinations on Christmas Day.

3. Beer 

Drinking beer at Christmas is a typical Aussie tradition. It is often given as a present, being the entry price for joining in the afternoon Christmas celebrations with friends and family.

4. Prawns

Image: Getty 

With the Aussie climate around Christmas, it is ideal to devour the prawns. Australians spend 10 times more prawns at Christmas compared to any other time of the year. A couple of thousand kilos of prawns will be sold in the couple of day before Christmas alone. So when you study English in Sydney and you want to celebrate it in the same way that Australians do, make sure you have prawns for on the BBQ.

5. Cricket 

Image: Getty

People play cricket anywhere, at the beach, park, street, and backyard, either while Christmas lunch/dinner is cooking or after their meal.

6. Carols by Candlelight

Image: Australia’s Guide

As a huge Christmas tradition in Australia, Carols by Candlelight is held all over the country in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The events range from huge gatherings to smaller local community and church events.

Christmas in Australia is also associated with two major sporting events:

7. Boxing Day Test

Image: Getty

The traditional Boxing Day Test begins on 26 December, the day after Christmas each year, and is played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This most keenly anticipated cricket match in world cricket involves the Australian Cricket Team and an international touring side. Tickets are usually sold out months in advance.

8. Sydney to Hobart Yacht

Image: Spirit Fleet

Another significant sporting event is the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race beginning in beautiful Sydney Harbour on 26 December. This is not only Australia’s most prestigious yachting race but also one of the most viewed sailing events in the world.

Source: How Do People in Australia Celebrate Summer Christmas? | Scots English College

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