New Year's Eve in Sydney

As the clock winds down in December, the atmosphere in Sydney becomes electric. The city is getting ready for the biggest party of the year, where more than one million people gather around Sydney Harbour to watch the world-famous fireworks display. It’s a time for locals and visitors to come together and celebrate, to feel nostalgia for the year that was and hope for the year to come. You’ll feel that shared sense of belonging whether you’re sitting in a park by the water or in a ritzy rooftop bar. 

New Year's Eve fireworks on Sydney Harbour

Free places to watch the fireworks 

Grab a blanket, a picnic and your favourite people, then settle in to watch the greatest show of the year. Even though these spots are free, most still require you to register for tickets before you arrive – check the website ahead of time. 

Observatory Hill at Millers Point is one of the city’s most popular vantage points, so expect big crowds and a party atmosphere - it looks straight out over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Directly opposite, on the other side of the harbour, Blues Point Reserve at McMahons Point sits just on the western side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It has uninterrupted views through to the Sydney Opera House as well as a front-row seat to the fireworks.  

Couple watching the sunset at Observatory Hill, Millers Point

Pirrama Park and Giba Park in Pyrmont are both great family-friendly spots that don’t get as crowded. They have excellent views of the western side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and you’ll also get a good view back into the harbour. These are two of the few spots you’re allowed to bring in alcohol as well as a picnic, plus food and drinks are available to purchase at Pirrama Park. 

For a more intimate NYE, just 840 people are permitted to be in Embarkation Park, a leafy strip of green in Potts Point. Views are somewhat limited, but you will get a good perspective over the city skyline and the fireworks barges to the east. Perched at the northern entrance to Sydney Harbour, Manly’s North Head is another peaceful place to watch the party unfold. Surrounded by bushland, you’ll have a panoramic view over the whole harbour with plenty of space to stretch out. You won’t need a ticket for North Head, but spots will fill up fast. 

View of Sydney Harbour from the Fairfax Lookout at North Head, Manly

There are a number of places along the Inner Harbour where you can get good views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge as well as the three fireworks barges that will be set up on the water. Try Bicentennial Park in Glebe, Yurulbin Park and Birchgrove Park in Birchgrove, and Simmons Point and Illoura Reserve in Balmain. None of these spots require tickets and are open from 8 or 10am, so will start to fill up early. In the east, Rose Bay Foreshore and Dumaresq Reserve both have a good view of the city, though it is from some distance. The tiny Duff Reserve at Point Piper looks straight at the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but can only hold around 100 people. 

New Year's Eve 2021, Sydney Harbour 

Ticketed places to watch the fireworks 

If you’re prepared to splash a little cash, you’re guaranteed an even better view from some of the city’s most beautiful harbourside parks and gardens. Many of these vantage points will have facilities like live music and stalls selling food and drinks. These are some of the hottest tickets in town – so check the websites for availability and make sure to book your tickets early! 

On the eastern side of the Sydney Opera House, Mrs Macquarie’s Point (tickets $20-40) is a leafy spot in the Botanic Garden with stunning views through to the harbour and Sydney Harbour Bridge. There will be food trucks and bars scattered throughout the area, though you can also bring a picnic. Strickland House (tickets $26-44) in Vaucluse offers a vantage point in front of one of Sydney’s grandest historic homes. The waterfront lawn is at the far end of the harbour and looks straight back towards the city, harbour islands and fireworks barges. This is another licensed site that will have food and drinks available. 

Fireworks display at Bradleys Head, Sydney Harbour - Credit: John Spencer, DPE

There are a few different options available for New Year’s Eve on Bradleys Head, directly in front of Taronga Zoo. All are alcohol-free and great for families looking for excellent views and a relaxed vibe. Sitting right on the edge of the peninsula, The Amphitheatre (tickets $46-89) has the best views, looking straight out at the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and city skyline. There are also two fireworks barges set up just offshore. A little further round the point, the Mast Precinct (tickets $30-57) also has very good views of the city and the barges. You can set up around the base of the mast itself, along the boardwalk or on the upper grassed area. Athol Lawn (tickets $24-41) is a wide, grassy area at the top of Bradleys Head. Trees make for great shade when setting up in the afternoon, though they may restrict the view at night. Pack a picnic as there’s no food to buy here. 

Portside (tickets from $850) takes over the western boardwalk directly in front of the Sydney Opera House for its NYE bash. The views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge are sensational and the six-hour event includes grazing tables, roving canapes, all drinks (including French champagne) and an epic line up of DJs. On the other side of the bridge, at Pier One Hotel (tickets from $849) restaurant in Walsh Bay, will be an equally luxurious cocktail party. Expect more French bubbles, caviar canapes and a vantage point that’s so close you’ll feel the warmth of the fireworks. 

Where to watch the fireworks on the water 

If you want to be right in the middle of the action, the Sydney Harbour islands offer unmatched views and a fun party atmosphere. You’ll need to buy tickets for all these island events and they include scheduled ferry departures around 6-7pm, so make sure you don’t miss the boat. Return ferries will bring you back before 1am. 

Sitting just off the edge of the swanky suburb of Darling Point, the tiny Clark Island (tickets $204-286) covers less than a hectare and offers spectacular views of the city and icons. Shark Island (tickets $185-260) is 1km offshore from Rose Bay and close to the entrance to Sydney Harbour, giving you a view straight down the water to all the fireworks on land and on barges. On both islands there will be DJs playing live all night plus a bar and food available. You can also bring a picnic and non-alcoholic drinks.  

Shark Island, Sydney Harbour - Credit: John Spencer, DPE

You’ll be practically in the middle of the fireworks on Goat Island (tickets $152-227), which sits on the western side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge just offshore from Balmain. This is a more relaxed island option that’s great for families, but you’ll need to bring all your own food and drink (including alcohol). A radio or phone speaker is also a good idea so you can tune in for the live coverage of the NYE broadcast. 

Sydney Harbour will be dotted with boats on New Year’s Eve, taking guests out for an evening of dinner, drinks and dancing before dropping anchor at a prime viewing spot. Luxurious options – like The Jackson ($1,599 per person) or Clearview ($1,300 per person) – include a delicious dinner, free flowing bubbles and live entertainment. There are also a few slightly cheaper cruises on offer, like Captain Cook’s Rocket Ferry ($499 per person) or the Manly Fast Ferry (from $250 per person), where you can bring your own food and buy drinks at the bar.

Fireworks view from Clark Island, Sydney Harbour - Credit: John Spencer, DPE

The Island is a floating Euro beach club-style bar that will be moored just 500m from the Opera House on New Year’s Eve. It promises to be one of the best parties on the water, with DJs all night and a crowd of beautiful people on the dance floor. Tickets start from $500 per person including drinks, canapes and water taxi transfers. 

If you’d prefer to keep your celebrations a little more exclusive, a private boat charter will give you a front-row seat for the ultimate NYE party. Sydney Harbour Escapes has boats that can hold from four to 46 passengers and will organise catering, drinks, DJs, a mooring and more. It won’t come cheap (prices start from $3,500 and go up to well over $100,000) but it’s an experience you’ll never forget. 

The Jackson dining room, Sydney Harbour - Credit: Jackson Dining

Restaurants & bars to ring in the new year 

If there was ever a night to go big, this is it. Sydney’s most stylish restaurants and buzzy bars will be packed with revellers on New Year’s Eve, soaking up spectacular views accompanied by live music, indulgent meals and plenty of drinks – book early.

Other places in Sydney to celebrate NYE 

Sydney Harbour gets most of the attention, but there are plenty of other places to celebrate the arrival of 2023 around the city. 

NYE in the Park, Camperdown 

See out 2022 with a bang at Sydney’s only New Year’s Eve music festival, taking over Victoria Park. There’s a huge line-up across three stages – Flight Facilities, Lime Cordiale, Cut Copy, Rico Nasty, Tori Levett, San Cisco and more. 

NYE in the Park, Camperdown

Parramatta  

There are five NYE events planned around Parramatta, with fireworks to go off at 9pm in Binalong Park in Old Toongabbie; Northmead Reserve in Northmead; Dundas Park in Dundas Valley; Doyle Ground in North Parramatta; and George Kendall Riverside Park in Ermington. The gates at all locations open from 5pm and families can bring blankets and picnics, or buy snacks from the food trucks, and enjoy the live entertainment in the lead up to the first rocket. The events are ticketed and cost $5, so book in early to secure your spot. 
 

Manly & Northern Beaches 

There will be bright skies over the Northern Beaches as well, with family-friendly fireworks at 9pm in Manly, Dee Why, Frenchs Forest and Bayview. There will also be an additional fireworks display at midnight in Bayview. 

New Years Eve Fireworks, Manly, Northern Beaches Council - Credit: Karen Watson

Fairfield 

It will be a magical night at Fairfield Showground with the family-friendly Illuminate festival. Enjoy carnival rides, live entertainment, food trucks and jetpack shows, all culminating in a dazzling fireworks show at 9.30pm. The event is ticketed and costs $5. 

Penrith 

There are a few options for people wanting to celebrate the end of 2022 in Penrith. Take a cruise along the river onboard the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler or dance to the grooviest disco hits of the ‘70s and ‘80s at Penrith Panthers Event Centre. More events will be announced in the coming weeks. 

Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler, Penrith