Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach has been closed, joining several other popular swimming spots along the city’s picturesque east coast, after thousands of toxic tar balls washed ashore in recent days.

Beaches in Sydney including the iconic Bondi were closed to bathers on Thursday after hundreds of black balls suspected to be toxic washed up on the city's shores.

Lifeguards declared Sydney's famed Bondi beach and several other strands closed Thursday, as more mysterious black "tar ball" globules washed up along the city's shores. "As a precaution, all Waverley Beaches will be closed until further investigation has been carried out,