New Year’s Eve: Everything you need to know ahead of the 2024 fireworks display in Sydney
On one of the most highly anticipated nights of the year, Sydney is less than a day away from becoming one of the first cities to welcome 2024 with a 58,000-person fireworks show.
The annual celebration includes two fireworks shows: the eight-minute 'family fireworks' at 9 p.m. and a twelve-minute show at midnight.
With more than a million people expected to flock to Sydney Harbor and surrounding viewpoints, road closures and warnings have been issued for additional travel time on public transport.
Below is a list of everything you need to know, including the best viewpoints and the easiest way to get into the city.
On one of the most highly anticipated nights of the year, Sydney is less than a day away from becoming one of the first cities to welcome 2024 with a 58,000-person fireworks show
Where can I see the fireworks?
There will be 49 viewing points across Sydney for revelers to watch the fireworks; However, some require gamblers to register for a free ticket.
There will be a large crowd and spectators have been told to get into viewing position at sunset.
Locations that do not require ticketing will open at a specific time. Some also offer alcohol for sale, while others allow BYO. More information can be found at The City of Sydney's New Year's Eve website.
While some locations have reached their ticket limits, non-ticketed locations include:
o Barangaroo Reserve
o Birchgrove Park
o Blues point
o Bradfield Park and Mary Booth Reserve
o Campbell's Cove
o Darling Harbour
o Dawes Point (Tar-Ra) Park
o Duff reserve
o Dumaresq Reserve
o Eastern Circular Quay
o Elkington Park
o Gilba Park
o Hickson Rd Reserve
The annual celebration includes two fireworks shows: the eight-minute 'family fireworks' at 9 p.m. and a twelve-minute display at midnight
o Illoura reserve
o Lavender Bay Parklands
o Lookes Ave Reserve
o Male bay
o McKell Park
o Mort Bay Park
o Murray Rose Pool and Blackburn Gardens
o Noordkop
o Hill Park Observatory
o Pirrama Park
o Pyrmont Bay Park
o Rose Bay foreshore
o Royal Botanic Garden Sydney on Bennelong Lawn
o Royal Botanic Garden Sydney at Fleet Steps
o Royal Botanic Garden Sydney on Tarpein Lawn
o Simmons point
o Sydney Opera House
o The rocks
o Thornton Park
o West Circular Quay
o Yarranabbe Park
o Yurulbin Park
With more than a million people expected to flock to Sydney Harbor and surrounding viewpoints, road closures and warnings have been issued for additional travel time on public transport.
Road closures in Sydney NYE
The Cahill Expressway will be closed in both directions from 6am.
Road closures in Circular Quay and The Rocks will start from 2pm.
Major roads in North Sydney, Milsons Point and Kirribilli will be closed from 5pm.
Most roads in the Sydney CBD and some roads in Pyrmont will be closed at 7pm.
The city-bound lanes of Anzac Bridge, the city's Iron Cove Link tunnel and the M8 tunnel entrance on Victoria Rd will be closed from 8:30pm to 9:30pm and again from 11pm to 1:30am.
From 8:30 PM to 1:30 AM, the M8 exit to City West Link and the M4 exit to Anzac Bridge will be closed.
The main roads around Wynyard Station will be closed from 10pm.
The Sydney Harbor Bridge is closed from 11:00 PM to 1:30 AM. The same will apply to all major roads in the city, with cars banned from entering the CBD after 11pm.
Sydneysiders are bracing themselves for the signature fireworks that will herald 2024
Revelers in Sydney urged people to take public transport
Drivers have also been asked to leave their cars at home and take public transport, with authorities concerned about the threat of drink-driving.
Fares are discounted from Sunday rates and are capped at $8.90 for adults, $4.45 for youth and concessions and $2.50 for gold seniors and retirees.
However, Transport for NSW coordinator general Howard Collins urged the crowd to allow extra travel time as road closures impact buses and light rail services.
The CBD's light rail services will stop between City Hall and Circular Quay from 2pm, while services between Central and Circular Quay will stop from 7pm to allow the crowds to move through the city.
Exclusion zones also affect ferry routes, with most services ending after 5pm.
“We don't want people using cars because the advice from the police would be that we don't want people driving under the influence,” he said.
“Use public transportation, but stay safe (and) allow extra time while traveling as the city has road closures.”
Weather forecast Sydney NYE
Despite the week of thunderstorms and wild weather, a cloudy day is forecast on Sunday with temperatures between 19 and 24 degrees Celsius, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
There is a slight change to an early shower, with south-easterly winds between 15 and 25 km/h, decreasing during the evening.