Sydneysiders have marked the start of 2021 with an early-morning dip at the city’s most iconic beach after a night of restricted celebrations.
Revellers splashed their way into the New Year at Bondi Beach, in the eastern suburbs, on Friday morning after the city rung in January 1 with a shortened fireworks display on a vacated harbour.
The beachgoers stripped down to their underwear and made a dash across the famous golden sand, before bracing the chilly water.
Two women pose from the water at Sydney’s Bondi Beach during the early hours of New Year’s Day
Three women make a dash for the water at Bondi Beach after stripping down to their underwear in the early hours of New Year’s Day
A man covers himself with seaweed after stripping down to his birthday suit for a refreshing dip at Bondi Beach
The New Year’s celebrations continued for groups of revellers who descended on Sydney’s most iconic beach on Friday morning
The group were not fazed by the brisk morning conditions, and were instead full of smiles as they played in the waves and danced on the shore.
Couples embraced in the water and on the sand, with some marking the start of the day with a sweet kiss.
Sydney largely banned crowds for its world-renowned pyrotechnic display on New Year’s Eve, while Melbourne’s fireworks were cancelled weeks ago.
Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide also cancelled their fireworks.
The restrictions ensured the Sydney foreshore, including popular vantage points such as the Opera House and The Rocks, were on Thursday night deserted, with no revellers or firework-watchers in sight.
The lively seven-minute fireworks display at midnight carried themes of love and solidarity amid COVID-19, which has killed 909 Australians to date.
A man and a woman, joined by their friends, danced on the sand as they marked the start of January 1, 2021
A group of friends sit on the beach in their outfits from New Year’s Eve, with one reveller still wearing her party hat
A couple share a sweet kiss on Bondi Beach after Sydney rung in the beginning of 2021 on Friday
Fireworks forming the shape of a heart were set off on the stroke of midnight.
Sydneysiders mostly watched the display on television, with a permit system established for the CBD only for those with pre-existing hospitality bookings.
Boats were permitted on Sydney Harbour with strict guidelines, while the children-friendly fireworks at 9pm did not go ahead.
Residents in Greater Sydney, including Wollongong, the Central Coast and Blue Mountains, were restricted to hosting five visitors in their homes, including children. The limit for outdoor gatherings was reduced to 30.
Central Melbourne was also mostly vacated on Thursday night, with a smattering of people in restaurants but parks and public spaces deserted.
The Victorian government urged people not to head into the Melbourne CBD on Thursday night unless they had a hospitality booking.
A man holds his arms up for the camera after making his way into the water with two friends on Friday morning
A woman in a white swimming costume runs across the sand and into the water at Sydney’s Bondi Beach
A couple embrace as they splash in the water at Bondi Beach on Friday morning, after ringing in the New Year
The city’s new eight-person outbreak prompted authorities to cut indoor gatherings from 30 people to 15 from 5pm on New Year’s Eve.
South Australians were allowed no more than 50 people at their house – indoors or outdoors – for New Year’s Eve celebrations. A maximum of 200 people were permitted at private outdoor gatherings.
Fireworks in Hobart went ahead but, like in Sydney, people were urged not to gather on the waterfront. Darwin residents needed to register and wear wristbands to attend the city’s two fireworks displays.
In marked contrast to the rest of the country, Perth planned celebrations that were close to normal, with two fireworks displays.