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Thousands of Australians have packed to Bondi Beach to beat the heat this Australia Day.

While plumes of smoke billow from barbecues in backyards, thousands chose to ditch the snag in bread for sand and a swim.

Hoping for some refuge from the scorching 33C in the city, hordes of bikini-clad revellers with umbrellas shading them from the sun's harsh rays put lifeguards on edge as they filled the beach.

Dozens of Australian flags waved in the wind as revellers took to the shallow waters of the beach to pose for photos (left). Others temporarily tattooed the iconic blue, white and red flag on their bodies as they went for a dip (right)

Hoping for some refuge from the scorching 33C in the city, hordes of bikini-clad revellers with umbrellas shading them from the sun's harsh rays hit the beach

Thousands of Australians have packed to Bondi Beach to beat the heat this Australia Day

Some had sought to go for a swim in between meals, while others parked up for a spot of beach cricket

Many beachgoers got into the festivities, donning bikinis with the Australian flag emblazoned on them.

Others took it a step further, temporarily tattooing the iconic blue, white and red emblem on their bodies as they went for a dip.

A customary Australian tradition, many found a small patch of sand to dig some plastic stumps into for a spell of beach cricket, while many others just took in the rays.

Regardless of whether they were at the beach to frolic, tan or play, Bondi's iconic lifeguards were working overtime keeping everyone safe.    

While plumes of smoke billow from barbecues in backyards, thousands chose to ditch the snag in bread for sand and a swim

Many beachgoers got into the festivities, donning bikinis with the Australian flag emblazoned on them

Regardless of whether they were at the beach to frolic, tan or play, Bondi's iconic lifeguards were working overtime keeping everyone safe

In the days before the long weekend, data from Surf Life Saving NSW and Royal Life Saving showed that public holiday weekends led to the most fatalities in the water.

In a ten-year span from 2008 onwards, nearly 10,000 people drowned in NSW beaches on Saturdays.

Chief executive of Surf Life Saving NSW Steven Pearce says his biggest concern is mixing a swim and alcohol.

'They've been on the grog at a party or a barbecue, they've been down the beach and (it's) time to cool off after lunch ... That's when water conditions change and it often becomes more dangerous, depending on the beach,' Mr Pearce told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Royal Life Saving Society Australia's Amy Peden said it was sad that it was basically 'inevitable' someone would drown on Australia Day.

On average, one person has drowned each of the past five years, with three losing their lives in the swell January 26, 2018. 

With temperatures sitting in the low 30s and the searing sun pouring down on revellers, many went out to seek shade

For those enjoying the beach responsibly, the weather is on your side. 

Sydney's temperature is forecast to stay in the high 20s for the rest of the afternoon, before dipping to an evening low of 23C.

With the humidity remaining high and the sun not setting until about 8pm, expect the beaches to remain packed with festive punters until Saturday evening. 

With the humidity remaining high and the sun not setting until about 8pm, lifeguards can expect the beaches to remain packed with festive punters until late into Saturday evening

Sydney's temperature is forecast to stay in the high 20s for the rest of the afternoon, before dipping to an evening low of 23C