NYE Fireworks – Best Vantage Points

It’s that time of year again when Sydney becomes the centre of worldwide attention – New Years Eve!  Let’s not forget, Sydney is one of the few places in the world that celebrates New Years Eve earlier than everyone else due to our unique place in the timezone scheme of things, and our harbour is sure to, well, go off, quite frankly!

Have you got your fireworks vantage point all sorted out, or will you be the boring one viewing it on your TV screen? See 2014 in with a bang and choose from one of the following 8 vantage points across the city:

Tarpeian Precinct, Located off Macquarie Street, Sydney, 2000

Let’s face it, if you want to see the fireworks properly, you might as well have them blasting off right over your head! Sitting alongside the Royal Botanical Garden and Macquarie Street, you’ll have amazing views of the harbour, the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. While there is no entry fee for this venue, the capacity is capped at 5,000, so get there early as they’re expecting this to fill up pretty quickly. You’ll thankfully have access to toilets, and there will be mobility access. Food and drinks, including alcohol, will be available, however BYO is prohibited.  Don’t even try to drive and park in the area – road closures will be in full force. It’ll be much better to take public transport in – the nearest train stations are Martin Place and St James stations. Entry to the venue is via Macquarie Street.

Campbell’s Cove, Hickson Road, Sydney, 2000

Located north of the Overseas Passenger Terminal, where fancy pants restaurant Italian Village and others of the like sit, this is definitely a prime location for views of the bridge. Campbell’s Cove will be open to the public from midday on the 31st December, and will be cleared at 2am on the 1st January. The expected capacity of this venue is 8,000, and, just like Tarpeian Precinct, will more than likely fill up early. Again, there is no entry fee to this venue so this is bound to be popular. There is no shade though, so be sure to bring plenty of sun protection. Food and beverages are available, however this is an alcohol free zone. You may be able to get a bevvy or two in before 10pm – pass-outs are available for one hour but stop posst-10pm. You can certainly get your drink on at any of the nearby pubs in The Rocks post-midnight. The nearest train station is Circular Quay, and entry is via Hickson Road.

Beare Park, 13 Esplanade, Elizabeth Bay, 2011

For Elizabeth Bay locals, Beare Park is just another fantastic tick in the “This Area is Awesome” column, but for any other Sydneysider, this park, with views of the harbour, will be a welcome alternative to the mad crowds of downtown CBD. There is no entry fee to this venue, and although capacity is set at 2,000, its location means it may not even reach that, so you may not be lounging shoulder to shoulder with half the city’s population. The park opens at 6am and will close shortly after the midnight fireworks. Toilets are available onsite, and if you can find parking in the vicinity, then good for you! Otherwise it’s an easy stroll from Potts Point and Woolloomoloo. Food and beverages are not available onsite, so feel free to pack a picnic basket with champers and anything you might need to see in the New Year.

Yarranabbe Park, New Beach Road and Yarranabbe Road, Darling Point, 2027

Another venue in the Eastern Suburbs with a decent vantage point of the harbour. The capacity of this venue, at 10,000, is also pretty substantial but it’d be best to arrive early anyway (from midday on the 31st December onwards).  There’s no entry fee here, but there will be a bag search, so make sure you leave any alcohol at home. Food and (non-alcoholic) beverages are available, and you can boogie on afterwards in Kings Cross – a short train ride away. Toilets are also available onsite. No parking is available here, however there are buses along New Beach Road, and the park is a 10 minute walk from Edgecliff Station.

Pirrama Park, Pirrama Road, Pyrmont, 2009

With its close proximity to the Sydney CBD, The Star Casino and King St Wharf, Pirrama Park is a great location to not only view the fireworks but also to join the revelers afterwards. It opens at midday on the 31st December, and has a capacity of 12,000 people. You won’t be able to bring alcohol to the venue, but there will be alcohol for sale on site. Don’t worry about driving in – you can get there by train to Town Hall, or you can catch either a bus or a light rail to The Star, and walk to the park. 

Blackwattle Bay Park, Leichhardt St, Glebe, 2037

Although Blackwattle Bay Park has limited views of the Harbour Bridge, it does offer views of the city skyline, so you can see the fireworks pop over the CBD. It has a capacity of 2,000 people and you can bring food and drink (including alcohol) to the site. In fact you should, because none will be sold here. If your designated driver wants to find a park, they can do so around the area, otherwise get a bus all the way down Glebe Point Road and walk from the bottom end of the road.

Blues Point Reserve, Blues Point Road, McMahons Point, 2060

You will, without a doubt, have an amazing view of the harbour from this site.  The park holds 12,000 people and there are toilets onsite. The road closures and no parking rule in the area means you won’t be able to drive here, but you can catch the train to either Milsons Point or North Sydney, or you can get the ferry to McMahons Point from Balmain. Again, this is one of the places in Sydney that don’t sell alcohol, and BYO is prohibited. You will definitely be able to buy food and non-alcoholic drink onsite. The part opens from midday on the 31st.

Cremorne Point Reserve, Milson Road, Cremorne Point, 2060

Accessible via bus to Cremorne Wharf from Neutral Bay Junction or via the Mosman Ferry from Circular Quay to Cremorne Point, the site holds a maximum of 5,000 people and is open for NYE party-goers from midday on the 31st December. You’ll have to do without alcohol when you’re here as this site prohibits alcohol, but there will be food and non-alcoholic beverages available for sale. Unfortunately there is no parking available here.

For more information regarding these or any other venues visit www.sydneynewyearseve.com

Details on getting to any of these venues via public transport are available at www.transportnsw.info. You can also download a train or bus app from the App Store or Google Play, or call 131 500.

Remember to take a portable radio with you to any of these events, so you can tune in to 104.1 2DayFM to hear the synchronised fireworks soundtracks. As with any event, be sure to respect the area and the grounds and dispose of all rubbish thoughtfully throughout your time there. 

By Erica Enriquez