Welcome listeners to Things to Do in Sydney with your globetrotting sports nut, Oly Bennet. It’s Saturday, 20 December 2025, and Sydney is serving up a classic summer combo: warm, sunny, and buzzing with pre-Christmas energy. Bondi and Coogee are already filling with early swimmers, and the city’s shaking off a tough week with a big dose of togetherness and fun.

First, the vibe check. Reuters reports that around 1,000 surf lifesavers have returned to duty at Bondi Beach after last weekend’s tragic attack, marking a powerful moment of solidarity on the sand. Patrols are back, whistles are blowing, and the message is clear: Sydney’s beach culture is resilient, and the flags are flying again.

Now, today’s highlight reel of events. Over at ICC Sydney in Darling Harbour, the Wiggles Tree of Wisdom Big Show is bringing kiddo mayhem and rainbow-level joy to families, while Love Actually in Concert turns Christmas feelings up to eleven with the film on the big screen and a live orchestra playing all those iconic tracks, according to the ICC Sydney events calendar. If your sport of choice is hitting the dance floor with a side of mischief, plenty of CBD pubs and bars are running Christmas parties and pub crawls tonight, including a big Christmas crawl kicking off around 8 p.m. listed on Eventbrite. And if you’re already planning ahead, Sydney Festival has just dropped a limited-time 2‑for‑1 Christmas offer on select 2026 shows, including a Hot Chip gig at the Opera House, according to Sydney Festival.

On the news-and-city front, local TV coverage from 9News Sydney highlights tighter security and a crackdown on hate speech across the city following the Bondi attack, so listeners can expect a visible police and safety presence around major hubs and beaches today. Public transport is running on standard weekend schedules, and with crowds heading to the harbour and shopping precincts, this is a prime day to tap on with Opal and let the buses and trains do the work instead of driving.

Now, Oly’s playbook for must-do moves today. Hit Bondi or Coogee early for a swim, then walk a chunk of the coastal path toward Bronte for ridiculous ocean views and rock pools that look engineered by Poseidon himself. Swing by The Rocks for a history walking tour or a lazy pub stop amid cobblestone lanes, then cap your afternoon with a harbour cruise or ferry to Manly for that golden-hour skyline. If you want something a bit quirky and local, book a surf lesson at Maroubra or a long, lazy picnic with harbour views at Kirribilli, both recommended on My Guide Sydney.

Local tip time: Sydney may look big on maps, but many of the best zones link beautifully by ferry. Tap on at Circular Quay, ride a ferry just for the views, and you’ve basically scored a budget harbour cruise plus front-row seats to the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Also, never underestimate the power of a good bakery meat pie after a swim—true Sydney refuel strategy.

Before I sign off, keep an eye on tomorrow’s calendar: more festive action is lining up across the CBD and beaches, plus the run‑up to Christmas means pop-up markets, carols, and late‑night shopping are only getting bigger. Tune in tomorrow for fresh picks, new events, and more weird and wonderful ways to play in Sydney.

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