Christmas Day: Crowds head to Bondi Beach on record day of Covid cases

Sydney looks likely to reach highs of 30C on Saturday, with lots of revellers setting up at Bondi Beach early this morning.

Many Bondi Beach goers could be seen wearing Santa hats, with Christmas picnic spreads and even a beer in hand.

Bondi lifeguards decorated a few Christmas tree along the beach and even had their very own Santa Claus, sporting a life jacket over his Santa suit.

The Bureau of Meteorology NSW tweeted it would be a “muggy X-mas day in Sydney, with 30C in the City and 33C in the West”.

There is a slight chance of an afternoon shower or storm in the west before a southerly change sweeps in for Boxing Day.

Everyone appeared to be socially distancing as NSW hit a record day of 6288 new infections.

NSW Chief health officer Kerry Chant has said being outside in fresh air is the safest place to be this Christmas.

“Please take those activities outdoors, with lots of social distancing,” she said in the lead up to the festive day.

Temperatures across the country are soaring as well.

Perth look set to reach tops of 42C, which could make it the hottest Christmas in more than half a century.

For many parts of the state, hot winds are funnelling in from the desert.

Brisbane is also forecast to reach highs of at least 28C on Saturday, although severe thunderstorms are likely for central Queensland and possibly northwest and southern Queensland.

Adelaide is partly cloudy with highs of 27C for Christmas, while Victoria is having a cool and breezy day in the south and a warm and sunny day in the north.