Tropical Santa turns to an icy esky to beat Australia's sweltering Christmas heat

Wednesday 24 DecemberWed 24 Dec 2025 at 3:04am

Man dressed in red robes and hat with fluffy white trim pulls an ice box next to a beach scene — Santa's been enjoying the tropical heat of Broome, but has so far avoided the nudist beach. (ABC News: Andrew Seabourne)

It's a steamy hot morning in Broome and Santa Claus is skipping along the beach.

It's almost 40 degrees but he's in head-to-toe red velvet and shiny black boots.

How does he do it? How does he dodge heat stroke in the northern Australia where the build-up to the wet season causes even the toughest of tradies to down tools?

It turns out Santa's got a secret weapon to beat the heat.

A man with a long white beard, wearing glasses and red robe and hat with white trimming holds two blue bags of ice — Santa Claus has brought large quantities of ice from the North Pole. (ABC News: Andrew Seabourne)

"I've got magic on my side!" he cackles.

"My elves have worked with the CSIRO to make me a special Christmas cooling system."

In an exclusive interview with ABC News, Santa reveales for the first time his high-tech trick to staying cool as he delivers good cheer across the baking hot towns of northern Australia.

Esky innovation

It turns out Santa's throne is constructed from a 40-litre esky chock full of icy water.

A man in red robes and a hat with white trim and a long white beard, tips a bag of ice into an icebox. — The cooling system's inspired by the body vests worn by Formula One race car drivers in locations like Singapore. (ABC News: Andrew Seabourne)

A small pump moves water up a hose and circulates through a network of tubes strapped to Santa's torso.

"It works a treat," Santa explains.

"Sometimes I get so chilly my elves are worried I'll get frostbite.

"It's how I get by in these hot, hot places, because I love visiting outback Australia and meeting all the children."

An esky covered in red fabric and full of icy water and tubes. — The ABC's obtained an exclusive look at the inner works of Santa's esky cooling system. (ABC News: Erin Parke)

Playgroup magic

Santa's esky throne is conveniently on wheels so he's been rolling it into all sorts of fun community events in remote northern Western Australia in recent weeks.

At the Circle House community Christmas market kids queue patiently to say g'day and have their photo taken.

Man wearing red robes and hat with white trim sits with two boys holding a present.. — Most children remain unaware that Santa's pumping chilled water across his torso to maintain his temperature. (Supplied: Jack and Jill Playgroup)

Santa winks as he switches on his pump system, which hums quietly.

"Ohhh, that's better, nice and icy," he whispers.

"Ho, ho, ho, hello, what would you like for Christmas little one?"

The next week he's off to a playgroup gathering where the children shriek with excitement as Santa trundles in.

"Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas young ones!" he shouts.

man wearing red robes and hat with a white trim with a long white beard leans down to speak to a woman sitting with children. — Tropical Santa negotiated with children about this year's presents. (Supplied: Jack and Jill Playgroup)

man wearing red robes and hat with a white trim with a long white beard leans down to hear a woman sitting with children. — There were requests for nearly everything this Christmas. (Supplied: Jack and Jill Playgroup)

Local mother-of-five Katrina is watching on.

"There's something about Santa Claus that still brings such joy to kids," she reflects.

"It's nice to keep a bit of that magic alive."

A man wearing red robes and hat with white trim and a long white beard, surrounded by children in a gym. — Tropical Santa's special powers to be able to wear his cold weather gear were just out of sight. (Supplied: Jack and Jill Playgroup)

Man wearing red robes and hat with white trim sits next to a young girl wearing a green dress with a red ribbon in her hair. — Tropical Santa visited children at the Jack and Jill Playgroup in Broome a few days before Christmas. (Supplied: Jack and Jill Playgroup)

She'd noticed the small tubes protruding from under Santa's red velvet coat.

"I thought it was a life jacket, and I was a bit confused about why he was wearing a life jacket to a Christmas party," she says.

"I never knew Santa had a cooling system but it makes a lot of sense. It's bloody hot at the moment."

A man wearing red robes with white trim, with a big white beard throws ice, in front of a palm tree and blue skies. — Santa experiencing what's known locally as "mango madness" in the tropical heat of the build-up to the wet season. (ABC News: Andrew Seabourne)

Santa's origin story

The cooling system is the latest evolution of a famous figure with a complex backstory.

The legend began with the 4th century Christian Bishop Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of gift-giving.

He lived within the Roman Empire in what's now called Turkiye.

Artwork showing a Bishop, Father Christmas and several small children — The character of Santa Claus evolved from Saint Nicholas, known for his kindness and generosity to children. (Supplied)

Hundreds of years later the character of Father Christmas emerged separately in England during the reign of Henry VIII.

This festive icon wore a green, fur-lined coat, and brought good cheer at Christmas.

Meanwhile similar figures emerged in continental Europe, such as Joulupukka (Christmas Goat) in Finland, and the Dutch Sinterklaas.

The figures appear to have amalgamated in the multicultural mixing pot of the United States in the 19th century and was popularised in advertising campaigns in the decades that followed.