Australian Christmas sandman on a white sand

© fogaas/iStock/Getty Images Plu

Do you want to build a sandman?. Christmas by the sea

Although plenty of the Christmas tunes you’re sure to be blasting today speak of a winter wonderland, we’re used to quite the opposite. In fact, Christmas sandmen, like the adorable creation gracing our homepage today, aren’t an entirely uncommon sight as the heat of summer takes hold. That’s why many families and visitors take refuge at the nearest beach instead.

In 2018, thousands descended upon the iconic Bondi Beach in Sydney with their speedos and Santa hats in tow – leading the local lifesavers to join in the festivities by erecting and decorating a tree on the sand. Some 765 kilometres north, hundreds of holidaymakers could also be found at Byron Bay for a bit of fun in the sun.

But no matter where in the country you find yourself, if you're celebrating Christmas today, we wish you a merry one.