New Year in Sydney

Wow! Amazing! Spectacular! One of those true “pinch me am I really here?” moments in life.

We were incredibly lucky to be invited by friends to spend New Year's Eve at their parent's house in Waverton where it is possible to see the harbour bridge and fireworks from their front patio. The view was fantastic.

Sydney is one of the first major cities in the world to welcome in the new year and the locals go crazy for it. Given the warm climate, it makes a perfect platform for evening celebrations and people stake their claim to the best viewing spots from first thing in the morning (a few days early for the really good spots!). Those in the know are well prepared with picnics, rugs, barbecues and even tents. We went for a walk early evening around Ball's Head, where hundreds of people were camped out, squeezed into every available spot, and hundreds more were still streaming in. The views are very good.

There are choices in Sydney depending on how you want to spend the evening. There are paid events all over the city. For example one of the many hotels, the opera bar or ticketed parks. We knew of some friends going to Shark Island and others going to Tarongo zoo. These events are not cheap but are in great locations. As an alternative, there are many free parks or you can take your pick of any public spot where you can see the action. Just make sure you get there very early and be prepared to wait it out. Or if you are lucky enough to have a boat you can pick a spot in designated areas in the harbour for the best views.

Mobile coffee trucks and hot dog stands pop up all over the place. Alcohol is not permitted in public places. There is a good police presence everywhere to ensure there is no trouble. Transport is free.

We were treated to an air display mid afternoon and at 9pm there are “warm up fireworks”. A pretty decent display to get the crowds going and for children to enjoy. There's a real buzz of fun and anticipation in the air. Thomas’s face was a picture!

The crowds grew on the street below and, 90 seconds out the countdown is projected onto the harbour bridge. 10 seconds out the crowd joined in, the air thick with excitement, then boom! The fireworks exploded from the bridge and from three floating barges along the harbour and all around us. So colourful and vibrant. I had to catch my breath. I’ve never seen anything quite so spectacular.

Certainly the highlight of our trip and definitely worth the itinerary planning to be in such a fantastic place for New Year’s Eve. Many thanks to our lovely friends Penny and Andrew and Andrew’s welcoming parents, Patsy and Kevin, for such an unforgettable night.