Program 2016

Featuring the best vantage points, the full Australia Day In Sydney 2016 program is below:

  • 6:30am to Midnight: 4 P&O Cruise Ships – Anywhere with view of Sydney Harbour
  • 7:30am to 8am: WugulOra Morning Ceremony – Barangaroo Reserve
  • 8:30am to 10:30am: Great Sydney Swim – South-eastern side of Sydney Opera House
  • 9am to 10:30am: GIO Oz Day 10K Wheelchair Race – Alfred Street
  • 10am to 11am: The Wiggles Australia Day In Sydney 2016 Concert – Sydney Opera House Southern Forecourt (SOLD OUT)
  • 10:30am to 3pm: KIIS FM On The Harbour – Hickson Road Reserve
  • 10:30am to 5pm: Vintage Buses – Macquarie , College, Chalmers, Elizabeth & Philip Streets
  • 11am to 11:40am: Ferrython – Fort Denison/Garden Island
  • 11am to 11:40am: Lord Mayor’s Citizenship Ceremony – Overseas Passenger Terminal North Stage
  • 11am to 6pm: The Rocks Markets – The Rocks
  • 11:45am: Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony – Overseas Passenger Terminal North Stage
  • 12pm to 12:05pm: Salute To Australia – Mary Booth Lookout
  • 12pm to Midnight: Sydney Festival Village – Hyde Park North
  • 12:05pm to 12:15pm: Tug & Yacht Ballet – Bradfield Park
  • 12:15pm to 12:20pm: Cruising Concert – ‘Junkyard Beats’ – Bradfield Park
  • 12:15pm to 12:25pm: Cruising Concert – ‘Enormous Horns‘ – Dawes Point
  • 12:30pm – Russian Roolettes Air Display – Anywhere with view of sky above Sydney Harbour
  • 12:30pm to 12:40pm: Cruising Concert – ‘Enormous Horns’ – Southern end of Overseas Passenger Terminal
  • 12:30pm to 6:30pm: Live Music At Warrane Stage – First Fleet Park
  • 12:30pm to 6:30pm: Live Music At Tallawoladah Stage – Atherden Street
  • 12:30pm to 6:30pm: Jaunt on George – George Street
  • 12:35pm to 12:40pm: Cruising Concert – ‘Junkyard Beats’ – Nawi Cove
  • 12:45pm to 12:55pm: Cruising Concert – ‘Enormous Horns’ – Opera Bar
  • 12:45pm to 2:15pm: Australia Day In Sydney 2016 Harbour Parade – Bennelong Point
  • 12:50pm to 1pm: Cruising Concert – ‘Junkyard Beats’ – Dawes Point
  • 1pm to 1:10pm: Cruising Concert – ‘Enormous Horns’ – Bennelong Point
  • 1pm to 1:45pm: Tall Ships Race – Fort Denison/Garden Island
  • 1pm to 3pm: Skateboarding vs Minimalism – The Cutaway, Barangaroo Reserve
  • 1:10pm to 1:15pm: Cruising Concert – ‘Junkyard Beats’ – Southern end of Overseas Passenger Terminal
  • 1:15pm: Qantas Flyover – Anywhere with view of sky above Sydney Harbour
  • 1:15pm to 6pm: 180th Australia Day In Sydney Regatta –  Anywhere with view of eastern Sydney Harbour
  • 1:20pm to 1:30pm: Cruising Concert – ‘Junkyard Beats’ – Opera Bar
  • 1:35pm: Cruising Concert – ‘Junkyard Beats’ – Bennelong Point (cruising past across Australia Day In Sydney 2016 Harbour Parade)
  • 1:40pm to 1:50pm: Cruising Concert – ‘Enormous Horns’ – Jeffery Street Wharf
  • 1:55pm:  Cruising Concert – ‘Enormous Horns’ – Blues Point Reserve (underway at slow pace)
  • 2pm: Red Berets Parachute Display – Anywhere with view of sky above Farm Cove
  • 2:10pm to 2:40pm: Cruising Concert – ‘Enormous Horns’ – Nawi Cove
  • 2:15pm to 2:45pm: Cruising Concert – ‘Junkyard Beats’ – Athol Bay
  • 3:30pm to 4:30pm: Ephemeral City – The Cutaway, Barangaroo Reserve
  • 5pm to 7:55pm: Nawi Sunset Sounds – Dukes Pier, Nawi Cove
  • 6pm to 9:15pm: Official New South Wales Australia Day Ceremony & Spectacular – Darling Harbour
  • 7:55pm: Aboriginal Sunset Ceremony – Nawi Cove
  • 7:30pm to 9:30pm: Australia Day 2016: Live At  Sydney Opera House – TV Channel 10 (may feature fireworks in Circular Quay) (SOLD OUT)
  • 9:30pm: Fireworks – Bradleys Head

Our recommended itinerary*:

  1. 7:30am: Arrive at Barangaroo Reserve with a view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and watch the WugulOra Morning Ceremony as the 4 P&O Cruise Ships arrive.
  2. 8am: Head to the Sydney Opera House to watch the Great Sydney Swim
  3. 10:30am: Head to Circular Quay and catch a ferry to Garden Island to watch the Ferrython.
  4. 11:40am: Head back to Circular Quay and walk to Hickson Road Reserve – a great grassy area to eat lunch. On the way or even at your destination, you’ll possibly see the Indigenous Smoking Ceremony, the Salute To Australia, the Tug & Yachts Ballet, the ‘Enormous Horns’ Crusing Concert as well as KIIS FM On The Harbour.
  5. 12:30pm: After the Russian Roolettes do an air display, walk to the Sydney Opera House to watch the Australia Day In Sydney 2016 Harbour Parade. On your way there, check out the markets & live music in The Rocks as well as Jaunt On George Street. When you are there, you’ll see the 180th Australia Day Regatta, Tall Ships Parade, the ‘Junkyard Beats’ Cruising Concert, Qantas flyover and the Red Berets parachute display!
  6. 2:15pm: Head to Macquarie Street and do a loop of the vintage bus route before travelling to Barangaroo Reserve for Skateboarding vs Minimalism, Ephemeral Cit.
  7. 5pm: Head to Darling Harbour and watch the Official New South Wales Australia Day Ceremony & Spectacular or stay at Barangaroo Reserve for the Nawi Sunset Sounds and the Aboriginal Sunset Ceremony.
  8. 8:10pm: If you’re still at Barangaroo Reserve, find a spot with a view of Bradleys Head for a 9:30pm fireworks display!
  9. 9:15pm: If you went to Darling Harbour, find a spot fast of Bradleys Head as a fireworks display begins at 9:30pm!
  10. 9:40pm: Conclude your night (and day!) at Hyde Park North with the Sydney Festival Village which runs until Midnight.

*Note: Hasn’t been tested to public transport schedules/walking travel times.