Sydney’s New Year's Eve 2014 Fireworks Display

The annual Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks are about as good an advert for the city as it is possible to have.

Paid for by the local Sydney government, the spectacular display is one of the first New Year’s celebrations to be beamed around the globe every year.

The municipal authorities, not generally known for their modesty when it comes to Sydney’s charms, describe their city as “the New Year's Eve Capital of the World” – and they’re quite right in this instance. Each year brings a different (fairly broad) theme. Last year was “Shine”, the previous year was “Embrace”, and this year it is “Inspire”. 

It truly is one of the most memorable places you will find anywhere to welcome in the New Year, with the balmy Australian summer and the wonderful harbour setting making it ideal for spending the build-up outdoors in convivial company.

That said, its popularity does create its own problems – with some areas around the harbour throbbing with crowds. With a little bit of planning and insider knowledge, you can make sure you find the ideal spot to see in the New Year 2015.

Do I need a ticket?

The short answer is no. If you don't want to pay, you don't have to - there are plenty of vantage points that do not require payment. However, there are many ticketed events, many of which will be booked up well in advance. See here for the full rundown of what’s going on.

Many places will already have sold out – some of them with astonishing price tags.

When are the displays?

It’s not such a stupid question. There are, in fact, two firework displays in the Sydney. The first is at 9pm, a “family fireworks” event before the main event at midnight. If for some reason you’d rather watch the main event from your hotel television with children tucked up in bed (good luck with that), the early showing will allow you to get back.

Where should I watch it?

The "front row seats" – the area around Circular Quay and the Botanical Gardens – inevitably are the most popular. Many old Sydney-siders think you get a better perspective from the North Shore, as well as marginally less competition for a patch of grass to watch the show.

Those who like to toast the coming year should note that many vantage points do not allow any fizz (including the Central Business District). Some include alcohol in their ticket price. Others do not allow Bring Your Own (BYO) alcohol. If this is a New Year prerequisite for you, be sure to check.

On the water

Alternatively you could take a Harbour Cruise(newyearsevecruise.com.au). Note that you’ll be on the boat for a long evening – typically, setting off at 6pm and you usually have to bring your own food but you’ll have a great, uncrowded, view of the fireworks.

When should I arrive?

Get there early, or miss out (picture: Getty Images)

The broad advice is simply to get there early or you will miss out. Competition for spaces can be fierce. People even start camping out the day before the event in some places. Even in areas where pressure to bag a spot is less intense, plan on spending most of the day there - by noon, many places will already be full. The vantage points information on the official website will have live updates on whether or not they have reached capacity.

Specific information on vantage points will be published on the main website in November: Sydney New Year vantage points

Transport

Don’t even think about driving. Sydney – never the best city for traffic – is simply nightmarish at this time of year due to road closures and crowds.

Extra public transport is in operation to get spectators home after the event. Again, it’s worth planning your journey in advance. Do so attransportnsw.info.

The official Sydney New Year's Eve website also allows you to sign up for updates about road closures and transport disruption.

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Australia on New Year's Eve: How Aussies Will Boogie Down, Down Under

New Years Eve plans don't have to include ways to stay warm while singing Auld Lang Syne, or fighting for a cab in a snowstorm. it's summer down under in Australia! And some time spent with friends and family on a beach or dining alfresco while watching a fireworks display of Olympic proportions can surely be on your December 31st agenda.

Australia is one of the first countries to ring in the new year. Each city center hosts a myriad of events showcasing the individuality of each region, while drawing domestic and international visitors alike.

Please make sure you leave the fireworks to the professionals, however, as they are illegal throughout the country. Here's what's going on, plus our own tips for what to go if you find yourself in Australia this weekend:

Sydney:

Offering one of the most world-famous fireworks shows on the planet, Sydney puts on an event to remember. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the epicenter for the fireworks that not only reflect off the water, but cast a rainbow of light onto the iconic Opera House's white tiles. Our recommendation is to join the boats in the harbor for some unobstructed views of the pyrotechnics. Taronga Zoo, on the opposite side of the water, also offers some of the best firework views coupled with a meal and cocktail party.

Away from the city, Bondi Beach is host to a giant beach party called "Shore Thing." This all-night shindig attracts live musical acts and gives open-air partygoers the opportunity to watch the first dawn of 2012.

Melbourne:

Australia's second largest city, not to mention cultural capital, Melbourne hosts a number of events. With a casino and hotel as extravagant as many Vegas outposts, Crown would make a perfect river-side location to watch the firework show which uses the buildings' skyline as the backdrop to a colorful evening.

Our recommendation is to head out of the city towards the shores of St. Kilda. This bayside suburb offers beautiful views of the ocean and the city, with only a fraction of the crowds. Have a beautiful dinner at Stokehouse on the water, watching the fireworks display from afar.

Brisbane:

Utilizing a handful of bridges that cross the city, Bris-Vegas offers fireworks with various hot spots. Any views of the Storey Bridge will be perfect for catching the contained explosions. Or spend the day at the inland beach of Southbank, catching rays, and when the sun goes down, cross the river to Powerhouse. On the banks of the river, surrounded by New Farm Park, this vintage electric power house is now home to a handful of theaters, a few eateries and a bar.

Perth:

Located on the west coast, Perth offers a good amount of low key and high energy fun. For fireworks, head to the foreshore of the Swan River in East Perth. Or count down the last minutes of 2011 on the historical Town Hall clock while listening to live music and sampling any one of a number of boutique beers. Our recommendation goes to Sail & Anchor, for its 42 local brews on tap.

Since the summer is just getting hot in most of the country, any celebration outdoors would be most appropriate. If you want to be truly Aussie, grab some kangaroo sausages, called "kanga bangas," a few beers and head down to the beach with a few mates. Whatever your desire, or location, please celebrate responsibly.

(Source: Jaunted.com)

New Years Eve in Sydney: A Program of Events

See below for a full list of events taking place on New Years Eve in Sydney 2011

6:00 PM Pre Show Entertainment

Aerial Show

New Years Eve begins! Witness theatre in the sky with spectacular aerial flyovers above Sydney Harbour to signal the start of Sydney New Year’s Eve celebrations.

The flyovers, performed by pilot Matt Hall, a former RAAF Fighter Combat (Top Gun) Instructor will commence at 6pm. At 7pm, the Ted Noffs fire tug will arrive and blast tonnes of water into the skies, creating its own dream rainbow in the setting sun, before Matt Hall flies back at 8pm to perform another flyover.

8:00 PM Acknowledgement of Country

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Smoking Ceremony and Acknowledgement of Country

A smoking ceremony from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander vessels will cleanse the Harbour of negative spirits as images projected on the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons mark the start of the New Year countdown.

An Acknowledgement of Country on the Harbour will show our respect to the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation, and at 8.45pm the custodians call up the first reveal of the Bridge Effect with a series of teaser fireworks.

9:00 PM 9pm Family Fireworks

Designed and choreographed specifically for children, these fireworks will delight and dazzle audiences as the night sky fills with colour. This eight-minute performance is accompanied by a music soundtrack which features chart hits from 2011 including songs by Rhianna, JLo, Wes Carr and Jessica Maubuoy that will entertain the whole family and provide an upbeat and fun atmosphere for this family show. These fireworks are a prelude to the spectacular Sydney fireworks display to follow at midnight.

9:15 PM – 11:30PM Harbour of Light Parade ^TM

Following the 9pm Family Fireworks, a flotilla of vessels switch on their lights and begin a spectacular parade around Sydney Harbour. A crowd favourite, the Harbour of Light Parade features specially lit vessels sailing on a 15km circuit around Sydney Harbour. Selected from design entries, the vessels chosen to take part in the Parade will be illuminated to represent the 2011 Sydney New Year’s Eve theme Time to Dream. The Parade will include tall ships, Sydney’s Heritage Fleet, commercial charter vessels and Sydney Ferries.

Experience Sydney New Years Eve on a Harbour of Light Parade vessel.

Official Harbour of Light Parade vessels are given access inside the Harbour exclusion zone on Sydney New Year’s Eve. Passengers onboard will be treated to exclusive views of the 9pm Family fireworks, the stunning Bridge Effect and Midnight Displays from designated viewing areas. For more information about each official Harbour of Light Parade vessel and ticket sales, contact the individual vessel operator by clicking on the vessels listed below. Get your tickets early. Don’t miss out.

12:00 AM Midnight Fireworks

At the stroke of midnight, we celebrate the start of a new year! Sydney does this in style by lighting up the night sky with a spectacular Fireworks Display launched from seven barges on the Harbour, the rooftops of seven city skyscrapers and, unforgettably, from Sydney Harbour Bridge. Bringing more than 1.5 million people to the Harbour, this majestic 12-minute Fireworks Display is the reason why Sydney is the New Years Eve capital of the world.

Where can I watch the Sydney Fireworks?

Check out the Fireworks Vantage Points Interactive Map to discover the best places to watch the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks, along with information on facilities and services at each site.

View the Sydney Fireworks Vantage Points Map

Road Closures

Download the PDF for Sydney CBD & Ultimo/Pyrmont Road Closures & Special Event Clearways for New Year's Eve 2011/New Year's Day 2012.

*Please note: Road closure locations and times are subject to change by Police. Phone 132 701 for up to date information.

2011 Accessibility Information

Download the SNYE Accessibility Map, please see our accessibility page for additonal information.

2011 Vantage Point Map & Table

Download the PDF for the 2011 Sydney NYE Vantage Point Map and full listing.

2011 Alcohol Free Zones Map

Download the PDF for the 2011 Sydney New Year's Eve alcohol free zones map and information.

View Offical NNE Sydney Website

New Years blog posting - 12 things you must do every day

Every year we all make “New Year’s Resolutions” – promises to ourselves that basically fall into a big heap after only the first week of trying.

The problem with most New Year’s Resolutions is that we try to aim too big. This year, why not lower your standards slightly (okay – you need to lower them a lot) and try to do more things that are much easier to achieve.

If you are stuck for ideas then try the following……………

Top 13 Things You Must Do Every Day

Get eight hours sleep a night. Easy! A double-dip win. More time lazing around in bed, more feelings of revitalization the next day.
Eat two serves of fruit and vegetables a day. This might be less daunting than it sounds. Does wine and beer count as wine is made from grapes (fruit) and beer comes from hops (vegetables???).
Drink three litres of water a day. Hold on – didn’t it used to be only two litres a day, last year???
Make your own lunch every day instead of buying it. This will save you around $10 a day (if you live in the city) which equates to a business class ticket to London at the end of the year……good idea!
Do at least half an hour of exercise each day. Does making your own lunch and all the trips to the toilet after drinking 3 litres of water count as exercise???
Get out of the office to each your lunch. Could this be combined with # 5 above? Are you getting the feeling that exercise is not high on the priority list J
Start power napping. You’ll need to after all the exercising your doing and if you have totally disregarded what was mentioned in #1 and stayed up all night surfing the net! Hey, does surfing the net count as exercise?????
Do one thing every day that scares you. What!!!!! Eating fruit and vegetables; drinking three litres of water; making your own lunch and all that exercise isn’t scary enough??????????
Get home in time to have dinner with your family. For some people this could be the answer to # 8 above. It is also a great opportunity to eat more of those fruit and vegetables and down some more water. And if your lucky there will be leftover for you to pack for lunch the next day.
Spend some meaningful time with your partner. See # 9 above and while we’re on the subject, you could make your lunch together with your partner. Not only is this good bonding time but you’ll save twice the money meaning your partner can come on that business class flight with you to London.
Get some “me” time. Yes please. No more water, fruit or vegetables, no more sleeping and definitely no more exercise. It’s all about alcohol, chocolate, fast food, TV etc etc etc.
Slow down and smell the roses. After all that exercising, drinking water, eating, bonding and scaring, you’ve got even less energy left to get through your actual workload. You’re now so far behind with everything you might as well totally chill-out and take time to smell the roses.
Be more ruthless with setting your daily priorities and deciding on who you should take advice from :-

Happy new year!!!

New years Eve in Sydney, Where will you watch the Fireworks?

New Years Eve in Sydney is great fun with an awesome fireworks display and new feature on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, where will you watch the fireworks from and what will be the 2011 theme?