Bondi Beach Is One of Australia’s Most Famous Destinations

At least 10 people were killed on Sunday in a shooting at the beach, the police said.Bondi Beach, the heart of Sydney’s oceanside culture, is one of the country’s most famous destinations for locals and tourists.Credit...Isabella Moore for The New York TimesDec. 14, 2025Updated 9:00 a.m. ETBondi Beach, a half-mile crescent of yellow sand that sits less than four miles from downtown Sydney, Australia, is one of the country’s most famous destinations for locals and tourists. At least 10 people were killed on Sunday in a shooting at the beach, the police said.Hundreds of thousands of people visit the beach (pronounced bon-dye) every year. In 2022, more than 880,000 domestic visitors went to the beach in a single day, according to the New South Wales government. It is home to one of the world’s oldest surf lifesaving clubs and one of Australia’s oldest swimming clubs. It is open and patrolled by lifeguards year-round.The beach hosts several surfing competitions each year and is at the heart of Sydney’s oceanside culture. Bondi is one of several beaches in New South Wales that altogether stretch over 1,000 miles.Bondi Beach is known for its vast, picturesque landscape and clear blue waters. The beach is nestled near Sydney’s Bondi Junction, a hub of commercial activity that includes restaurants, bars, cafes and shopping centers.The beach was part of a large private estate until the mid-19th century, when it was opened to the public in 1882. The word Bondi is named from an Aboriginal word meaning “sound of the waves breaking on the beach,” according to the local government.Jin Yu Young is a reporter and researcher for The Times, based in Seoul, covering South Korea and international breaking news.SKIP