While some of the city’s most popular locations, including many of the harbour’s island and exclusive beaches, have sold out, there is ample waterside real estate to squeeze into and enjoy the show free of charge.
“Our crews are very busy at the moment, setting up a dazzling display to light up the sky this New Year’s Eve, with fireworks launching from pontoons, from buildings, from the Sydney Harbour Bridge – across a massive seven-kilometre span of Sydney Harbour,” City of Sydney executive producer Stephen Gilby said this week.
Vantage points will open from 9am to 5pm, with some allowing BYO alcohol. Drinking is prohibited in others including at The Rocks, Circular Quay and Darling Harbour. Once you’ve left a vantage point, you cannot re-enter, so pack for the evening.
Getting around Sydney
With many of Sydney’s major roads closed throughout New Year’s Eve celebrations, public transport will run non-stop for 46 hours, thanks to thousands of extra train, bus and light rail services.
Trains will not stop at Circular Quay from 3pm on Tuesday, while buses and light rail services to Circular Quay will stop at 2pm. The last ferries will arrive at about 5.30pm.
Buses will end trips at Martin Place, while light rail services will end trips at Town Hall. The Barangaroo Metro station will be closed at 5pm and reopen at 11.45pm. See the changes to public transport here.
Nine tonnes of fireworks will light up Sydney’s sky on New Year’s Eve.Credit: Steven Siewart
The Cahill Expressway will be completely closed from 6am on Tuesday, with most roads in Sydney’s CBD closed by 7pm.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge will be completely closed from 11pm Tuesday to 1.30am on New Year’s Day.
The Sydney Harbour Tunnel and Anzac Bridge will remain open. See the full list of road closures here.
What weather you can expect
While there is a slight chance of rain or a thunderstorm in the early afternoon and evening, Sydneysiders can expect clear skies and 22 degrees at midnight after a maximum of 28 degrees.
Light 15km/h to 20km/h winds becoming easterly in the middle of the day will become lighter in the evening, paving the way for perfect weather into the New Year.
New Year’s Day is set to be a perfect summer day with a forecast top of 30 degrees in Sydney. The city’s west will be a little hotter, with an expected top of 34 degrees.
How to join in the NYE fun from home
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For those ringing in the New Year from the couch, the ABC’s live coverage kicks off at 8.30pm and NYE24 hosts Charlie Pickering, Zan Rowe and Concetta Caristo will take viewers through to after midnight from the Sydney Opera House’s Northern Boardwalk.
From 9.10pm, viewers will have a front-row seat to the New Year’s Eve concert, featuring former Powderfinger frontman Bernard Fanning and Paul Dempsey’s supergroup, Fanning Dempsey National Park, and singer-songwriter Casey Donovan, who performed at the 2023 event.
What else is on?
If fireworks aren’t for you, Sydney’s harbourside restaurants, bars and pubs will be buzzing with New Year cheer.
Harbourside, punters can choose from fine-dining packages, or a laid-back night at one of the many pubs or bars open for business. But beware, many are hosting ticketed events.
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