You may’ve heard of this minor December ritual called getting a Santa photo. What you may not have heard: Sydney’s turned it into an art form. From boutique studios that deliver same-day edits to surf-club setups that swap fake snow for real sea spray, the city’s Christmas photo game has levelled up.
We’ve hunted down 26 of Sydney’s best Santa photo spots for 2025, from Bondi to Penrith, Caringbah to Cronulla. There are beachside shoots for the sand-between-your-toes types, dog-friendly sessions for fur families, and quiet sensory mornings for little ones who prefer their Christmas calm. Whether you’re chasing coastal chic or classic chaos, there’s a Santa seat (and probably a mulled something) with your name on it. Bookmark this guide and share it with your festive-obsessed friends and we’ll keep adding to it as more sessions drop, or let us know if there’s a Santa worth sliding into.
🏙 Sydney CBD & Inner City
The Grounds of Alexandria
You may have heard whispers about Sydney’s most photogenic café turning into a Christmas spectacle, but what you may not have heard: it involves tartan. The Grounds has traded classic red for a full-on plaid fantasy where mistletoe mingles with velvet bows, and the trees come wrapped like couture. Wander the laneways with a mulled sangria in hand, pause for a photo under a wreath the size of a small car, and keep an eye out for Santa’s limited photo sessions (including a few coveted after-hours slots).
If you’re dining at The Café, The Garden, or The Potting Shed, you’re in for front-row access to all the festive mayhem, just flash your receipt and enter plaid paradise.
When: 27 October – 11 January
Where: 2 Huntley St, Alexandria
Cost: From $50
Details / To Book: The Grounds of Alexandria
Website: thegrounds.com.au
A Taste of Christmas — High Tea with Santa at The Tea Room QVB
Santa’s traded the sleigh for fine china. Step inside the grand ballroom of the Queen Victoria Building and you’ll find him holding court beneath a glittering chandelier, surrounded by tiered trays of sugar-dusted pastries, warm scones, and festive éclairs that look too pretty to eat (but you will anyway).
The Tea Room’s High Tea with Santa is equal parts old-world glamour and sugar-fuelled fantasy, a Christmas tradition in the making. Families sip, snap, and share their wishes while the clink of silver spoons competes with sleigh bells in the background. Just don’t expect to stroll in unannounced… this one books out faster than the last mince pie.
When: 21 November – 24 December 2025 | Selected dates only
Where: The Tea Room QVB, Level 3 / 455 George St, Sydney CBD
Cost: Adults $105 | Children (1–12) $65 | Infants free
Details / To Book: QVB High Tea with Santa
Website: thetearoom.com.au
Santa Photos at David Jones, Elizabeth Street
Santa goes luxe. At David Jones Elizabeth Street, the man in red swaps chimneys for chandeliers, waiting on a gold throne surrounded by houndstooth gift boxes and glittering firs. Families can choose from classic portraits, Sensitive Santa sessions, or Santa Pawtraits for the four-legged crowd, all wrapped up with a printed photo and a complimentary hat for good measure.
It’s Christmas, but make it couture.
When: Late November – 24 December 2025 (session times vary)
Where: David Jones Elizabeth Street, Sydney CBD
Cost: Package options available online
Details / To Book: David Jones Santa Photos
Website: davidjonessantaphotos.com.au
Santaland at Myer (Sydney & Beyond)
There’s a train to the North Pole parked inside Myer and it’s making stops right across Australia. The Santaland Express whisks families through a twinkling tunnel of fairy lights before delivering them to the big man himself, beard freshly fluffed and camera-ready.
This year, Santa’s itinerary includes Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, and a few surprise pit stops in between. From Baby’s First Christmas and Sensory Santa to Santa Paws (because your labradoodle deserves their moment too), Myer’s got the magic down to a fine art.
When: Mid-November – 24 December 2025 (times vary by store)
Where: Myer Sydney City, Elizabeth Street (entrance via 436 George St, Sydney CBD)
Cost: Free visit | Photo packages from $29.95
Details / To Book: Myer Santaland
Website: www.myer.com.au
Santa at the Summit — BridgeClimb Sydney
Santa’s traded the sleigh for a safety harness. Every Sunday morning, from 2 November to 21 December, you’ll find him scaling Sydney’s most famous icon, red suit, beard, and all, ready to strike a pose 134 metres above the harbour. It’s the kind of Christmas photo that makes shopping-centre backdrops look like child’s play.
Climbers on the Summit Climb (before 11am) can snap a festive photo with the big guy himself, complete with panoramic harbour views and a healthy dose of adrenaline. Optional add-ons include a BridgeClimb Santa hat, a kid’s Certificate of Achievement, and a printed group photo to hang next to your stocking. Because nothing says “holiday spirit” like conquering a national landmark in a Santa hat.
When: Sundays, 2 November – 21 December 2025 (before 11am)
Where: BridgeClimb Sydney, 3 Cumberland St, The Rocks
Cost: Standard climb rates apply
Details / To Book: Santa at the Summit
Website: bridgeclimb.com
Santa in the City — Martin Place
If Christmas had a postcode, it would be Martin Place. The sleigh bells, the skyscrapers, the smell of espresso and tinsel, it’s all happening under the glow of Sydney’s tallest Christmas tree.
Now back for its third year, Santa in the City transforms the heart of the CBD into a full-blown festive film set. Step through Santa’s red-door cottage and you’ll find vintage armchairs, pine forests, and more fairy lights than an Elton John concert. The man himself is there in the (red-suited) flesh cheerful, camera-ready, and probably full of shortbread.
Every photo booked helps fund Variety – The Children’s Charity, supporting kids who are sick, living with disability, or doing it tough this Christmas. So yes, you can feel smugly generous and look fantastic in your photos.
Pet sessions? Absolutely. Workmates, toddlers, or your pug in a Christmas jumper, all welcome.
When: Sunday 23 November – Wednesday 24 December 2025
Where: Martin Place, Sydney NSW (Santa’s House near the Christmas Tree, between George & Pitt Streets)
Cost: From $29.95
Presented by: Scene to Believe × City of Sydney
Charity: $5 per booking goes to Variety – The Children’s Charity NSW/ACT
Website: scenetobelieve.com.au/santainthecity
🌊 Eastern Suburbs
Westfield Bondi Junction — Santa Photos
You may’ve heard Bondi does Christmas a little differently, less North Pole, more polished marble and espresso martinis between shops. What you may not have heard: Santa’s upgraded too.
This year, he’s holding court on Level 2 near New Balance, where the twinkle lights meet luxury retail. Sessions come in all styles, family, friends, pets, or the inclusive Auslan and Sensitive Santa experiences, all with that Westfield efficiency and a free gift for every child.
Bookings are online-only (because chaos is so last Christmas), and slots disappear faster than a car space on Grafton Street in December.
When: 15 Nov – 24 Dec 2025
Where: Level 2, near New Balance, Westfield Bondi Junction
Best Parking: P6 Olive — Grafton St entrance
Cost: From $27.95 – $49.95
Details / To Book: Westfield Bondi Junction — Santa Photography
Santa by the Surf — Bondi, Watsons Bay & Beachside Sessions
Swap the shopping-centre backdrop for sand, salt-air and a Santa photo that says “we live in Sydney” rather than “we queued in a mall”. Santa by the Surf brings pet-friendly, beachside Santa sessions to Bondi, Watsons Bay (and possibly more coastal spots), where your fur-baby can join the shot, the kids can wear thongs, and the photo still looks like Christmas, not a surf club fundraiser.
Because the details are still being confirmed for 2025, bookings are now open and fill fast. Set your alarm early, pull on your sunnies, and reserve the kind of Christmas portrait that ends up framed on the wall, not just posted on Insta.
When: Dates TBC for 2025 (watch for bookings)
Where: North Bondi Surf Club, Bronte Surf Club, Watsons Bay Hotel
Cost: Packages from $57 for 2 photos with Santa
Details / To Book: Santa by the Surf
Website: santabythesurf.com
Facebook Bookings: facebook.com/p/Santa-by-the-Surf
Santa Pics Sydney — Double Bay
If Santa ever checked into a five-star hotel, this would be the one. Santa Pics Sydney takes over the InterContinental Double Bay each December, swapping shopping-centre chaos for champagne lighting, velvet décor and the faint sound of carols drifting through the lobby. It’s festive, fashionable, and just the right amount of fancy.
Bring the family, your best friend, or your impeccably behaved groodle for a session that delivers frame-worthy photos without the sugar-rush chaos. Each shoot includes professionally edited digital images, because if you’re doing Christmas, you might as well make it look editorial.
When: Dates TBC for 2025 (typically mid–late December)
Where: InterContinental Sydney Double Bay, 33 Cross Street, Double Bay NSW
Cost: From $83.90
Details / To Book: Santa Pics Sydney – Double Bay
Instagram: @santapics_sydney
Santa Photos — South Maroubra Surf Club
Forget the snow globe. Maroubra’s Santa prefers sea spray and sunscreen. Every December, the surf club transforms its grassy foreshore into a pop-up North Pole with a distinctly local twist: think red board shorts, beach umbrellas, and a few sandy paws in the frame.
Family photo sessions are a neighbourhood favourite, and for one day only, the dogs get their moment too. The Special Dog Santa Photos on 2 December run from 1–3pm, right on the lawn beside the clubhouse, a laid-back seaside setup that’s pure summer magic.
Walk-ins are welcome, but locals know to book ahead before the elves call it a day.
When: Dates TBC for 2025 (early December)
Where: South Maroubra Surf Club, 1R Marine Parade, Maroubra NSW 2035
Cost: $35 for 10 digital photos
Details / To Book: South Maroubra Surf Club – Santa Photos
Email: smslsc_fundraising@southmaroubrasurfclub.com.au
🌉 North Shore & Upper North Shore
Santa in the Bush — Sydney’s Wildest Christmas Photoshoot
Tucked deep in Sydney’s Upper North Shore, Santa in the Bush trades shopping centre queues for gum trees, kookaburras and the occasional wagging tail. It’s a festive photoshoot that feels more like an afternoon picnic than a production, with sunlight filtering through the bush and plenty of space for kids to actually breathe.
Created by photographer Claire Bignall, the session captures real smiles, grass-stained knees and a bit of Christmas mischief. Packages start at $135 for five high-resolution images, or $180 for the VIP upgrade with extra time and frames. Pets are welcome, patience and snacks are strongly encouraged.
When: November – December 2025 (session dates vary)
Where: Upper North Shore bushland location, Sydney (details on booking)
Cost: From $135 (5+ digital images) | VIP Experience $180 (12+ images)
Details / To Book: Santa in the Bush
Website: santainthebush.com.au
Santa in the Garden — Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden
Skip the fake snow and shopping centre glare this Christmas, the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden turns into an open-air studio framed by waratahs, gum trees and the steady hum of cicadas. It’s bushland in full bloom, and the perfect backdrop for a festive photo that actually feels like Australia.
Across weekends from 16 November to 15 December, families can book a relaxed five-minute outdoor session for $80, complete with three high-resolution images. Rain or shine, it goes ahead, think nature documentary meets Christmas postcard, only warmer and far more authentic.
When: Weekends, 16 November – 15 December 2025
Where: Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden, 420 Mona Vale Rd, St Ives
Cost: $80 (includes 3 digital images)
Details / To Book: Santa in the Garden
Website: kuringgailiving.com.au
Santa Photos at Westfield Chatswood
Westfield Chatswood is going full Christmas blockbuster this year with a brand-new festive set worthy of a movie trailer. Think twinkling lights, classic red thrones, and a little too much sparkle (in the best way). Whether you’re bringing the kids, the cousins, or the office crew, this is your moment to make December look good.
Sessions cover all the essentials, Family & Friends, Sensitive Santa for quieter magic before the crowds roll in, and Pet Photography because no one leaves the dog out of Christmas anymore. Every kid walks away with a small gift, and Westfield members even score a complimentary Lilo & Stitch bow tie for their fur baby.
Book ahead, Santa’s schedule fills faster than the car park on Christmas Eve, and there are no walk-ins (not even for persuasive puppy eyes).
When: 12 November – 24 December 2025
Where: Centre Court, Level 3 near Nando’s, Westfield Chatswood
Best Parking: Green Car Park, Anderson Street
Cost: From $27.95 to $49.95
Details / To Book: Westfield Chatswood Santa Photos
Website: westfield.com.au
🏖️ Northern Beaches
Aussie Santa Photos — Long Reef Beach
Every December, Long Reef Beach trades surfers for Santa suits and turns golden hour into a Christmas postcard. After more than a decade, this Northern Beaches tradition still nails the brief: barefoot, sunlit and just the right amount of sandy. It’s the kind of shoot that proves festive magic works better with salt air.
Forget the chaos of shopping centre queues. Each five-minute pre-booked session is relaxed, fast, and shot by photographers who can actually get the kids (and dog) looking the same way. For $85, you’ll receive three high-resolution images within 72 hours, ready to frame, post, or send to family still shivering through December.
When: Select afternoons, November – December 2025 (3:00–6:30 pm)
Where: Long Reef Beach, near the Surf Club car park
Cost: $85 (includes 3 digital images)
Details / To Book: Aussie Santa Photos
Website: jrobertsphotography.com.au
Santa on the Beach Pics — Curl Curl, Bayview, Narrabeen & Manly
Turns out Christmas looks even better with sand between your toes. Since 2018, Santa on the Beach Pics has been capturing that laid-back, sun-kissed version of the holidays that only Sydney’s Northern Beaches can pull off. Forget fluorescent lighting and fake snow, this is pure coastal Christmas, complete with surf, salt air, and the occasional photobombing seagull.
Choose your backdrop: Bayview for off-leash dogs and calm water, North Curl Curl for surf and Santa in board shorts, Narrabeen for wide-open skies, or Manly’s Q Station for the harbour views and a side of nostalgia. Each five-minute session is relaxed, candid and over before anyone melts. You’ll get a handful of high-resolution photos that look straight out of a lifestyle ad, because honestly, they are.
When: Select mornings and afternoons, November – December 2025 (dates vary by beach)
Where: South & North Curl Curl, Bayview, Narrabeen, and Q Station Manly
Cost: From $85 (includes digital images)
Details / To Book: Santa on the Beach Pics
Website: santaonthebeachpics.com.au
Santas Downunder — Collaroy, Manly & Dee Why
Somewhere between sunscreen and sea breeze, Santas Downunder perfected the art of an Aussie Christmas. What began on the sands of Collaroy in 2015 has grown into a Northern Beaches institution, real bearded Santas, pro photographers who know how to catch the light, and families who’ve made this their annual summer ritual.
Sessions run through November and December across Collaroy, Manly and Dee Why, each one quick, easy and framed by that unmistakable coastal glow. For $100–$110 you’ll get a professional gallery of 10 digital shots, or unlock the full 30+ for a little extra. Bring your kids, your dog, and your best beach hair, this is Christmas, Sydney-style.
When: November – December 2025 (morning sessions)
Where: Collaroy, Manly & Dee Why Beaches, Northern Beaches
Cost: $100 (Nov) | $110 (Dec) | Optional gallery upgrade $55
Details / To Book: Santas Downunder
Website: santasdownunder.com.au
🎨 Inner West
Santa Photos at Rhodes Waterside
Turns out Christmas looks good under soft lights and a green velvet backdrop. But this year, Santa’s Lounge at Rhodes Waterside is serving up the kind of festive glamour that makes your annual photo feel like a magazine spread, not a mall errand.
Bring the crew for classic family portraits, book a calm Sensitive Santa session for little ones who need a quieter moment, or let your pup steal the spotlight in the pet-friendly shoot (yes, Santa’s a dog guy). Either way, you’ll walk away with something frame-worthy, minus the meltdown.
When: 12 November – 24 December 2025
Where: Level 4, Rhodes Waterside
Cost: From $26.95 to $42.95
Details / To Book: Rhodes Waterside Santa Photos
Website: rhodeswaterside.com.au
Santa Photos at Marrickville Metro
Santa’s traded the sleigh for strip lighting and is clocking overtime at Marrickville Metro. From November 15 to Christmas Eve, he’ll be stationed in full festive mode, ready for everything from family photos and late-night selfies to Sensitive Santa and Pet Pawtraits (because yes, your cavoodle deserves their own Christmas card).
If daylight hours aren’t your thing, the Santa Photos After Dark sessions every Thursday to Saturday mean you can wrap up your shopping, grab a bite, and still make the nice list all before 9 pm. Packages start at $26.95, and the smiles? Priceless.
When: 15 November – 24 December 2025
Where: Marrickville Metro, 20 Smidmore St, Marrickville
Cost: From $26.95 to $49.95
Details / To Book: Marrickville Metro Santa Photos
Website: marrickvillemetro.com.au
Santa Photos at Broadway Shopping Centre
Broadway’s gone full Wonder Full this Christmas. Santa’s set up shop in a twinkling village where even Mrs Claus makes an appearance and yes, there’s an ugly sweater station (don’t panic, they supply the sweaters). From festive pet portraits to calm Sensitive Sessions for little ones who prefer their Christmas magic without the crowd, this setup covers the entire naughty-to-nice spectrum.
The best part? Snap your photo in November and you’ll score a free LEGO Minibuild kit. Because nothing says “Christmas spirit” like bribing your way to the nice list with a toy.
When: 19 November – 25 December 2025
Where: Santa’s Village, Broadway Shopping Centre
Cost: From $26.95
Details / To Book: Broadway Santa Photos
Website: broadwaysydney.com.au
🚈 Northern Districts
Santa Photos at Macquarie Centre
Macquarie Centre’s turning Christmas into an all-access production this year, think sparkling sets, friendly elves, and Santa on a packed schedule that runs smoother than the M2 at midnight. Whether it’s a family tradition or just an excuse to get everyone in the same frame, these photo sessions bring the festive charm without the fuss.
Book a classic family shoot, bring your pup for Pet Photos on select dates, or opt for Sensitive & Auslan Santa sessions designed for every family to experience the magic in their own way. It’s inclusive, joyful, and a little bit cinematic, exactly how Christmas should feel.
When: 15 November – 24 December 2025
Where: Level 1, outside Kmart, Macquarie Centre
Cost: From $26.95 to $49.95
Details / To Book: Macquarie Centre Santa Photos
Website: macquariecentre.com.au
Santa Photos at Top Ryde City
Some Santas do spectacle. This one does sincerity. Down on the ground floor at Top Ryde City, you’ll find a Christmas setup designed for connection, not chaos. Think classic family portraits, genuine smiles, and even Sensitive Santa sessions held outside trading hours when the lights dim and the centre quiets down.
Packages start at $26.95, and while walk-ins are welcome, the big guy’s December calendar fills up fast. Whether you’re after a quick snap or a calm space for the kids, this is Christmas done the Ryde way, simple, thoughtful, and stress-free.
When: 15 November – 24 December 2025
Where: Ground Level, Top Ryde City (near Timezone & Zone Bowling)
Cost: From $26.95 to $42.95
Details / To Book: Top Ryde Santa Photos
Website: toprydecity.com.au
🌴 Sutherland Shire
Santa Pics Sydney — Cronulla
This isn’t your average mall Santa moment, it’s Santa by the surf, Cronulla-style. Set inside the Cronulla RSL, the 2024 setup swapped snowflakes for surfboards, candy-striped props, and a beach-club vibe complete with lifesaver rings, pineapples, and sandy smiles. Think Bondi Rescue meets the North Pole.
Even better? Five dollars from every booking went toward supporting retired military working dogs, the real four-legged heroes of Christmas. Expect a session that’s equal parts light-hearted and heart-warming, whether you’re bringing the kids, the crew, or a very photogenic kelpie.
When: Dates TBC for 2025 (late November – Christmas Eve)
Where: Cronulla RSL, 38 Gerrale Street, Cronulla NSW 2230
Cost: From $84.96
Details / To Book: Santa Pics Sydney – Cronulla
Instagram: @santapics_sydney
The Santa Studio — Caringbah
You may’ve heard of this tiny little thing called Christmas. What you may not have heard: it just got its very own photo studio in Caringbah.
Yes, The Santa Studio, the kind of setup that makes department-store Santas look like they’re still working off dial-up. Here, sessions are private, beautifully lit, and over before your toddler decides the beard is fake. Pets are welcome (two max, unless your cat behaves better than most kids), and your edited shots land in your inbox the same night, proof that Christmas miracles are real.
Single, double, or triple sessions are on offer depending on your crowd and chaos level. Families, friend groups, overgrown children - this is Christmas, curated.
When: Dates TBC for 2025
Where: Shop 2, 347 Port Hacking Road, Caringbah NSW 2229
Cost: From $85 – $230
Details / To Book: The Santa Studio
🌇 Western Sydney
LC Photo – Santa, Mrs Claus & The Grinch Experience
If your Christmas vibe lands somewhere between classic magic and mild mayhem, LC Photo’s Penrith studio is your happy place. This isn’t a shopping-centre setup, it’s a full-scale festive production: velvet thrones, snow-dusted trees, and the Grinch himself crashing Santa’s photo ops in his best ugly sweater.
Pick your scene: a traditional session with Santa, a cozy chat with Mrs Claus, or go all-in with both (and maybe a photobomb from the green guy). There are No-Santa options for minimalist merrymakers, plus Sensitive Sessions designed to keep things calm for little ones who prefer a slower pace. Pets are welcome too, just make sure they’ve had their pre-photo pit stop; Mrs Claus runs a tight ship.
Every package includes all professionally edited digital images, gifts for the kids, and enough holiday sparkle to make even the Grinch smile (temporarily).
When: November – December 2025
Where: Ground Floor, Skiptons Arcade, 541 High Street, Penrith NSW 2750
Cost: From $99 to $249
Details / To Book: LC Photo Christmas Sessions
Website: lcphoto.com.au
🌆 South-West Sydney
Revesby Workers Club
No need for glitz here. Revesby does Christmas the suburban way: practical, cheerful, and parked right out front. The Brett Street foyer turns into a family-friendly photo zone with new décor each year, a smiling Santa who’s done his rounds, and photographers who can coax a grin out of even the grumpiest toddler.
There’s a session for everyone; classic family snaps, Paws with Claus for the furry dependents, and Sensitive Santa mornings for little ones who prefer fewer flashing lights and more gentle cheer. Affordable, organised, and mercifully stress-free, exactly how Christmas in the Shire’s cousin suburb should be.
When: 26 November – 24 December 2025
Where: Brett Street Foyer, Revesby Workers Club, Revesby NSW
Cost: From $26.95 – $49.95
Details / To Book: Santa’s VIPs – Revesby Workers Club
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