Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks are shown on television around the world, as it’s one of the first country’s that celebrates. Watching them is a bucket-list for many travellers. Some even spend thousands on hotels or other packages to get a good spot. It had also been on my list and I have no regrets of spending my New Year’s Eve in crowds to see them.
Arriving the day of the fireworks, I watched the city transform into a treasure hunt for tourists to find the best spots to watch the fireworks. I didn’t quite realize how intense it would be. The five hours leading up to the midnight fireworks display I walked nearly 30 km around the CBD and North Sydney. I learned a lot from this experience.
The odd thing about the busy-ness surrounding these fireworks is it’s very concentrated around the best viewing points. I tried looking for tips online before going, but felt because I wasn’t a local there was still so much I was missing. I’m providing some tips to watching Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks such as the best spots, others to avoid and how long you could expect to wait.
For clarification, this list was created before the COVID pandemic and will be most applicable to the Sydney NYE fireworks show once the pandemic has subsided.
Table of Contents
It’s All About Timing
Around noon on New Year’s Eve I asked city representatives helping tourists about the best spots to watch the fireworks. By that time, 12 hours before the actual firework’s display, the Opera House viewing area was already full. If you want to spend 12 hours waiting to see the fireworks by the Opera House, go for it! But many people aren’t ready for that type of commitment, especially if you only have a few days to discover the city.
Even for attending the ticketed areas, arriving early grantees a good spot, no matter where you go. I’m not die hard enough to wait over 12 hours for a 12 minute fireworks display. But, I know the people that saw it at the Opera House had a better view than me and a harder time getting home afterwards.
Think Tickets
Nearly all of the good viewpoints around Sydney, including parts of Northern Sydney, and most of the CBD area, require tickets. Many tickets aren’t that expensive, Northern Sydney’s Blue’s Point Reserve is only A$10. It just takes some planning ahead to get one, which many tourists may not be aware of.
The reasoning for the tickets isn’t necessarily to make money, it’s also so police can control the amount of people in the area to prevent other accidents. This is why the tickets have limits, so there isn’t over crowding. Something to consider about attending a ticketed area is many don’t allow BYO (bring your own alcohol)—so you may have to forfeit that glass of bubbles at midnight.
Concentrated Crowds
The majority of Sydney becomes a bit of one large crowd attempting to see the firework’s display. The closer it gets to the fireworks, there’s less crowds at the Sydney’s beaches, restaurants and bars. Instead, the crowds are at the best viewing point to see the fireworks.
When most of the best spots already full, firework goers head anywhere to see the display best. You’re likely to encounter huge crowds while searching for a good spot. This is because most of the streets in the CBD are shut down and filled with pedestrians. At some points the crowd is so dense, it’s hard to move or push through.
Settle on a Spot
Walking around the entire city can be tiring. I walked for nearly four hours searching for a good spot, from the CBD to Northern Sydney and back to the CBD. Eventually I did find a spot, but not before seeing nearly every other spot in the city. Other spots were crowded and not great—such as just below the bridge on the South-East side. Settling on a spot earlier will save a lot of wandering.
Before settling on a spot, understand once it’s closer to the show, more people will be there. Some spots may seem great early on, but unless you’re willing to stay put for hours (at least 4+ hours) you’ll likely get people in your way. Not just people, also arms (sticking up for photos and videos), selfie sticks and kids on parents shoulders. All which may may impact your view. Think about this before committing to any spot!
Be Comfortable
Here’s the scenario: you finally found a good spot at Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks, but now you’re thirsty, hungry, cold and uncomfortable. Whether you’re arriving to the display a few hours before or 12 hours before, you need to be comfortable. Wear comfortable shoes for walking, bring snacks or meals, if necessary. Also, think about cushions or chairs to sit on—the curb can get old (and uncomfortable) quick.
There are food and drink options around the fireworks displays, including full restaurants and bars along with food trucks. However, you and everyone else in the crowd may be in that lineup. And, the food options are limited. Bring snacks just in case!
Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Seeing the Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display is enchanting and magical. Try not to walk over other people and aggressively push your way through crowds just for an acceptable viewing point. Hundreds of thousands of people in Sydney all have the same idea to get a good view. It may not be possible for everyone. Just accept it may look better on the TV, and do what you can to find a comfortable spot.
Also remember, the crowds will be insane. If you had a good spot to see the show, then tons of people begin to stand in front of you, it’s OK. It’s public land and no one really “owns the rights” to be there. Even if you did spend hours with your picnic blanket on the grass. Just relax, and do what you can to see the show.
The Display is Huge
Previous to seeing Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks myself I thought it focused on the bridge, only. It’s actually on multiple barges and can be seen throughout the city. This means if you’re focusing on a spot just to see the bridge, you may miss out on other spots around the city.
If you didn’t get that perfect spot in front of the bridge, there’s still hope to see a good display. Of course, it’s harder than it sounds. Finding a spot may require running around for hours as there aren’t many free spots available to see the fireworks—or the rest of the city would also be there!
Sydney’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks is just one of the many things to do in the city, for other tips check out this article.
