How To Beat The Crowds This Sydney NYE2023

UPDATE: The Domain: Fleet Steps (10:46AM, 31 December), The Domain: Mrs Macquarie’s Chair (10:46AM, 31 December), Blues Point (2:42PM, 31 December), Mary Booth Lookout (5:48PM, 31 December) & Bradfield Park (5:48PM, 31 December) are FULL.

With 96% of Sydney Harbour’s New Year’s Eve (NYE) vantage points being free this year and most on a first-come, first-served basis, this edition will very likely see the return of the day-long queues. Here are the tips to beat the crowds.

TIP 1 – START PLANNING NOW

Firstly, the New South Wales (NSW) Government is encouraging revellers to start planning now including public transportation to & from your vantage point.

Don’t bother considering these vantage points unless you have a ticket as they are already sold out (as of 30th December 2023):

• Royal Botanic Gardens: Foundation & Friends Picnic
• Goat Island
• Bradleys’ Head: Mast Precinct*
• Bradleys’ Head: Amphitheatre*
• Bradleys’ Head: Athol Lawn*
• Clark Island
• Shark Island
• Strickland Estate*
• Cockatoo Island/Wareamah
• Cahill Expressway**
• Dudley Page Reserve
• Taronga Zoo

*Free of charge **Ballot for NSW residents only

For people with a disability, all designated accessible viewing areas are also booked out as of 28th December. You can still join a waitlist for some though in case a spot becomes available.

All other vantage points are free, non-ticketed but on a first-come, first-served basis on event day with limited capacity.

The City Of Sydney are also advising guests that City restaurants & private functions require a booking & therefore, you need to have a ticket or reservation before you come into the City.

TIP 2 – WEAR PINK!

The official Sydney NYE2023 charity partner, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, is encouraging everyone to wear pink on the night! It will culminate with the Sydney Harbour Bridge being lit up in pink at 10pm.

TIP 3 – TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORT

There are a lot of road closures on NYE, starting as early as 4am and lasting up to 30 hours. Due to the road closures, buses & taxis will be using temporary routes, terminals & ranks, roughly during the times of the respective road closures. There are also cycleway closures from 6pm lasting up to 10 hours. The best bet to get to your vantage point is to leave the car & bicycle at home and take public transport.

There will be thousands of more public transport services than usual. However, McMahons Point & Woolwich Wharves will close at 10am & 11:30am respectively. As the day goes on, vantage points will reach capacity necessitating some more ferry wharf closures. Keep this in mind. Circular Quay will not be directly accessible by bus & light rail (from 2pm), train (from 3pm) & ferry (from 5pm) progressively throughout the afternoon. Ferries may reach capacity around 3pm so if you need to catch a ferry, plan to arrive early in the day as queues will be long. particularly as they will stop services from around 6pm. Milsons Point will not be directly accessible by bus (from 3pm) & train (from 6pm).

TIP 4 – BE PREPARED FOR QUEUES AT ICONIC VANTAGE POINTS ON NYE

Fourth, and this can’t be stressed enough, be prepared for crowds. The attendance is expected to be similar to recent non-COVID-19 pandemic years (1 million). However, it is expected that this edition, crowds will converge on the entry points of the more scenic & iconic vantage points first early in the morning. This will lead to long queues and a high possibility of missing out on a good view for latecomers.

This occurred last year at 11pm when revellers showed up late to The Rocks vantage point, causing a crowd crush & people trespassing onto the pyro-ladened Harbour Bridge.

TIP 5 – WATCH FROM THE OPERA HOUSE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE

Both sides of the Sydney Harbour Bridge give a good view of the fireworks. However, the eastern side of the Bridge, which the Sydney Opera House is also on, is considered the ‘show’ side of the Bridge. The Bridge’s light show is only on this side so the light show may be not seen well from the western side. Also, some fireworks from the arches & the hangars of the Bridge fire out to the east & not to the west. The Sydney Opera House from most western vantage points (but not Bradfield Park, Lavender Bay Parklands & Blues Point) would be obstructed by the Sydney Harbour Bridge southern roadway. Simply, for the full Sydney NYE experience, head to a vantage point on the eastern (Opera House) side of the Bridge.

If you are on the western side, you will still be able to clearly see the pylon projections & some of the Bridge’s fireworks including from the roadways, aerial shells from the upper arch & the iconic waterfall.

TIP 6 – BRING AN AM/FM RADIO, PICNIC BLANKET, FOOD, BEVERAGES, UV PROTECTION. SOME PERSONAL ENTERTAINMENT & REUSABLE ITEMS

UV PROTECTION

After 8:40am, wear sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat & a shirt, especially if no shade is providing shelter from UV. Try and seek shade as well where possible though. Reapply sunscreen regularly until the late afternoon. It will make sure the sun doesn’t burn your NYE experience when it finally starts at 7pm! Sun protection is recommended between 8:40am & 5:10pm as the Ultra Violet (UV) index will reach 11 on NYE. An index of 11 means ‘Extreme’ UV. Remember, clouds or no high temperatures does not mean no risk of sunburn (Current forecast: Cloudy with 30% chance of light showers at a maximum 24 degrees Celsius)

PICNIC BLANKET

You will likely be waiting hours on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour as the event starts at 7pm so bring a picnic blanket to rest on. It will also help if you are also bringing food, beverages & your own personal entertainment as detailed below.

BEVERAGES

Bring water or soft drinks so you do not get dehydrated while waiting the long hours for the 7pm start time of the event. Bring your own (BYO) alcohol is prohibited at nearly half the vantage points though. Some but not all popular iconic (22% of) vantage points sell alcohol. 29% of vantage points allow BYO alcohol. To check your considered vantage points’ rules on alcohol, you can apply a filter on the official vantage point map. Below we mention Blues Point, Bradfield Park & Mary Booth Lookout – those vantage points have a total prohibition on alcohol.

FOOD

Some vantage points may not sell food. Check the webpage on your considered vantage point for their situation on food. Some allow BYO food, some don’t. It depends on whether they sell food for NYE. Some vantage points both allow BYO & sell food!

REUSABLE ITEMS

Make a sustainable Sydney NYE by bringing reusable cutlery, cups, bottles, napkins, containers and bags for your food & beverages.

PERSONAL ENTERTAINMENT

As it can be hours waiting under the glorious Sydney sun for the event to begin, bring some entertainment of your own so you do not get bored. A popular choice is a game of cards.

AM/FM RADIO

The Midnight Fireworks, the Sydney Harbour Bridge light show and pylon projections & Calling Country are all synchronised to music. To hear the official soundtrack, you need an AM/FM radio. At 7pm, KIIS 106.5FM provides the opening official event broadcast. They will play party hits until 8:57pm when Calling Country begins. At this point, switch to Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Radio Sydney 702 AM, who will be broadcasting live the concert on the Sydney Opera House Northern Forecourt, which includes Calling Country. This concert is synchronised to the Sydney Harbour Bridge light show.

KIIS 106.5 are said to have the Calling Country Fireworks soundtrack ‘exclusive’ but the Calling Country Live Performance is part of the ABC concert so there is a chance this year that ABC will also have the Calling Country Fireworks soundtrack broadcast on radio as it is after the start & before the end of the concert. If they do not broadcast it, quickly switch back to KIIS 106.5FM and when the Calling Country Fireworks finish, go back to ABC Radio Sydney 702AM for the rest of the concert.

When the final song in the concert before Midnight has finished its performance, quickly switch back to KIIS 106.5 FM for the Midnight Fireworks soundtrack and the finish of their broadcast, which concludes at around 2am. You can read more about the artists featured in the fireworks soundtracks & concert here.

For people with a disability, tune into 2RPH at 8:50pm & 11:55pm for audio descriptions of the Welcome To/Calling Country & Midnight Fireworks respectively.

TIP 7 – ARRIVE EARLY…EVEN DAYS EARLY

There are 5 popular vantage points that are infamous for having queues forming or campers arriving days in advance. These are Blues Point, Bradfield Park/Mary Booth Lookout & Mrs Macquaries Point/Fleet Steps (The Domain). If you are on the water, as popular spots fill up quickly, move into position well before 7pm on NYE, the event start time.

Blues Point

Blues Point, whilst being iconic, we do not recommend as it is not on the ‘show’ side of the Bridge (see tip 5). If you still want to watch it from Blues Point, campers used to arrive days in advance for a prime spot. However, it is now managed access – meaning if you arrive early, you will be kicked out the night prior & asked to wait outside the managed access gate until opening time. The gate for Blues Point will be on Blues Point Road south of French Street & outside the Blues Point Hotel, closing at 9pm 30 December & opening for revellers at 9am NYE. Only the first 8,600 that get through the managed access from 9am will be let into this vantage point. To access Blues Point, catch a train to North Sydney & then walk west along Blue Street then south for 9 minutes on Blues Point Road. While people may camp outside the Blues Point Hotel, there should be sufficient time on NYE for people to get a good spot if they arrive at the gate before the capacity limit is reached.

Mary Booth Lookout/Bradfield Park

This vantage point is unique in that half is on the ‘show’ side of the Bridge , some underneath the Bridge while the half is on the ‘non-show’ side of the Bridge (see tip 5). Therefore, to get a good spot here, you need to arrive early – really early. Like Blues Point, campers used to arrive days in advance for a prime spot & it is too now managed access – meaning if you arrive early, you will be kicked out the night prior & asked to wait outside the managed access gate until opening time. The gate for Mary Booth Lookout & Bradfield Park will be at the intersection of Fitzroy Street & Broughton Street with the entry gate leading into Fitzroy Street, closing at 8pm 30 December & opening for revellers at 9am NYE. Only the first 18,000 that get through the managed access from 9am will be let into these vantage points. However, the very first revellers to enter will get Mary Booth Lookout first while the next lot will get the ‘show side’ of Bradfield Park.

If you leave it too late, you will be on the ‘non-show’ side or worse, if you want to clearly see the Bridge, directly under the Bridge behind the pylon.

You can also be under the Bridge in front of the pylon however, this will only give a good angle of the barges and pontoons, the Opera House, the city buildings, Bridge catwalk pyro fired to the east as well as a close-up of the iconic waterfall.

To access Mary Booth Lookout & Bradfield Park, catch a train to North Sydney & then walk east along Blue Street to some stairs leading to Lavender Bay Art Gallery & the Royal Art Society of NSW, climb these stairs, walk for a minute, then descend on the other side where you enter Walker Street. You then nearly immediately turn east on Middlemiss Street, which looks like a lanway. Use this laneway to lead you to the Harbour Bridge northern railway. Once you reach the railway, follow it all the way to Fitzroy Street. This should take 12 minutes. Along the way, once you reach the roundabout, follow Alfred Street south. On the other side of this roundabout is a sign ‘Bradfield Park’ – you have arrived at the park but not the vantage point. Keep following the railway, you should pass Milsons Point Railway Station (which is closed on NYE from 6pm) & some basketball courts on the left. After these basketball courts is a small roundabout – this is Fitzroy Street on the left. Turn left, go under the arch in the Harbour Bridge on-ramp & on the other side of the traffic lights, you will see the managed access gate. If you go under a Luna Park-themed sign, you didn’t turn left early enough so turn around! To reach Mary Booth Lookout immediately after entering the vantage point, follow the eastern boundary of the vantage point as close as possible until you reach a dead-end or are turned away by security guards (the latter means capacity has been reached in that location).

While people may camp under the Harbour Bridge on-ramp or in the surrounding Milsons Point suburb, there should be sufficient time on NYE for people to get a good spot if they arrive at the gate before the capacity limit is reached, particularly if you do not mind the ‘non-show’ side.

The Domain: Mrs Macquarie’s Point/Fleet Steps

This is the big one. If you want a spot here, camping overnight is essential. You will not be allowed to camp on the foreshore but where the queue begins (near the Royal Botanic Gardens’ Wooloomooloo Gate) instead. This vantage point is infamous for tourists all over the world queueing up to 3 days in advance for the best spot. There is a reason for this and briefly, I am just referring to Mrs Macquarie’s Point. It has a capacity of 10,500 but most of it is under trees so the only prime spots are on the very tip of the Point where the trees are not on the foreshore and an obstruction. That’s why people queue in advance – you wait even just to the morning of NYE & you’re likely under the trees (the only real benefit is the shade on a scorching summer day).

But there’s a twist! This year, due to the Australian Labor Party making The Domain free entry as part of their election commitment, a new free vantage point has emerged – Fleet Steps. This has been a paid vantage point since the early 2000’s. This section guarantees an iconic view over Farm Cove to the Opera House & Harbour Bridge. However, there’s a small disadvantage. The Bridge is always partly obscured even though it still gives an iconic view (see the photos below).

The general tip for Fleet Steps is the more north you are, the more pyro you see but if you want to see both Bridge pylons, you need to position yourself just north of the vantage point’s ‘entrance ramp’. That’s problem 1. Problem 2 – and this is the bigger problem for both vantage points: capacity. There is a risk if you arrive really early (camping days in advance) & can’t decide – Fleet Steps or Mrs Macquarie’s Point – as pass outs are not granted (You can leave – you just can’t re-enter – unless capacity has not been reached when you reach the end of the queue again… if one exists later in the day. It won’t exist if capacity has been reached). The rule for capacity is not ‘the amount of people that can fit in an area’ but ‘the moment you have counted that amount of people, whether or not a person has entered more than once, through that gate’.

Mrs Macquarie’s Point has 10,500 spaces while Fleet Steps has only 1,350 – so which line would you join?

First, a discussion on Mrs Macquarie’s Point. There is a risk in trying to get a good view of Mrs Macquarie’s Point. As stated earlier, while it has large capacity, only the tip of the point (see earlier photo) has a clear view of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, the city buildings, the pontoons & a barge or two or three. On the western (left) side of the photo below, it is possible to find gaps in the trees with a perfect view of the Opera House & Harbour Bridge peeking through (also see image at end of this section) – but the rest is hidden by trees. If you are just content with a view of the Harbour Bridge & Opera House but not the wider Harbour & city buildings, the western edge may provide opportunities. Else, you are under and looking through trees or worse, given the once-in-a-lifetime nature of the event, on a big screen via the official television broadcast.

So back to that question – which line: Fleet Steps or Mrs Macquarie’s Point? Being the first in Mrs Macquarie’s Point guarantees the tip (The edge of the foreshore at the tip is fenced off for safety) if you don’t get overtaken in the run to the tip (it’s 1km from gate to tip) but if you miss out, you are stuck under trees unless you are happy to leave and try & find another vantage point with a better view. If you try Fleet Steps, which if you are considering after not being happy with your Mrs Macquarie’s Point view, you are probably too late for as well given the small capacity, head as north as possible in the vantage point (unless you want to see both Bridge pylons as detailed above). Even if you miss out on the best spot, you will still get an iconic spot even if it isn’t as good as further north in the vantage point (again, unless you like to see both pylons).

Overall, Fleet Steps is a safe choice & Mrs Macquarie’s Point is a risky choice so it is highly likely people will be camping along the eastern side of Art Gallery Road from the managed access gate near the Royal Botanic Gardens’ Wooloomooloo Gate, down past the Art Gallery Of NSW to a patch of grass over The Domain car park, in the next few days for both vantage points as despite an overall capacity of 11,800 – only the first in the queue (minimum the first 11%) – will get that iconic view.

So the risk in arriving really early is not being able to decide or deciding the wrong vantage point by arriving just a bit late and realising you wasted your time camping out for nothing. It’s a new problem for the Sydney NYE revellers for these vantage points, mainly Mrs Macquaries Point. The risk for those turn up on the morning of NYE is a high chance you will miss out on Fleet Steps as given its capacity of 1,350, it is expected to close very shortly after gates open at 11am & if you risk Mrs Macquarie’s Point, remember you cannot re-enter if capacity has been reached & if you decide to leave anyway, it is a minimum 30 minute walk to the next best vantage point, which would be those around Circular Quay. Despite being the hub of Sydney NYE, Circular Quay is not known for people camping for the queue days in advance. Also, remember, the Royal Botanic Gardens itself is closed to the public on NYE (except for those with a ticket to the Foundation & Friends’ Picnic) so you cannot use the Gardens as a shortcut!

Mrs Macquarie’s Point & Fleet Steps will close at 8:08pm (sunset) on 30 December, with the official queue opening at 7am NYE & the managed access gate opening for revellers at 11am, 4 hours later. Only the first 11,800 that get through the managed access from 11am will be let into these vantage points. Remember at least the first 11% to enter are guaranteed an iconic view.

To access Fleet Steps & Mrs Macquarie’s Point, catch a train to St James. Depending on where you surface from the underground railway station, follow the northern edge of Hyde Park (or via the Archibald Fountain) to Prince Albert Road. Take the 10-minute walk to the gate near the Royal Botanic Gardens’ Wooloomooloo Gate from this street. At the first intersection, it will turn into Art Gallery Road. The queue will open at 7am on NYE with gates opening at 11am.

Remember, if you are the first to enter, make sure you are prepared for a 1-kilometre run (or a 15-minute walk). It is literally a race for the best spots. Depending on the time you arrive at the queue, you may find it winding out of the official queue, past the Art Gallery of NSW and down onto a patch of grass above The Domain car park. Regardless of time of arrival (except when capacity is nearly reached), be prepared to wait hours for entry, especially if you camp at the queue entry overnight. After 8:40am, wear sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat & a shirt, especially if no shade is providing shelter from UV. Reapply sunscreen regularly until the late afternoon. It will make sure the sun doesn’t burn your NYE experience when it starts at 7pm, 10 hours after the official queue opens!

TIP 8 – TUNE INTO KIIS 106.5 & ENJOY THE BRIDGE LIGHT SHOW & PYLON PROJECTIONS UNTIL 2AM TO AVOID THE LEAVING CROWDS

Recent editions of the event has seen the method of getting home varying significantly differently to how you got to the event. Planning how you will get home is a must.

A good tip is to wait after the Midnight Fireworks for the crowds to clear before heading home. The Sydney Harbour Bridge light show & pylon projections will remain on to 2am to keep you amused if you are wondering what to do. You can also tune into KIIS 106.5 for the official event broadcast, which will continue playing tunes live from the Harbour until that time. You could have an impromptu dance party while waiting.

Alternatively, you can head to the many venues around Sydney hosting their own post-Midnight Fireworks celebrations. The City Of Sydney are also advising guests that City restaurants & private functions require a booking & therefore, you need to have a ticket or reservation before you come into the City. Once the crowds have cleared, you can access the public transport stops quickly with ease.

TIP 9 – PLAN YOUR TRIP HOME

In all cases, pedestrian diversions will be in place so the way you go home may be different to the way you arrived as during daylight, these pedestrian diversions & not all road closures were not implemented. This is because 1 million people are leaving all at once after Midnight compared to a slow trickle of 80,000 per hour throughout the day. For the 5 vantage points mentioned above, here are the recommended ways home:

• Blues Point – Walk up Blues Point Road for 9 minutes before turning right into Blue Street. Catch a train from North Sydney.
• Mary Booth Lookout/Bradfield Park – Walk west along Fitzroy Street, turn right and go up Alfred Street north. At the roundabout with the ‘Bradfield Park’ sign you saw when you arrived, do not go straight ahead (i.e. the way you arrived). Turn left into Lavender Street. Follow Lavender Street until Blues Point Road. Turn right and go up Blues Point Road to Blue Street. Turn right again into Blue Street and catch the train from North Sydney. The walk should take 21 minutes.
• Mrs Macquarie’s Point/Fleet Steps – Walk down Art Gallery Road for 10 minutes. It will turn into Prince Albert Road. Cross the road into Hyde Park. Walk along the northern edge of Hyde Park west until you reach the entrances to St James railway station. Catch the train from St James.

For other CBD vantage points, consult this map. For other North Sydney vantage points, consult this map. There will be extra signage at this time of the event and be aware that some railway stations will have different entry & exits compared to normal.

Conclusion

Remember, you can check out the official Sydney NYE website or you can contact us if you have a query.

Sydney New Year’s Eve 2023 begins at 7pm AEDT this year while Sydney Spectaculars will be happy to answer any of your event-related queries up until 5pm AEDT on NYE.

Sydney is upbeat & ready for the biggest party of the year.

More than a million people will make their way to the city & to the 49 vantage points around the Harbour for Sydney’s free New Year’s Eve fireworks celebrations.

I’d encourage revellers to get to the city early, pack food, water and sun protection & wear good walking shoes! New Year’s Eve 2023 promises to be a night to remember.

Clover Moore, City Of Sydney Lord Mayor

We have the most beautiful harbour and the most beautiful city & every person should have the opportunity to enjoy the fireworks for free.

New Year’s Eve shouldn’t be about raising revenue. It should be about families & friends getting together to celebrate & reflect on a year past & look forward to the year to come.

Every little bit helps at this time of year – that’s why we have made it free for thousands of families to see in the New Year.

Prue Car, Acting New South Wales Premier

There are 49 different vantage points to view the Sydney Harbour fireworks so I encourage everyone to plan early – visit the website, think about how you’re going to get in and out of the city & be prepared for crowds.

There are so many ways to celebrate no matter where you live. Remember there are fantastic events that might be closer to home, including those run by local councils.

Thousands of extra public transport services will be running throughout the night & into the early morning on New Year’s Day. While our network will be busy, the best option is to leave the car at home.

New Year’s Eve is the largest event of the year & for New South Wales Police, the safety of our community is always the number 1 priority. Responsible behaviour from those with tickets to the busy foreshore sites will make for a safe & memorable New Year’s Eve.

Kate Washington, Acting Minister For Jobs & Tourism