Ultimate Guide to Sydney New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve is Sydney’s night of nights. And there’s no better night of the year to embrace Sydney outdoors than on New Year’s Eve.

Every year, Sydney plays host to one of the greatest NYE celebrations on earth. More than a million of us come together in the heart of the city, lining the harbour foreshore, to watch fireworks light up the night sky as we toast the year that was and welcome to year to come.

Whether you’re planning your very first Sydney New Year’s Eve or returning to do it all over again, this guide has you sorted with tips on the best fireworks vantage points, NYE cruises and parties, harbourside dining, places to stay, and how to get around.

Let’s get ready to celebrate another magical New Year’s Eve in Sydney.

Sydney New Year’s Eve Fireworks

The pièce de résistance of New Year’s Eve in Sydney is the fireworks display over Sydney harbour.

There are two opportunities to watch the night sky light up with fireworks displays at both 9pm and midnight.

The 9pm Sydney Harbour fireworks are known as the Calling Country fireworks. Preceded by the Welcome to Country, the Calling Country fireworks are presented by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Thanks to the earlier time slot, the 9pm fireworks are a popular choice for families with young children too.

Come midnight, it’s an all out party as Sydney turns on the most epic fireworks display you’ll ever witness.

And with so many incredible vantage points on and around Sydney Harbour, we all have a front row seat to this New Year’s Eve show.

Sydney NYE Fireworks Vantage Points

Picking where to be on New Year’s Eve in Sydney can be a real challenge! There are so many incredible spots around Sydney Harbour. So where to begin?

As you start to think about your New Year’s Eve plans, here’s a few questions to ask yourself that will help you narrow down a suitable vantage point for your evening:

• Are you looking for a free location or would you prefer a paid event?
• What locations make your journey there and back easiest?
• Would you like to pack a picnic or buy food while you’re out?
• Would you like to drink – and if so, do you prefer BYO or would you like access to a bar?
• Do you have mobility or access requirements?
• How long would you like to spend at your vantage point?

Because there are so many places around Sydney Harbour where you can watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks, considering factors like accessibility, food and drink, and where you’re travelling from will help you land on a spot that works best for you.

You can find a full list and map of all of the vantage points for New Year’s Eve in Sydney on the official Sydney NYE website. Here’s a few highlights to get you started…

Best Free Vantage Points

Some of the best free vantage points from which to watch the NYE fireworks in Sydney include Cahill Expressway, Mrs Macquaries Point, the Sydney Opera House Forecourt, and Bradleys Head.

Paid Ticketed Locations

Buying a ticket to one of Sydney’s paid NYE fireworks vantage point can come with perks like not having to arrive quite so early to secure a spot! Some ticketed vantage points also have VIP event packages for NYE that include food, drinks, and lounge access.

Accessible Viewing Areas

There are a number of Sydney New Year’s Eve vantage points with designated accessible viewing areas. These areas do require prior registration and you can find out more the links below.

Sydney NYE Televised

If you can’t get to the harbour foreshore or would simply prefer to avoid the crowds, you can watch all the excitement of Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks live on ABC television and streaming on iview.

Coverage begins at 8:45pm and includes the Welcome to Country, the Calling Country 9pm fireworks, and the midnight fireworks.

Sydney Harbour New Year’s Eve Cruises

Get right up close to all the Sydney NYE fireworks action on a New Year’s Eve cruise. Spending New Year’s Eve on a boat out on Sydney Harbour is an unforgettable experience. There’s plenty of Sydney NYE cruises to choose from:

• Fantasea offer cruises for the 9pm fireworks and the midnight fireworks.
• Captain Cook Cruises offer New Year’s Eve fireworks cruise packages with drinks, dining, and entertainment.
• Sydney Harbour Tall Ships offer New Year’s Eve fireworks cruise packages that include dinner, drinks, live music.

Restaurants With a View of Sydney Harbour

The restaurants and bars around Sydney Harbour are a hot ticket on New Years’ Eve.

These bar and dining experiences don’t come cheap, but booking a ticket to an event hosted at one of these restaurants and bars is a great way to enjoy a premium New Year’s Eve experience with an evening of food, drinks, live entertainment, and of course, Sydney Harbour views.

Get in early to score an NYE ticket to one of these Sydney restaurants and bars:

• Opera Bar: the most prime of prime locations, experience New Year’s Eve at Opera Bar.

• Bennelong: an ultra-premium dining experience under the sails of the Opera House.

• Hacienda Bar & Lounge: ring in the new year in style with iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge views.

• Cruise Bar: party into the new year with drinks and dining packages, live music, and Opera House views.

• Quay: this is NYE for those who appreciate their fine dining served with a side of unbeatable views.

• The Squires Landing: for a NYE party with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

Where to Stay in Sydney on New Years Eve

New year’s eve is absolutely peak season for accommodation in Sydney.

On December 31, and the surrounding dates, availability of Sydney accommodation is hard to come by, and prices are also at a premium. It’s not uncommon to pay thousands for rooms that usually cost a few hundred for a night.

Many accommodation providers also implement minimum stay periods, so rather than booking a single night of accommodation on December 31, you may need to book the entire weekend or even week.

The best way to secure accommodation for New Years Eve is to plan ahead and book early.

If you’re looking for hotel accommodation with a view of Sydney Harbour, some options include:

• Park Hyatt Sydney: 5 star hotel located directly across the harbour from the Sydney Opera House.
• Pullman Sydney Quay Grand: 1 and 2 bedroom apartment style suites overlooking Circular Quay.
• The Sebel Quay West Suites: 1, 2, and 3 bedroom suites located on Gloucester St in The Rocks.
• Four Seasons Sydney: located on George St in The Rocks, with harbour view rooms.
• Shangri-La Sydney: located Cumberland St in The Rocks, with Harbour Bridge or Opera House rooms.
• InterContinental Sydney: luxury 5 star hotel with harbour view rooms and suites in a heritage building.
• Sydney Harbour Marriot: guest rooms with Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge views.
• View Hotel North Sydney: across the harbour in North Sydney, rooms with Sydney Harbour Bridge views.

For budget accommodation in Sydney close to all the NYE action try:

• YHA Sydney Harbour: backpacker hostel located on Cumberland St, offering both dorm and private rooms. For the most part, the rooms themselves don’t offer harbour views, however, the building’s rooftop has incredible views of the harbour taking in the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.
• ibis hotels in Sydney: ibis is a popular budget hotel brand with various properties in Sydney CBD within walking distance of fireworks vantage points, including Barangaroo, World Square, Darling Harbour, and near Hyde Park.
• Wake Up! Sydney: backpack hostel located close to Central Station, offering both shared and private rooms.

How to Get Around Sydney on New Year’s Eve

If you’re thinking about driving into Sydney CBD for New Year’s Eve: don’t!

With upwards of a million people coming into the city for NYE in Sydney, many road closures are put in place in the CBD and around the fireworks’ vantage points to manage logistics and support public safety. Parking will be difficult and expensive, and you certainly won’t save time when it comes time to leave the city after midnight.

Thousands of additional public transport services run on New Year’s Eve so you can get to and from your vantage point with the tap of your Opal card.

It’s important to be patient when leaving the harbourside precinct after the midnight fireworks as Sydney’s public transport works overtime to facilitate the biggest rush hour commute of the year.

You can plan ahead by topping up your Opal card and checking Transport for NSW so you’re aware of what public transport options are available to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best spots to view the New Year’s Eve fireworks in Sydney?

Some of the best places to view the New Year’s Eve fireworks in Sydney include Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Cahill Expressway, Blues Point, Bradfield Park & Mary Booth Reserve, and Mrs Macquaries Point.

Are there any accessible vantage points for the New Year’s Eve fireworks in Sydney?

Vantage points with designated accessible viewing areas for the New Year’s fireworks in Sydney include Milsons Point Ferry Wharf, Cahill Expressway, Barangaroo Reserve, Pirrama Park at Pyrmont, and the Sydney Opera House Forecourt.

How early should I arrive to get a good spot for the Sydney New Year’s Eve celebrations?

Each vantage point for the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks celebrations opens at a different time. To secure a good spot you should check what time your chosen vantage point opens and plan to arrive early. Many vantage points reach capacity well before midnight.

But with so many vantage points around the Sydney Harbour foreshore, wherever you end up you’re likely to enjoy a good view. You don’t need to be at the edge of the shoreline or the front of the crowd to witness the incredible fireworks display in the sky over Sydney Harbour and its twin icons: the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House.

Are there any ticketed events for celebrating New Year’s Eve in Sydney?

There are so many ticketed events to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Sydney from parties with VIP dining and drinks packages at Luna Park and Taronga Zoo to New Year’s Eve cruises with live entertainment out on Sydney Harbour.

What public transport options are available on New Year’s Eve in Sydney?

There will be plenty of public transport running on New Year’s Eve but there will be changes to timetables and in some cases, routes. For example, ferries stop running in the early evening and some light rail and bus stop and train stations are closed along with roads in certain parts of the city. Check the Transport NSW website to plan your trip.

Can I bring my own food and drinks to the Sydney New Year’s Eve outdoor events?

Many of the Sydney New Yea’s Eve vantage points allow you to bring you own food and drinks. Some vantage points prohibit BYO alcohol but have bars available onsite, while others are alcohol-free sites. Check the official Sydney NYE website to see what is allowed at your chosen vantage point.

Are there any family-friendly activities on New Year’s Eve in Sydney?

One of the most popular family activities on New Year’s Eve is the 9pm Calling Country fireworks display. Another popular place for families on New Year’s Eve is Darling Harbour with its 9pm and midnight fireworks over Cockle Bay. Darling Harbour is a free vantage point (no tickets required) and will open from 1pm so plan to arrive early before the area reaches capacity.