Anti-mask protesters are stopped from entering a Westfield by a wall of police officers - as packed beaches over Australia Day weekend spark fears of another Covid-19 cluster
Anti-mask protesters tried to enter a Sydney Westfield on Saturday but had their efforts blocked by a wall of police officers.
The defiant protest came as authorities fear the hot Australia Day long weekend weather may spark another Covid-19 outbreak.
Police blocked about two dozen anti-maskers from entering the Parramatta Westfield shopping centre.
Officers turned them away as they marched through Centenary Square on Saturday, waving home-made placards and shouting thatthe coronavirus was a 'scam'.
It was the second week in a row that the group, which co-ordinates its protests on social media, has tried to storm the mall.
As anti-mask protesters marched to Westfield Parramatta, Sydneysiders flocked to Bondi Beach to cool off on the hot Australia Day long weekend
'Covid is a scam' yelled the protesters as they waved placards and marched to Westfield
A model is snapped by several photographers during a beach photoshoot in Bondi on Saturday
Footage showed police turning them back, telling them 'No, you're not allowed in Westfield.'
NSW Police issued a move-on direction and arrested a 48-year-old man who did not comply.
New South Wales has made mask-wearing mandatory in enclosed public spaces such as shopping malls and public transport to reduce the spread of coronavirus while avoiding a lockdown.
The state has recorded its sixth straight day without a local transmission but authorities are concerned the hot weather over the Australia Day long weekend may spark a super-spreader event.
One Sydneysider is captured bombing into the water while swimming down at Coogee
One swimmer prepares to set up for a day at the beach in Bondi on Saturday
There were thousands of beachgoers lounging around in Bondi on Saturday while temperatures soared
Waverley Council, which takes in a swathe of popular eastern beaches including Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte, is particularly worried.
Large crowds were seen packing out Bondi Beach on Saturday.
Drones are being used to monitor crowds and distancing, while Waverley mayor Paula Masselos urged people to leave the beach if it gets too busy.
Some beach goers tried to avoid the heat by lying under umbrellas while at Coogee on Saturday
'Australia Day is a time for celebration but I would be really disappointed if a new Covid-19 cluster were to emerge in Sydney because people ignored the Public Health Order limiting outdoor public gatherings to 30 people or the health advice about social distancing by 1.5 metres or keeping one towel-length apart,' Ms Masselos said.
Sunbathers have been urged to stay one towel length apart and not to congregate in groups of more than 30 people.
Lifeguards will also be reminding beachgoers to keep their distance from each other.
Residents living in Australia's south east have been warned about a heat wave that's expected to last over the next four days (pictured Bondi Beach on Saturday)
A heat map of southeast Australia at 4pm on Saturday. Maximums will climb into the 40s inland and up to 39C in Adelaide on this day
Beachgoers head into the water to cool off from sweltering conditions in Sydney on Saturday
Beachgoers at Sydney's famous Bondi Beach. Residents of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT have been warned of heat exhaustion and fire dangers from Saturday to Wednesday, including the Australia Day public holiday
Some friends enjoyed the start to the long weekend with a day at Bondi beach with eskies in tow
Thousands of Sydneysiders raced down to Bondi to cool off at the beach on Saturday as Australia's south-east battles through an 'extreme heatwave' over the Australia Day long weekend.
Sydney was set to reach 30C on Saturday and by midday most of the city's beaches were completely packed.
Bondi Beach looked to be as busy as it was before the Covid-19 pandemic with families, friends and scantily clad swimmers filling up the sand.
Surfers take advantage of the warm weather as they hit the waves in Bondi
The scorching temperatures are expected to last well into the night across NSW
The heatwave in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania is expected to last until Wednesday with residents being warned of heat exhaustion and fire dangers.
'We have a large high pressure system sitting out in the Tasman and inland trough and together they're acting to funnel in a hot northerly air mass,' the Bureau of Meteorology's Alexander Majchrowski said.
One beachgoer heads back to the sand after taking a dip in the water at Bondi Beach
Sydney siders flocked to Bondi to welcome the Australia Day long weekend
Sydney will reach a maximum of 29C on Saturday, 33C on Sunday, 31C on Monday and back to 33C for Tuesday's public holiday - with sunny weather persisting through all four days
Friends dive into the water at Coogee Beach to celebrate the start of the long weekend
People are seen diving into the water at Bondi Beach on Saturday as temperatures soar
BoM meteorologist Jonathan How said conditions in southeast Australia over the weekend would be the warmest since January 2020.
'Temperatures will rise from Friday, especially across southern NSW and towards South Australia,' he said.
'Western Sydney will begin a run of five days above 35 degrees.
'On Saturday, maximums will climb into the 40s inland and up to 39C in Adelaide.
'Sunday will be the peak day of heat in South Australia, climbing as high as 45C along the Murray.
'On Monday, Victoria and Tasmania will see the most intense heat, reaching 41C in Melbourne and 33C in Hobart.'
The air mass will bring severe to extreme heatwave conditions, with temperatures expected to reach 16 degrees above average in some areas.
As a result, fire danger will be elevated on Sunday and Monday, with the NSW RFS warning people should use the next few days to prepare.
'People need to take this seriously,' director Peter McKechnie told reporters on Thursday.
The heatwave also has lifesavers on high alert, with Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steven Pearce saying this is 'probably the weekend we've been looking out for'.
The air mass will bring severe to extreme heatwave conditions, with temperatures expected to reach 16 degrees above average in some areas.
As a result, fire danger will be elevated on Sunday and Monday, with the NSW RFS warning people should use the next few days to prepare.
A mother is seen swimming with her baby at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Saturday
'People need to take this seriously,' director Peter McKechnie told reporters on Thursday.
The heatwave also has lifesavers on high alert, with Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steven Pearce saying this is 'probably the weekend we've been looking out for'.
Bega, on the state's south coast, is expected to reach at least 39 degrees on Monday, and western Sydney will be in the same range on Sunday and Monday.
Sydney was set to reach 30C on Saturday and by midday most of the city's beaches were completely packed (pictured Bondi Beach)
A Sydney couple head down to Coogee Beach on Saturday to take advantage of the perfect weather
NSW-Victoria border towns could endure temperatures up to 44 degrees.
Victoria will also see temperatures building to a peak on Monday, with most major centres in the state's north surpassing 40 degrees.
Melbourne will reach a high of 27C on Saturday, which will increase to 34C on Sunday and 41C on Monday.
In typical Melbourne fashion, the maximum temperature will plunge by 17C to just 24C on Tuesday with showers set to replace sunny skies.
Further south in Hobart, the maximum will be 25C on Saturday, 26C on Sunday and peak at 34C on Monday.
Like Melbourne, Hobart's maximum temperature will significantly drop to 21C on Tuesday with a possible shower.
Sydneysiders race across the hot sand while visiting Coogee Beach on Saturday
Canberra will face temperatures of 30C and above from Saturday to Wednesday.
The maximum will be 37C on Saturday, 38C on Sunday and Monday, 35C on Tuesday and 30C on Wednesday - with sunny skies persisting the whole time, although there is the chance of a possible shower on Wednesday.
Mr How said the high temperatures will create 'uncomfortably warm nights, making it difficult to recover from hot days'.
'Heatwaves are normal for summer but they effect everyone differently, it's important to look out for the more vulnerable, including pets and local wildlife,' he said.
Beachgoers pictured at Bondi Beach on a hot summers day
'This weekend, remember to factor in the heat and any fire weather warnings, stay up to day with the forecast, stay up to date, stay hydrated and stay safe.'
Temperatures in Brisbane will be much more mild with a maximum 30C on Saturday, which will drop to 29C on Sunday and continue until Tuesday.
Meanwhile on the west coast, Perth will reach a maximum of 28C on Saturday, 26C on Sunday and Monday, and back up to 28C for Tuesday.
In the Top End, Darwin will reach a maximum of 31C on Saturday, which is expected to stay the same until Wednesday, when it will increase to 32C.
Showers and storms are expected from Saturday until Friday as the Northern Territory is currently going through its Wet Season.
AUSTRALIA DAY WEEKEND WEATHER FORECAST
SYDNEY
SATURDAY: Sunny. Min 21 - Max 29
SUNDAY: Sunny. Min 22 - Max 33
MONDAY: Sunny. Min 21 - Max 31
TUESDAY: Possible shower. Min 22 - Max 33
WEDNESDAY: Partly cloudy. Min 22 -Max 28
BRISBANE
SATURDAY: Sunny. Min 20 - Max 30
SUNDAY: Partly cloudy. Min 21 - Max 29
MONDAY: Possible shower. Min 22 - Max 29
TUESDAY: Possible shower. Min 21 - Max 29
WEDNESDAY: Possible shower. Min 22 - Max 32.
ADELAIDE
SATURDAY: Very hot and sunny. Min 20 - Max 38
SUNDAY: Very hot and mostly sunny. Min 27 - Max 41
MONDAY: Cloudy. Min 25 - Max 34
TUESDAY: Partly cloudy. Min 17 - Max 28
WEDNESDAY: Partly cloudy. Min 16 - Max 26
CANBERRA
SATURDAY: Sunny. Min 13 - Max 37
SUNDAY: Hot and sunny. Min 17 - Max 38
MONDAY: Hot and mostly sunny. Min 20 - Max 38
TUESDAY: Shower or two. Min 20 - Max 35
WEDNESDAY: Possible shower. Min 17 - Max 30
MELBOURNE
SATURDAY: Sunny. Min 15 - Max 27
SUNDAY: Sunny. Min 16 - Max 34
MONDAY: Possible shower developing. Min 24 - Max 41
TUESDAY: Shower or two. Min 15 - Max 24.
WEDNESDAY: Partly cloudy. Min 15 - Max 25.
PERTH
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Min 18 - Max 28
SUNDAY: Mostly sunny. Min 15. Max 26
MONDAY: Sunny. Min 17 - Max 26
TUESDAY: Sunny. Min 19 - Max 28
WEDNESDAY: Partly cloudy. Min 16 - Max 29
HOBART
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Min 14 - Max 25
SUNDAY: Partly cloudy. Min 15 - Max 26
MONDAY: Shower or two. Min 19 - Max 34
TUESDAY: Cloudy. Min 11 - Max 21
WEDNESDAY: Cloudy. Min 11 - Max 18
DARWIN
SATURDAY: Showers. Storm likely. Min 25 - Max 32
SUNDAY: Showers. Possible storm. Min 25 - Max 32
MONDAY: Showers. Possible storm. Min 24 - Max 32
TUESDAY: Showers. Possible storm. Min 25 - Max 32
WEDNESDAY: Shower or two. Possible storm. Min 25 - Max 32
Source: Bureau of Meteorology