Come New Year’s Eve, Sydney is arguably the place to be. There’s the spectacular fireworks, the energetic ambience and a harbourside city that knows how to party. But as this annual event is set to be enjoyed by over a million people there’s a few key details you need to know about making the most of New Year’s Eve 2016.
So here are our five local tips for enjoying a spectacular NYE in true Sydney style.
Plan ahead
With hundreds of thousands flocking to Sydney to take part in the dawn of a new year, hopping on a train or bus and hitting the city at 15 minutes to midnight simply isn’t an option. As any Sydneysider will tell you, the key to New Year’s Eve is planning.
This includes knowing the best place to view the fireworks, securing a spot, booking any events early and considering how you will get there and when.
A great resource for planning is the official Sydney New Year’s Eve website, which includes a comprehensive map of all fireworks vantage points like Darling Harbour, Goat Island, South Head and Bangaroo.
A single spot
Once you’ve picked a spot prepare to stick it out. Many a midnight fireworks has been missed because revellers make the mistake of moving around. If you’re going for grass on the foreshore, take enough food and drinks with you to last out the wait and enjoy the event.
Or better yet, skip the crowds, find a great venue and settle in for a night of partying. Restaurants, bars and clubs across the city will be offering New Year’s Eve events with some located in the best spots for NYE in Sydney. This option means you get to enjoy the best of all worlds with food, drinks and dancing included without negotiating a crowd.
Transport
After decades of practice as one of the first places in the world to celebrate New Year’s Eve each year, Sydney knows how to run effective public transport. But again, it does pay to plan. Throughout the night and into the early hours of January 1, 2017, thousands of extra transport services are scheduled including train, bus, ferry, and light rail.
The general advice is travel early to get to your destination before the crowds and leave later to avoid the rush. You can get up to the minute transport information on the night via twitter or through the dedicated NSW transport apps.
Take your mess
Just as it hurts to awaken to a hangover, it pains people to see the picturesque city of Sydney littered with rubbish after a night of rambunctious revelry, so give back to the city which has given such joy by taking your mess with you.
Embrace the party vibe
Finally, NYE is Sydney’s night of nights and a time for the community, partygoers, fireworks, and revellers to shine, so above all keep a sense of humour, pack your patience and settle in for a night of pure enjoyment.
Sydney offers one of the most memorable opportunities to bring in any New Year, and it’s a city that enjoys it like no other. So make the most of it, plan ahead, arrive early, leave late and kick up your heels or just kick back for a night you will never forget.
Our plans
As Sydney locals, George’s Mediterranean Bar and Grill at King Street Wharf, Darling Harbour has big plans to party the night away.
This year we are staging Discoteca II where revellers can enjoy Sydney’s night of nights in awesome retro style. From 8pm until 2am we’re laying on dinner drinks and dancing with all the glamour and fun of the 1970s and ’80s.
The night will feature DJs, a disco ball, disco-style dance floor and light show.
So get your groove on and book here as places are filling fast.