NYE in Sydney Recommendations

Would be great to hear any recommendations for NYE in Sydney!

Planning a trip up from Melbourne to stay for 4-5 days

Please share your tips with:
- Where to see fireworks (paid or unpaid)
- Activities to do during that time of year
- Festivals/gigs/concerts on at the time
- Night life
- Great food/snacks to try

It looked like for 2021 there were many areas where you had to pay tickets to enter areas to see fireworks. Does anyone know if this will be the same, when tickets are released and which vantage points are best? (https://www.sydneynewyearseve.com/vantage-points/)

Thanks all

Comments

  • +4

    Get a bag

    • Of what?

      • +7

        Goon

      • +1

        colostomy

  • +3

    Recommend flying to Melbourne from Sydney and going to the Yarra river.

    • Activities to do during that time of year

    Beach

    • Night life

    Hah! What night life?

  • +3

    Accommodation and flights to Sydney will be ridiculous prices around that time.

    Have you checked?

    • +4

      Yes and booked 5 months ago ๐Ÿ˜

      • +3

        Awesome. Have fun. I hate Sydney so my advice will now cease. ๐Ÿ™‚

        • What's wrong with Sydney?

          • +2

            @dust: My two pet hates are traffic and crowds. I also think the Sydney 'highlights' are overrated. I prefer exploring and supporting regional towns with my money.

            • +1

              @Muzeeb: That's fair. The city highlights aren't as bad in non-peak times though (early morning for example).

              But yes driving in the city will make you hate life very quickly.

            • @Muzeeb: Where do you live?

  • +1

    Find the accommodation for NYE first then we can talk about activities ๐Ÿ˜‰

    • Yes and booked 5 months ago ๐Ÿ˜

        • I thought it was expensive but saw many other cruises at over $1000pp. $750 is a bargain? ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜

          • +1

            @Magicmagic: I wouldn't say bargain but it's a good experience. You get to see whole fireworks while you in a party atmosphere without any obstacles. Comes with good food and drinks. Not bad for once in life experience. There are cheaper options too aka smaller boats. Starship is a nice boat as well.

  • +1

    Field Day is on if you're into electronic music and stuff along those lines.

    As for food, Sydney has many delicious ramen restaurants. I also like Chiswick and anything from Bentley Group if you're looking for more upmarket

  • +2

    Where are you staying? Moving around Sydney on NYE is a total nightmare. Would really suggest staying within walking distance of your accommodation (unless you have DD).

    • I'll be close to Central Station

      • +1

        So far as NYE itself is concerned, you'll want to get along the harbourfront anywhere from Pirrama Park around to Mrs. Macquarie's Chair for fireworks. That's all within walking distance (up to about 4km). I can't speak to what's paid/unpaid, but be aware that the best spots will start to fill many hours prior to midnight. Anywhere with a decent view will attract a sizable crowd.

        There's nothing particularly special about that time of year in Sydney in terms of events. Most locals have either gone on holidays, or doing some variation on going to the beach, visiting friends and family, relaxing during the "Christmas shutdown", etc. Tourists will generally be at the beach or otherwise on general sightseeing activities.

        • Thanks!

        • My experiences of NYE in Sydney CBD (many years ago as I've refused to go for a while) is the best spots start filling up in the morning.
          People will take picnic blankets and eskies and camp out there, and guard their empire (the area that their picnic blanket covers) with a fierceness that would make the Vikings of old take a step back and say "Steady on there, that's a bit much".

          Myself; if someone had a gun to my head and was making me go, I'd either fork out the cash for a paid venue that limits numbers or head up to the Eastern Suburbs where the view, though further away, can still be good but where the crowds used to be much smaller.

          Then again if it's your fist time at Sydney NYE maybe the craziness of the crowds will be a memorable experience for you

  • +6

    My recommendation: donโ€™t.

  • +4

    Sounds like a nightmare in any capital city lol. Just be prepared for crowds I guess!

    I have heard the Rocks is a good vantage point to see the fireworks on the bridge, but yeah be prepared for a stupid amount of people, so many people you wish you could click your fingers and get rid of half of them.

    • +3

      in any capital city lol.

      Nah, Canberra is fine! ๐Ÿ˜‚

      • Or Adelaide, just visit the stickers game and walk outside the Adelaide oval ๐Ÿ˜†

      • I like Canberra, except for the whole circle thing in the middle which seems more form over function. Would rather be there than Sydney for NYE tbh.

  • +1

    Depends where you are staying on NYE and/or if you don't mind a late night. The best views are from north and east on the harbour. Cremorne Point is a standout. But you won't get back to the CBD before about 130am on public transport/taxis.

    Other activities, wait until the Freshwater class ferries are running and jump on one from Circular Quay to Manly a 30-minute ride to a place that is a thousand miles from care. Don't be a tourist and run to the front of the ferry, run to the back right hand side… once you pull out of Circular Quay and start heading east towards Manly you will be rewarded with the picture postcard moment, back towards the Harbour Bridge and Opera House with the Parramatta River unfurling behind it…. while all the tourists are at the front looking at waterfront mansions and nothing else.

    Spend the day at Manly Beach, swim, relax, take a surfing lessons, go blading/skating along the promenade, so much better than Bondi with less people. Walk 15 minutes around to Shelly Beach via the Maritime Reserve and back. Wander along the corso with an iceream, work your way through the lanes full or arts and crafts (and artisan beers and craft beers!). Jump back on the ferry just before sunset and this time go to the front to see the setting sun going down behind the Harbour Bridge as you pull in to Circular Quay 30 minutes later.

  • Brewery crawl in Marrickville

  • U have no chance of finding accomodation close to the fireworks thatโ€™s going to be cheaper than your mortgage. Those places are always booked at least a year ahead of time. If youโ€™re from Melbourne.. why dont you juts stay there.. you guys are always saying how much better Melbourne is.. so stay there!

    • Had you actually bothered reading the comments before making yours, youโ€™ll find that OP already has their accommodation sorted

  • This place sells out quickly, but has great views of the fireworks. Was there in 2016 and food and accommodation were fine.

    https://viewhotels.com/sydney

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