This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2019. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
In my opinion, Sydney has the best New Year’s Eve fireworks display in the world.
Over the years I’ve spent NYE in many destinations, but nowhere in the world has been more exciting than Sydney. I’ve watched the fireworks display in Sydney three times from a variety of viewpoints, and every time it has completely blown my mind!
The city spends millions of dollars on the fireworks show every year, so it’s no surprise that the show is so damn spectacular.
There are two major things you should know when considering your spot for watching the NYE fireworks in Sydney:
- First, the layout. The show changes slightly every year, but it’s generally centered around the Sydney Harbour Bridge. There are also a handful of barges placed throughout the harbour that pump out fireworks, so anyone standing on the waterfront near the city can get in on the action.
- Second, the timing. There are actually two fireworks displays: one at 9PM (which is mostly for the sake of families with young kids) and the main gig at 12AM. The earlier show is not as huge as the midnight one, but it’s still pretty good. Best to watch both if you can manage it! The midnight show is an absolute must.
I’m going to list out all the main options for seeing the fireworks. These vary in price greatly. The NYE fireworks display in Sydney is incredibly popular, so you’ll often pay more for better views. I’ll also list a few free/cheap options for those of you who don’t want to bankrupt yourselves on this event!
Quick summary:
Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks centre around the Harbour Bridge with displays at 9PM and midnight. This guide covers the best places to watch the show in 2025, including harbour cruises, Opera House events, rooftop bars, ticketed parks, free viewpoints, and hotels with guaranteed fireworks views.
Recommended tickets:
🛥️ Sydney Harbour NYE Boat Cruise [9PM Fireworks] – Premium views right on the harbour.
🛥️ Sydney Harbour NYE Boat Cruise [Midnight Fireworks] – Premium views right on the harbour.
🎭 Sydney Opera House NYE Opera Gala – Entertaining and close to the action.
Option 1: Boat cruises on Sydney Harbour (best views on the water)
There are thousands of parties, events, and festivals that you can join every December 31, but if you want prime views of the fireworks, a boat cruise on Sydney Harbour might be your best shot. It’s one of the most expensive options, but if you’ll only be spending New Years Eve in Sydney once in your life, then it’s probably worth splashing out on.
There are loads of companies that offer boat cruises for NYE (or for those with a bigger budget, hire a yacht to experience the NYE fireworks up close). You can book a harbour cruise for just one of the fireworks shows, or for both.
🛥️ You can book a Sydney Harbour NYE Boat Cruise [9PM Fireworks] or a Sydney Harbour NYE Boat Cruise [Midnight Fireworks], which has a bar and live entertainment onboard. They’ll sail around the harbour and then set up in a good viewing position before the fireworks begin.
Option 2: Sydney Opera House NYE events
There is usually a ticketed concert at Sydney Opera House with live entertainment each year, but 2021 is a little different due to the pandemic.
There are a handful of ticketed events around the Opera House, and these are likely to be some of the best spots to see the fireworks in Sydney. Prices vary greatly, but as do inclusions – you can see a live opera show before the fireworks, have dinner at the famous Bennelong restaurant, or hang out beside the harbour at the Opera Bar with live entertainment. Your choice!
🎭 This year (2025), there will be a New Years Eve Opera Gala at the Sydney Opera House, with the intermission timed perfectly for guests to view the fireworks show. Book your Opera Gala tickets as soon as possible, as this will almost definitely sell out in advance!
Option 3: Restaurants & rooftop bars with a view
In 2014, a friend invited us to a house party at his new apartment in McMahons Point. In true Australian style, we spent the afternoon having some bevvies (slang for alcoholic beverages) with our mates, then made our way up to the rooftop for the fireworks display. With views of the Harbour Bridge, it was the perfect vantage point for the light show!
There are some hotels and restaurants that overlook the harbour, or bars with rooftops (such as The Glenmore) that will throw a NYE party where you can watch the fireworks. For something totally luxe, you can go up Sydney Tower for a fancy dinner with wine pairings and views of the fireworks from the tallest building in Sydney.
Option 4: Stay in a hotel with guaranteed views
If you’d rather skip the crowds, some Sydney hotels offer fireworks views right from your room, rooftop, or restaurant. They don’t come cheap, but for a once-in-a-lifetime New Year’s Eve, it’s worth the splurge.
Top picks include:
🏨 Park Hyatt Sydney – The ultimate luxury, right between the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
🏨 Four Seasons Hotel Sydney – Choose a Harbour View or Opera Suite for uninterrupted views.
🏨 Shangri-La Sydney – Famous for its sky-high suites and Blu Bar on 36.
🏨 Pier One Sydney Harbour – Waterfront rooms and NYE pier parties.
Option 5: Paid parks for Sydney NYE fireworks
The ticketed parks are a fairly cheap way to see the NYE fireworks. I went with this option for the first time in 2021. It might seem silly to have to pay for entry to a public park, but it’s actually a really good way for the city to limit numbers of people in these spots (otherwise they get waaaaaaay overcrowded).
I went to Hickson Road Reserve, and it was totally epic to be right underneath all the action! As a short person who usually struggles to see in a crowd, I appreciated that I didn’t have to worry about seeing over people’s heads because the show was literally happening in the sky above me. These paid entry parks also have public bathroom facilities, and they sometimes they offer entertainment and food/drinks for sale.
Check the Sydney New Year’s Eve website for available paid park options. The Royal Botanic Gardens and the areas around Circular Quay are some solid choices for great views, though note that some look towards either the Opera House or the Harbour Bridge, but not necessarily both. If I had to choose between them, I’d go with one that looks at the Harbour Bridge as it features the most spectacular parts of the fireworks display.
Option 6: Best free parks for Sydney fireworks
In 2018, Rob and I went to Ballast Point Park in Balmain which is free to enter and doesn’t get overly crowded. Unfortunately it is harder to get there as there are no train lines going into Balmain (only buses) and some of the streets get closed off, so it’s mostly locals who arrive to watch the fireworks. If you want a more low-key and cheap experience away from the crowds, I’d highly recommend this option or one of the other free parks around the city.
Be sure to get there early. The Sydney New Year’s Eve website usually gives an indication of what time each area is meant to fill up. One thing to remember is that each park has different rules, like whether alcohol is allowed, and some have different opening times. Once you’re in the park, it’s best not to leave until after the fireworks display as you might lose your spot.
Plan for a long day/evening on the lawns by taking along essential supplies – a picnic blanket, a shade umbrella or wide-brim hat, a jacket to keep warm after sunset, plenty of food/snacks, and a water bottle (there will be taps that you can use to refill it inside all of the parks). Also remember to take sunscreen as it’s midsummer so you will burn extremely quickly, and sunset isn’t until after 8PM!
Essential Sydney NYE fireworks tips:
Book your tickets early. If you are choosing one of the paid options (boat cruise, events at venues, or paid entry parks), get your tickets as soon as possible! The most popular options usually sell out a few months in advance, so the later you leave it, the less chance you’ll have of getting the option you want.
Public transport can be a mess. Before and after the fireworks display, the trains and buses get severely overcrowded… last year we couldn’t get onto a bus out of Balmain (and taxis/Ubers are just not an option at this time) so we ended up skating home which took about an hour! Prepare for difficulties with public transport by taking your trips around the city much earlier than you think you need to, and plan an alternate method of getting back to your accommodation.
Be sensible. Police officers are literally swarming the city on New Year’s Eve. This can be a bit intimidating, but just remember they are there for your own safety. They’ll be on the lookout for unruly behavior, illegal drugs, and alcohol where it’s not allowed, so just be careful about sticking to the rules.
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