Hundreds of Sydneysiders packed the iconic Bondi Beach on Friday as a week of cooler weather suddenly cleared to make way for a weekend heatwave.
Pictures show the popular beach littered with towels and tents, as locals sprinted for the cool ocean water.
Some could not work up the energy to move and built up their tans on the sand instead. This proved to be a questionable move for some, as their skin turned from brown to red.
Hundreds flocked to Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Friday to escape the harsh heat

Many laid towels on the sand and soaked up the scorching sun with friends, and one woman’s skin was seen turning from brown to red as a result

Others headed straight for the water and were seen frolicking in the surf


Many were seen helping friends with sunscreen or ensuring it was properly applied on themselves

One woman was seen setting up her beach tent to shield her from the sun while wearing thongs to protect her feet from the hot sand

The iconic beach was packed on Friday as temperatures skyrocketed around the city
Temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees in Sydney’s west for four days, beginning on Friday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Melbourne residents struggled through Friday, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees.
On Saturday the mercury is set to top 45 at Hay and Ivanhoe in western NSW, and 43 in Penrith in western Sydney.
Ivanhoe will again swelter on Sunday with temperatures rising to 46 degrees, while Scone in the Hunter region reaches 44.
Both Penrith and Richmond have already had eight days above 40 degrees this summer, and are just two days away from beating their all time record of 12, according to the BOM.

A pair of friends were seen navigating the packed out Sydney beach on Friday

One woman was seen applying suntan oil as she prepared for an afternoon in the sun

Others were seen applying sunscreen before heading into the cool ocean water

Despite the heat, some people could not be separated and one pair were seen cuddling as they relaxed on the sand

Temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees in Sydney’s west for the next three days
Pictures taken in St Kilda show beachgoers soaking in the shallows of St Kilda Beach, splashing each other to cool down in the still water.
Others found a quicker way to cool off, and stood under the shower taps with friends instead.
One woman took a more luxurious approach to her day trip and brought a large inflatable watermelon to float on.

One woman brought an oversized inflatable watermelon to St Kilda Beach to add a touch of luxury to her time in the sun

The woman stood out from her fellow beach-goers, who did not think as far ahead

One couple were seen sitting in the shallows and splashing each other with the water


The uncomfortable heat is expected to pass after Friday, and Melbourne will enter the weekend at a more palatable mid-20 degrees

Adelaide will also cool down after spending Friday in 40-degree heat (pictured: friends cool off using the showers at St Kilda Beach)
The crowds in St Kilda were no doubt feeling more relaxed than those commuting in Fitzroy, after a road accident caused chaos and road closures.
At Rod Laver Arena, tennis fans did their best to keep cool on day 5 of the Australian Open.
Some were seen pouring water on their heads or creating a personal breeze with a fan.
Some audience members used hats to stay cool, though their interpretations appeared to be very different.
One group wore Australian flag sombreros, giving them a nice area of personal shade from the harsh sun.
Another stayed on theme and used paper mache tennis balls fashioned into hats to keep the heat away.
Away from the hustle and bustle of the city centres, it wasn’t people taking cover from the scorching heat, but instead a group of kangaroos, who took shelter in the shade of a ute.
The uncomfortable heat is expected to pass after Friday, and Melbourne will enter the weekend at a more palatable mid-20 degrees.
Adelaide will also cool down after spending Friday in 40-degree heat.
A cool change after the sun goes down will see the South Australian capital dip to a low of 19 degrees before heating backup to the mid 30s on Saturday.

Away from the cities, kangaroos were seen trying to cool off in the shade of a ute

Humidity is expected to set in throughout Sydney on Monday night, with sticky evenings expected throughout the week
The heatwave canvasing the eastern parts of the country is combined with dry conditions, pushing up the danger of fires.
Weatherzone meteorologist Graeme Brittain told Daily Mail Australia the risk would be increased throughout the nation.
‘Because there is an increase in temperature, that will increase the fire danger across the whole country,’ he said.
And while conditions would remain dry in most cities, Sydney would be slipping into humidity from next week.

The heat, combined with a lack of moisture in the air, will increase the fire risk throughout the nation

Police have also urged people to keep an eye out for elderly and disabled members of the community in cars during the coming days of extreme heat

Drinking water, eating cold food and staying indoors at places which are air conditioned can help people minimise the risks of excessive heat
‘We can expect hot, sticky nights for Sydney from Monday,’ he said.
Residents in the major capital cities are being warned about bushfires, with the Bureau of Meterology describing the chance of a blaze in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide as ‘very high’.
Police have also urged people to keep an eye out for elderly and disabled members of the community in cars during the coming days of extreme heat.