5 Family-Friendly Places To Watch The New Years Eve Fireworks

This is a post about New Years Eve in Sydney 2015, and more importantly - the 9 o'clock family firework shows. Because let's be honest, if you don't have a family then your new years plans involve getting drunk, watching the fireworks and making sure you have someone to kiss when the clock strikes midnight. The rest is a blur anyway ;)

I have been so busy organising my new years eve harbour cruise that I haven't even asked what your plans are for new years eve!?
Of course it goes without saying that your plans for new years are dependent on a number of factors, the first one being - do you have a young family?

Not for me! I'm  young and ready to party thank you very much ;)

If you don't have kids or a family to attend new years celebrations with then really you can do what you want!
The main plans are centered around where you are going to watch the fireworks/hang out with friends/get drunk/whatever.....
The rest is usually a blur anyway and as such I am going to bring my focus back to the family - and more importantly, the 9 o'clock Sydney fireworks spectacular

For The Family

Sydney puts on two fireworks shows every new years eve, the first one being held at 9pm and aimed at families with young children who would never make it to the midnight hour.

The 9pm fireworks are no less impressive either, with the the only noticable difference being that the fireworks do not go off on the bridge, they save that for the midnight show.

5 Best Vantage Points to Watch the Family Fireworks Show

The View from Blues Point Reserve, McMahons Point. Truly breathtaking!  Photo Courtesy of smh.com.au

There are literally hundreds of places you can go to get a glimpse of the fireworks on new years eve, but then if you want an uninterrupted view then that list is realistically about 20 places long. I have provided what I think are the 5 best spots to take your family for the 9pm fireworks show.

All these spots have been chosen based on the most important element - Getting you and your children back out of there in a moderate time-frame!
Most of Sydney's streets shut down for New years and as such most of these places have to be reached on foot. The closest you can usually get your car is a few train stations away, which we actually recommend!
Do not, I repeat DO NOT attempt to drive your car all the way to where you plan on watching the fireworks! It may seem like a good idea at the time but you'll never get back out again.
With that being said, let's take a look at the best places to watch the 9pm fireworks show with your family.

For a complete list of road closures and public transport services for New years Eve in Sydney follow THIS LINK

Bradfield Park

Located on the Northern side of the harbour, Bradfield park is the grass area directly under and to the east of the harbour bridge. Bradfield park provides uninterrupted views of the harbour, the Sydney Opera House and of course the bridge itself. For families looking to watch the 9pm fireworks, this is the perfect spot as it is only a 15 minute walk from Milsons Point train station and the trains will continue to run until around 11pm. (see above link for exact times)

Blues Point Park - McMahons Point.

Similar to Bradfield Park, Blues Point Park on McMahons Point is on the Northern Side of the harbour and is actually one of the most popular spots to watch the fireworks on this list. Accessed via a 15 minute walk down Blues Point Rd from North Sydney Station, the point - which has multiple grassy areas on which to set up camp provides some of the best views of the fireworks specatacular. Blues Point is popular with families because of the large grass areas and the ease of access from North Sydney train station.

Observatory Hill

For those families that live on the Eastern/Southern side of the harbour Observatory Hill is a great location that is close to all the action and provides uninterrupted views of the bridge, opera house and Sydney skyline. Just 20 minutes walk from Circular Quay, Observatory Hill provides a lot of grassy areas to lay a picnic blanket and enjoy the show with the young ones. Get there early as all the spots fill quickly, and with an almost birds eye view of the city it is little wonder why!

Balmain - Thornton Park

Balmain provides fantastic views of the western side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and is a popular spot with families as it is away from the City and the hectic road closures and crowds that go with it. Don't get me wrong, Balmain is a very popular vantage point to view the fireworks and as such fills up just as quickly. Probably the best place to view the fireworks in Balmain is Thornton Park. Again, bring a picnic rug and get there early!

Mary Booth - Kirribilli

Located in Kirribilli, Mary Booth lookout Point offers incredible and uninterrupted views across the harbour to the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. The location is perfect for watching the entire expanse of fireworks that are setoff across the CBD and down the Harbour, all the way up Parramatta River.

Where Will You Watch The Fireworks?

Regardless of where you decide to take the family to watch the fireworks, planning ahead is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing. Make sure you know what public transport is operating and park your car well away from the action, because the moment the 9pm fireworks show is over, hundreds of thousands of families like yourself are trying to make their way home again.

What are  your plans This upcoming 2015 New Years Eve?

I'll leave you with this awesomely cute video from two very well known Hollywood stars :)

6 Awesome Reasons Why Sydney is THE place to celebrate New Years Eve.

There are lot of personalities in life, and their reactions to situations and circumstance differs dramatically – it’s what makes us so dynamic and unique as a race. But one thing that never ceases to amaze me is how similar we all think come New Years Eve.

Whether you’re a planner or a go-with-the-flow kind of person, a glass is half full or half empty person – come New Years Eve, if you are heading into the City of Sydney and have not planned ahead then you’re driving into ‘headless chook’ territory. Trust me, I’ve spent way to long in this state – and it’s not fun!

With this in mind, let’s look at six reasons why Sydney is the best place to spend New Years Eve and usher in 2016 in style.

Sydney new years eve fireworks

Sydney’s New Year fireworks display is arguably one of the most dramatic and amazing light shows to grace the sky in the world.

Not only do you have millions of dollars worth of fireworks erupting in a kaleidoscope of colours, there is also a backdrop that features two of the worlds most instantly recognisable landmarks, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House.

But don’t just take my word for it. Travel blogs and entertainment guides the world over consistently place Australia in the top 5, usually even the top 3. Of course as a Sydney Sider who is lucky enough to witness this amazing light show year on year I put it at number

Gayot Travel blog says we are 5^th and 

traveller.com puts us inside the top 5
But National Geographic puts us at 10. Ten?!?! Sheesh

Ok perhaps that was a couple of bad examples?! But take my word for it – Sydney is the best place. No, really. A billion people can’t be wrong. Can they?

FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY – LITERALLY

Sydney New Years Eve fireworks are and always will be for the kids. Whether it’s the big kids or the little ones, providing an opportunity for everyone to experience this event is paramount, and the city of Sydney has not dropped the ball providing a 9pm fireworks display so they young ones can enjoy the spectacle and still get a semi decent night sleep. Nice one Sydney!

Of course it goes without saying that no good New Years Eve in Sydney is complete without first organising a baby sitter.

WE'RE STILL DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS

While the rest of the world, well a good portion of it gets themselves wrapped up in layers and prepare for the onslaught of winter, Australia is in the grip of summer. The only wraps you’ll see are the tasty variety – I recommend the pulled pork, but I digress.

Combine this warm weather with the fact it’s almost guaranteed not to rain – no really, Australia is like the polar opposite of England and I would almost put money on the fact that December and New Years Eve will be nothing but clear skies and smooth sailing… Come on, prove me wrong J

Speaking of Smooth Sailing, another reason for celebrating New Year’s Eve in Sydney happens on the harbour itself.

I'm sure many readers aren't complaining though

SYDNEY’S HARBOUR OF LIGHTS PARADE VESSELS

This is where it gets exciting, because unlike the fireworks displays that punctuate the sky, the harbour of lights parade is something you can be involved with.

Every year a line up boats, draped in a dazzling array of lights floats gently down the harbour, providing a rich tapestry of colour and shimmer. The best part is that if you have planned ahead, and I mean really planned ahead then you can actually be lucky enough to grab a ticket to jump aboard one of these vessels, and literally become part of the show

Here is a lineup of last years boats, although for bookings and an updated list of the 2015 New Years Participants then follow this link here

SPECTACULAR AIR DISPLAYS ABOVE SYDNEY HARBOUR

Apart from painting the skies with some heart-warming pyrotechnics, Sydney Harbour is the host to a spectacular airshow that starts early and sets the tone for what will be a high adrenaline, fast paced evening.

From 6pm the pre show entertainment begins, with the high flying action happening over Darling Harbour and the surrounding CBD.

Some of the pilots include famous stunt pilot and aerial acrobat Matt Hall.  And last year, it was the well-known female British team that stole the show!.

This year promises a whole lot more variety and excitement, so really – you do not want to miss it.

SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE EFFECT

One of the first Bridge Effect symbols - from 2000 - the year we held the Olympics.

Sydney’s iconic Coat hanger has long been the star of the show, and for the last ten years or so they have celebrated its existence by using it show our diversity as a nation, to cast light on current affairs, or to simply raise awareness for humanity as a whole. Regardless, the Sydney Harbour Bridge effect is something that all Sydney Siders look forward to and is usually the subject of much debate heading into the night, with locals who have seen the design on the bridge  attempt to guess what it is. 

Just for the record, the locals are usually waaaaaaay off.

It’s well established that Sydney is the best place in the world to experience new years and welcome 2016, and now that you know just how incredible it can be  why not book a front row seat to the greatest show on earth and book your seat on a Sydney New Years Cruise. today!