Sydney Harbour New Years Eve. What's All the Fuss About Anyway?

Sydney Harbour New Years Eve.

If you were to venture down to the Opera House or anywhere around Sydney Harbour for that matter anytime around New Years Eve you would notice a sea of people almost as deep as the harbour around which they stood.

And you would probably be asking yourself what all the fuss is about. I mean fireworks are fireworks right? And surely once you've seen one fireworks show then you've seen them all.

Apart from the glass in your life being well below half empty I retort by asking you to check out Sydney Harbour at anytime of the year when it is not New Years Eve.

You will notice a sea of people everywhere you go, regardless of the fact it's a long (long long) wait until the fireworks explode signifying the end of the year.

Why is Sydney Always so Busy?

Revellers cram every vantage point the harbour has to offer. McMahons Point is a popular spot that fills up VERY quickly

Because Sydney Rocks! Actually so do the Rocks... In Sydney. That's how much Sydney rocks! 

But Why? It's sedimentary my dear (Watson). It's also igneous and metamorphic, but Sydney is well and truly surrounded by and supported by sandstone. So as bad as my attempt at humour through lame punnage action was, it was also factually on the mark. 

Alex: 1 - Reader: 0

New Years Eve in Sydney is... Crowded!

Sydney Harbour is home to the Opera House and The most famous coat hanger in the world - The Sydney Harbour Bridge. Add to these two world famous landmarks the most luscious parklands and a modern skyline and you have the recipe for one of the best views in the world.

As we established earlier, come down to Sydney at anytime of the year and you will find crowds everywhere, both locals and tourists alike.

In fact Sydney is one of those rare cities where you will find just as many Aussies from around the country visiting our wonderful harbour as you will international tourists.

If that isn't saying something about the natural beauty and attraction of Sydney Harbour then I don't know what is!

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is - be warned. You need to make sure you are in Sydney to watch the fireworks on New Years Eve, but you also need to plan ahead or risk having to watch them through the cracks between two buildings in the backstreets of Surry Hills.... or something.

New Years Eve 2015 - Plan Ahead or Miss the Boat!

Save yourself the headache this New Years Eve and book a ticket on a New Years Eve Cruises Sydney.

Follow the link above for more information and to find out what boats are still available and what your ticket gets you - other than an amazing night I mean.

Sydney Harbour New Years Eve really is the place to be when 2015 draws to an end, and the way I see it - if you are going to watch the greatest fireworks new years show on earth then you may as well get yourself a front row seat to the action.

Hurry though, or you'll miss the boat - literally!

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 :)

Getting Ready for New Years Eve 2015

Watch the Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks from 2014

It's getting closer to that time again and to get into the spirit of things and remind us why Sydney is THE best place on earth to spend new years eve, in case you forgot and all ;)

Here is a great video that highlights and captures the entire Sydney Harbour Fireworks spectacle for the final hurrah of 2014. 

CLICK HERE (Link will open in new window)

WHERE WILL YOU BE IN 2016?

Actually that raises a good point, and that is what exactly do you call this upcoming new years eve? Some say it is 2015, because well it is. But then others argue that since the celebrations dont actually start until midnight, that technically this would be the 2016 New Years Eve Celebration?

I think it's all too confusing and I'm just glad I have already secured my front row seat for this upcoming new years celebration, regardless of whether it is 2015 or 2016.

Source: Ilya Genkin

Check out the official Sydney page for more information about this years new years eve celebrations