With less than 2 months to go, the Sydney New Year’s Eve 2016 coin, produced in partnership by the City Of Sydney & the Royal Australian Mint, has gone on sale while more details have emerged about this year’s event.

Each year, the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks spectacular thrills millions of people around the world as they await the arrival of their own new year. This 2017 $1 Coloured Fine Silver Frosted Uncirculated Coin is every bit as magnificent as the fireworks that light up Sydney Harbour. Have it with you when the clock strikes midnight on the 31st of December & keep it as a fond reminder of that magical moment.

With a mintage of 5000, this 1/2 an ounce 99.9% silver coin with a diameter of 35.89mm is a fantastic souvenir to keep of this year’s event.

Go to the Royal Australian Mint’s new release section to view and order now. Price: AUD$60 (Australia) and AUD$54.55 (International).

With the Royal Australian Mint coin not revealing much new regarding a theme, it adds to speculation we made in early September that there will be no theme this year – potentially breaking a tradition since the late 1990’s.

The place on the Sydney New Year’s Eve website – the ‘About’/’Welcome’ page – where we found confirmation of last year’s theme, ‘City Of Colour’, had it’s message changed recently but the new message did not confirm or indicate a theme – it was still very generic. The page has since reverted back to it’s original message but with some small changes.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)’s broadcast has been confirmed to be a 4 hour broadcast again with live closed captions available.

Recently, it was confirmed the full broadcast will be in high definition (HD) for the first time since the late 2000’s. This is a result of the ABC’s transition of HD from ABC News 24 to ABC on the 6th of December. In recent years, only the 9pm Family & Midnight Fireworks were simulcast on ABC News 24 in HD.

To watch Sydney New Year’s Eve 2016 in HD, you will need a MPEG-4 compatible television.

Regarding content of the broadcast, whilst we were hoping for a little more improvement in the broadcast, it is looking likely to be a ‘duplication’ of last year’s broadcast, after this small teaser of details was released recently:

Our annual, live broadcast from the Sydney Opera House celebrating the New Year and the our spectacular fireworks. Hosted by ABC personalities and incorporating bespoke segments from ABC shows, including Childrens’ TV, The Pub Quiz, a wrap up of the year’s event and crosses from around the country including music from the Falls Music Festivals.

The audio description of the event will also be done by the ABC. You can listen to it this year via the ABC Radio app or the ABC Extra digital radio station. It will describe the Welcome To Country, 9pm Family Fireworks, Harbour Of Light Parade & Midnight Fireworks. In previous years, this has been done by 2RPH.

Also, Auslan interpretations will again be a feature of the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylon projections with the words ‘Welcome To SydNYE’ being communicated via Auslan on both the eastern & western pylons.

This year’s major announcements will be held on the 12th of December (media launch), the 29th of December (fireworks barges preparation) & on NYE itself. Some other announcements may be made between the 12th & 29th of December so keep an eye out on here for news as it appears!

But as we approach the 12th of December, the main question remains – themed or not to be themed?

A Roads & Maritime Services spokesperson today announced the ballot is now open for Sydney residents to apply for tickets to celebrate the start of the new year from one of Sydney’s most spectacular vantage points – the Cahill Expressway above Circular Quay.

New Year’s Eve is 47 days away & all New South Wales residents are invited to try to win the opportunity to see Sydney’s world renowned fireworks display from one of the best vantages in the city.

“You can enter the online draw to win 1 of 6000 passes to watch either the 9pm Family or Midnight Fireworks displays” the Roads & Maritime Services spokesperson said.

“Roads and Maritime Services started holding the incredibly popular event in 2000 & has received thousands of entries into the ballot every year since”

“The lucky winners will get the privilege to enjoy the fun & family-friendly atmosphere with pre-fireworks entertainment & a vantage point view to the world-famous fireworks display”

Apply for a ticket online now at www.rms.nsw.gov.au/NYE with entries closing at 11:59pm AEDT on Wednesday the 30th of November.

“Enter the ballot & have the chance to win a priceless memory of New Year’s Eve in Sydney with your family & friends” the spokesperson said.

Winners will be announced on Wednesday the 7th of December & notified by e-mail.

The Cahill Expressway is a specially designated family area & entry is by ticket only. Entries are restricted to 1 entry per household.

Media Release: Roads & Maritime Services

Plan your visit & make the most of vantage spots and parties across the harbour city

Sydney is one of the most spectacular places in the world to celebrate New Year’s Eve (NYE) thanks to its world-famous fireworks that light up locations across the city. Destination New South Wales (NSW) reveals some of the best vantage points for visitors to welcome in the new year from family-friendly viewing at Darling Harbour to ticketed events at Taronga Zoo & grassy spots along the Sydney Harbour foreshore.

A new time-lapse video showcasing the fireworks from last year’s celebrations has been released today, giving visitors a taste of what’s to come when the city lights up to welcome in 2017.

NSW Minister For Trade, Tourism & Major Events, Stuart Ayres, said “As the 1st major city in the world to ring in the new year, Sydney’s famous Midnight Fireworks attracts eyes from across the globe but nothing beats witnessing our harbour city’s NYE 1st-hand”

“With Sydney such a popular destination for visitors for NYE, we know that local hotels, restaurants & cafes will book out fast so I encourage those planning to come to Sydney to welcome in 2017 to pre-plan & book their travel in advance to make the most of all the great events & activities on offer” said Mr. Ayres.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer, Sandra Chipchase, said “NYE is a magical night in Sydney, attracting visitors from across the country & the globe. With many locations across the Harbour foreshore to view the fireworks, as well as festivities & parties to experience, celebrating NYE in Sydney is another great reason to book a holiday to NSW”

Plan for your best NYE celebration yet with Destination NSW’s round up of some of the best Sydney locations to welcome in 2017:

FREE VIEWING LOCATIONS:

• EAST CIRCULAR QUAY/SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
  Free entry to reserved areas – site opens at 9am
  East Circular Quay covers the strip of promenade between Circular Quay Railway Station and the Sydney Opera House & is always a popular viewing spot for all the action on the Harbour. Visitors will get good views of most areas of the Sydney Harbour Bridge & Sydney Harbour. For those wanting to be close to the Sydney Opera House, arrive early to nab the best seat in the house. The Sydney Opera House is always one of the 1st vantage points to reach capacity on NYE but is also one of the best views in town.

• DARLING HARBOUR
  Free entry – site opens at 11am
  Sydney NYE At Darling Harbour will offer visitors a program full of free entertainment for the whole family to enjoy with Cockle Bay set to be one of the most exciting locations to ring in 2017. From 7pm, see a spectacular light and fire show & enjoy the party atmosphere before fireworks ignite the sky at 9pm & again at midnight. Darling Harbour is a great option for families but will fill up quickly so get down early to secure a spot on the foreshore.
  
  
• MRS MACQUARIES POINT
  Entry with a gold coin donation – site opens at 10am
  If you would like a family-friendly, grassy vantage point with panoramic views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House & city skyline, you can’t go past Mrs Macquaries Point in The Domain. This area is a non-ticketed public viewing area however there is a gold coin donation if you would like to enter. This site will have food & licensed beverage vendors available with visitors also welcome to pack a picnic.
  
  
• BLUES POINT RESERVE
  Free entry – site opens at 12pm
  Blues Point Reserve is a fantastic location to catch all the NYE action. Head to this location early in the day to grab a spot to see the western façade of the Sydney Harbour Bridge & the skies above light up. This site fills up fairly quickly due to being one of the best vantage points in Sydney so get down early to secure your spot.

TICKETED EVENT LOCATIONS:

Listed in order of price:

• BARANGAROO RESERVE
  Tickets start at $29.50 for adults – site opens at 6pm
  Barangaroo Reserve is a great location to watch the fireworks with excellent views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge’s western face in addition to displays from multiple barges positioned across the Harbour from Balmain to Goat Island & Balls Head Point.
  
  The spectacular sloping lawns at Barangaroo mean that in addition to fireworks, visitors will get superb views of the sunset over the Harbour while enjoying a picnic dinner & drinks followed by the 9pm Family & Midnight Fireworks. This is a family-friendly event with roving performers entertaining visitors throughout the evening.

• TARONGA ZOO
  Tickets start at $190 for adults – site opens at 3:30pm
  This NYE at Taronga Zoo is extra special as the party caps off Taronga’s Centenary year of celebrations. On Sydney’s North Shore, guests planning to see in the new year to the warbles & squawks of night-time Zoo creatures can choose between a banquet dinner, a cocktail party or a family-friendly zoo lawn picnic experience, both offering great views back towards the city. All proceeds from ticket sales help Taronga continue their vital conservation work & breeding programs.

• LAWN WITH A VIEW
  Tickets start at $329 for adults – site opens at 7pm
  Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens is home to one of NYE’s most popular events. Lawn With A View is held on Bennelong Lawn, south of the Sydney Opera House & is a stand-out, premium event with a relaxed, fuss-free picnic style set up. This secluded harbour-side location guarantees outstanding views across the Harbour.

Media Release: Destination NSW

Sydneysiders are invited to try some of the City’s most stunning pools for free & go in the running to win 4 tickets to the Sydney New Year’s Eve 2016 viewing area at Dawes Point.

The City’s free aquatic centre open days will start at the Ian Thorpe Aquatic & Fitness Centre in Ultimo on Saturday the 22nd of October & run through to Saturday the 19th of November.

Visitors can have a swim, try a fitness class, tour the facilities, get a special discount on the City’s 360 membership, ask questions at ‘Meet The Manager’ sessions, enjoy a free barbecue & have their children’s face painted.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the opening days were a great opportunity to enjoy some of the best aquatic centres in the country.

“Our world class pools & gyms offer residents the chance to live fit & healthy lifestyles. They’re supervised by professional lifeguards & fitted out with excellent fitness facilities” the Lord Mayor said.

“Open day visitors who sign up for a 12-week learn to swim or water safety program will go into the running to win tickets to the Dawes Point viewing area on New Year’s Eve”

Visitors can also sign up to the City’s 360 membership with a discounted joining fee of AUD$3.60. Members will have access to all of the City’s aquatic and fitness facilities & a range of additional fitness opportunities and initiatives.

Each of the City’s 5 aquatic centres boast 50-metre pools for lap swimming & a range of other facilities & services including gyms, indoor courts, fitness classes, massage/physiotherapy treatments & cafes.

The following pools will be free to the public from 10am – 3pm AEDT on their Saturday open days throughout October & November:

22nd of October – Ian Thorpe Aquatic & Fitness Centre

29th of October – Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool

5th of November – Cook+Phillip Park Aquatic & Fitness Centre

12th of November – Victoria Park Pool

19th of November – Prince Alfred Park Pool

Tickets to one of the best value events on Sydney Harbour on sale today

6000 tickets to celebrate New Year’s Eve at Sydney’s newest harbourside headland, Barangaroo Reserve, will be released on pre-sale for subscribers to the Barangaroo e-newsletter at 12 noon today. The remaining 6,000 tickets will also go on sale to the general public this Wednesday the 12th of October.

The cost of a child ticket (3-15 year old) has been reduced from AUD$14.50 last year to AUD$5 this year. The cost of an adult ticket (16 year old +) remains the same at AUD$29.50. Tickets sold out last year in 4 weeks.

Barangaroo Reserve, on the north western waterfront of the Sydney Central Business District, has quickly become a favourite destination for locals & tourists, with 1 million people visiting in its 1st year.

The spectacular harbourside location, sloping lawns & superb views of the sunset and the western face of the Sydney Harbour Bridge makes it the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic dinner & drinks, followed by the 9pm Family & Midnight Fireworks.

Barangaroo Reserve will have a capacity of 12,000 people, with tickets priced as low as possible to recover part of the costs directly associated with hosting the event. Ticketing Barangaroo Reserve for Sydney New Year’s Eve avoids overcrowding & increases public safety.

The Barangaroo Delivery Authority will provide entertainment at a number of locations throughout the park before & after the 9pm Family Fireworks as well as roving entertainers, extra toilet facilities, a high level of security & one of the best views of the western harbour.

The Authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Craig van der Laan, said Barangaroo Reserve was a great family friendly option for Sydney New Year’s Eve.

“We ticket the event & limit numbers to 12,000 to ensure the comfort & safety of the public’’ Mr van der Laan said.

“We want people to have an enjoyable & memorable Sydney New Year’s Eve experience”

“The Stargazer & Walumil Lawns make ideal picnic spots. We will have well-staffed food stalls & licenced bars as well as a designated alcohol-free zone”

“Barangaroo Reserve is the best value ticketed New Year’s Eve venue on Sydney Harbour. To make it more family-friendly, we have reduced the cost of a child’s ticket by 65% to AUD$5″

“We are providing access to one of the best harbourside locations west of the Harbour Bridge while also providing all the amenities to ensure a safe & comfortable experience”

Gates on Hickson Road will open at 6pm on Saturday the 31st of December 2016.

Ticketholders are welcome to bring their own picnics. Bring your own-alcohol & glassware will not be permitted on the night.

Food & beverages will be available for purchase on site or people can pre-order from a range of picnic hampers when they purchase their tickets.

A total of 10 tickets can be purchased in 1 transaction. All tickets are available through Moshtix.

Detailed information about Sydney New Year’s Eve 2016 at Barangaroo Reserve can be found here.

The car park under Barangaroo Reserve will not be open on the night. For information about New Year’s Eve across Sydney & transport options, visit www.sydneynewyearseve.com.

Event details

Event:             Sydney New Year’s Eve 2016 at Barangaroo Reserve

Where:            Barangaroo Reserve, Hickson Road, Barangaroo

Date/Time:     Saturday the 31st of December 2016, 6pm to 12:30am

Tickets:          Via Moshtix

• Adult aged 16+: AUD$29.50
• Concession: AUD$14.50 (Full-time student, seniors & pensioners)
• Child aged 3-15: AUD$5
• Child aged under 3: Free

Ticket limit: 10 tickets in 1 transaction

Booking fees & charges will apply.

Media Release: Barangaroo Delivery Authority

The Sydney NYE2016 website was revealed today with less than 4 months to go. It is roughly the same design as last year’s website but it incorporates this year’s artwork for the event. The event’s logo was already revealed last month when ABC announced their ‘Design Your Own Firework‘ competition in conjunction with the City Of Sydney but was very small & in low picture quality.

Now with the full, large & high quality artwork available to view, we can see it in it’s full glory. It is very glittery & features many Sydney/Australian imagery such as the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, city buildings, flora, fauna, various types of ice cream & a bicycle.

Despite more detail from the artwork, which is a strong clue to the theme of this year’s event, the updated website does not confirm the event’s theme. Where we found confirmation of last year’s theme, ‘City Of Colour‘, only had this written:

About

A special moment in time

SydNYE is a globally recognised event that lies in wait for one very special moment in time.

As anticipation builds for the clock to strike 12, it’s a destination where the people come together to elevate the city to the best version it can possibly be: connected, alive, and energised by the unlimited possibilities of a new tomorrow and the new year.

It’s a place the captures the imagination, draws us home and throws open its arms to guests from all over the world with the harbour at its heart, and enriches us all with its unique and diverse surrounds. Year after year, it is the birthplace of wondrous new memories that will stay with us for a lifetime.

This is a very elaborate explaining of what New Year’s Eve is and how special it is to celebrate it in Sydney. It may provide a clue to the theming but due to how generic it is, it should be read with caution in case there are no longer themes of the event due to possibly no more Bridge Effects.

But that shouldn’t be a reason to worry about the event’s future as most years the theme isn’t confirmed until early December. It is usually just small clues revealed until then.

The website also confirms the event program. It is roughly the same as last year but with 3 differences:

• Welcome To Country will this year be held at 8:38pm,
• The theme of the Welcome To Country is ‘Walking On Country‘ and,
• The Harbour Of Light Parade will feature white ropelight

The Sydney Opera House is still a part of the Midnight Fireworks by the way.

The white ropelight of the Harbour Of Light Parade may be a small clue to the theming too – after all, the vessels are usually given a creative brief when they bid to be a part of the Parade.

Lastly, 104.1 2DayFM is confirmed to be the radio broadcaster of the 9pm Family & Midnight Fireworks soundtracks. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) television coverage will be on ABC1 while internet streaming will be via ABC iView (which I think is the 1st time in the event’s history) & again, Sydney NYE’s website (very likely to be a embed of ABC iView’s live stream).

The latter begs the question (which we won’t find out till mid-December for sure) – is Telstra no longer producing YouTube live streams? Telstra dramatically reduced it’s content in last year’s live stream and in recent months, removed archived Sydney NYE live streams – a pattern that seems to be becoming a trend.

Telstra may still be sponsoring the event in regards to the smartphone application but again, we won’t find out for sure until around early December.

More importantly for our international readers, if there is no Telstra YouTube stream,will ABC drop it’s geoblock for the night allowing viewing worldwide?

This year’s event seems to be bringing more questions than usual (and we thought last year involved a lot of speculation!).