Tag: ‘Flagship’ Sydney Spectaculars

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

Correction: An earlier version said the party packs can be sent overseas. They are actually only being sent within Australia.

The official Sydney New Year’s Eve (NYE) 2023 charity partner, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, is encouraging everyone around the world to hold a pink-themed party this NYE with party packs (pictured) being sent out within Australia until Friday for those who register their GLO PINK party, publicise it & raise a minimum AUD$57 in donations.

The party packs include:

• A thank you leaflet which contains some event-theming tips,
• National Breast Cancer Foundation-brand pink-coloured balloons,
• National Breast Cancer Foundation-branded dark-blue-coloured balloons,
• National Breast Cancer Foundation-branded donation box,
• The iconic Pink Ribbons &
• Pink ribbon-themed confetti

When you register your GLO PINK party, you will be asked to set a donation goal. Clearly, a goal of a minimum AUD$57 is required to get the free pink party pack but the higher than that, the better!

Don’t forget to publicise your event & invite your friends to get the free pink party pack too! Donations can be made both online & offline.

Whether you’re an individual or a business hosting an NYE party, a pink party pack is a must as, apart from the iconic Midnight Fireworks over Sydney Harbour, your pink parties would culminate in a Pink Moment on the Sydney Harbour Bridge at 10pm AEST, broadcast globally via the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Down on the Harbour (where you can also hear the Pink Moment‘s audio on ABC Radio Sydney 702 AM), your pink party would be perfectly themed to the event, which this year, whilst having no official theme, seems to have a creative direction of ‘life’.

If you miss out on a party pack, remember the National Breast Cancer Foundation is the official Sydney NYE charity partner again next year so keep an eye out in early December 2024!

You can still register a GLO PINK party & donate up until NYE but after Friday, the party packs will not be sent out. There are other downloadable resources if you miss out on the party packs including a party guide, posters, social media tiles & bunting!

If you do not receive a party pack, the National Breast Cancer Foundation is encouraging party goers & organisers to:

• Raise donations for the National Breast Cancer Foundation &,
• Use or create your own pink decorations (If using balloons, stick the faces of donors who couldn’t attend on them too – with permission, of course!)

And regardless of whether you receive a party pack or not, the National Breast Cancer Foundation is encouraging partygoers & organisers to:

• Have a pink dress code &
• Use pink lighting, particularly at 10pm!

If you are fan of Sydney New Year’s Eve overseas, you can also register a GLO PINK party, donate yourself & raise donations however, be aware that donations will go to Australian breast cancer research projects – not projects in your own country. In the end, the efforts of Australian breast cancer research projects would help eliminate breast cancer anywhere & not just Australia.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Australia with approximately 57 Australians being diagnosed & 9 Australians dying from it every day. Since their formation in 1994, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, which receives no government funding, has reduced the death rate in Australia by 40% through putting their raised donations (so far, a cumulative $200 million) to 600 breast cancer research projects. The foundation’s current aim is to eliminate deaths from breast cancer.

To register your GLO PINK Sydney NYE2023 party wherever you are around the world, go to https://nbcf.org.au/nye/. Remember, the pink party packs are available only until Friday the 22nd of December & are sent only within Australia.

…and the National Breast Cancer Foundation is returning as the official Sydney NYE charity partner next year!

The Sydney New Year’s Eve (NYE) 2023 vantage point map has been updated to include the city buildings that are to be included in this upcoming edition’s Midnight Fireworks. There will be a total of 5 city buildings – 1 up from last year’s 4. However, 2 new city buildings will be included.

The sole city building not to be used for NYE2023 after appearing in NYE2022 is the Quay Quarter Tower:

Replacing it are the new Salesforce Tower & the Four Seasons Hotel. The former is the 3rd tallest structure in Sydney, opening just over a year ago, while the latter has been welcoming tourists since 1982 under various brands.

They will join the Overseas Passenger Terminal, Grosvenor Place & Crown Sydney as the 5 city buildings to be used in the Midnight Fireworks this year:

Like last year, city buildings will not feature during any other part of the night including during the Calling Country Fireworks.

For the 1st time, Sydney New Year’s Eve volunteers will receive new souvenir crossbody belt/pouches themed to the event.

This in addition to the cap, service statement, appreciation certificate & reserved vantage point for the Midnight Fireworks that volunteers already receive.

Applications for Sydney NYE2023 volunteering closed on November 18.

Volunteering for Sydney NYE2024 is expected to open in October next year.

In October, the City Of Sydney updated their NYE website to include a webpage on sustainability for the 1st time in 8 years, following questions at an August 14 Corporate, Finance, Properties & Tenders Committee meeting asked by Greens Councillor, then-Deputy Lord Mayor, Sylvie Ellsmore.

The City Of Sydney had a webpage on sustainability on their NYE website between NYE2007 & NYE2014. Since NYE2015, the website has been slimmed down to the bare essentials as seen by the recent plain white update in early September, seemingly matching the decline in the event’s creativity since NYE2015 too. The sustainability webpage was one of the first to be removed from the website but it seems only now, 8 years later, that the City has realised this, begging the question: how did the removal of such an important webpage for the City Of Sydney not get noticed by them for 8 years?

Are we publicly going to be reporting on, um, the impact – the environmental impact (of Sydney NYE pyro) that’s happening & where would that be reported? What report might that end up in? Do we need to move something to amend our Green Report, for example, to say ‘We know this is important. We’ve heard you. We’re tracking this. This is where we’ll report it’?

City Of Sydney Greens Councillor, Slyvie Ellesmore, Deputy Lord Mayor 19/09/2022-18/09/2023

Through you, Lord Mayor, um, we might just have that on notice, Emma (Rigney – City Of Sydney Director Of City Life) & make sure ’cause I think obviously the Green Report is probably the best place to put it, um, however, I’m, now I’m just going on memory here but we’ve always, um, I think on our website though had the, um, offset statements for any offsets that we buy – those sorts of things – so let’s just check the website, what we already put up. I’m pretty sure we do because I’ve often asked about that, um, & make sure that that is, continues because that’s where people can go & check that the claims we make are validated uh, in, in, you know, in, in documentation. Thank you.

Monica Barone, City Of Sydney Chief Executive Officer

It is unclear if Monica Barone is referring to the main Sydney NYE website or the City Of Sydney website.

So the fact that we’re being carbon neutral since 2007 & that, um, the Foti family is a family business that’s also carbon neutral? Um, I, I mean we’ve, we’ve been very conscious of this from the very beginning & have always taken great steps to minimise the environmental impact, um, as much as it’ s possible…when you’re setting off… all those fireworks…across the City.

Clover Moore, City Of Sydney Lord Mayor

Clover Moore became Lord Mayor of Sydney in 2004 while the City Of Sydney have hosted the event since 1996, producing it in-house since 2000. The event & the City Of Sydney have been carbon neutral since 2007.

Later, at the 21 August Council meeting, the Council unanimously resolved, on the then-Deputy Lord Mayor’s motion, that “the CEO be requested to track future Sydney NYE event emissions though the City’s Green Report”.

Regardless of which website Monica Barone referred to in the August 14 Corporate, Finance, Properties & Tenders Committee meeting, it is clear there was a review of the Sydney NYE website between early September & October as the sustainability webpage was not there when the website update was released in early September. The fact the webpage has not been there in 8 years makes the addition of the webpage after the conversation in the August 14 Corporate, Finance, Properties & Tenders Committee seem more than coincidental. It clearly was finally noticed as missing & a new webpage was prepared as soon as possible, particularly well in advance of the early December event media launch & was published in October.

Following the 21 August Council Resolution, the City Of Sydney has also since added a paragraph on NYE in the Green Report, which was updated last month in its latest annual edition, available on the City Of Sydney website. Below is the relevant paragraph:

Fireworks & light displays create carbon emissions, which we are directly responsible for. These emissions are included in our annual carbon inventory & have been offset since NYE2006. Between 2007 & 2015, we developed detailed annual emissions inventories for the whole NYE event. These showed that year-on-year event emissions did not change significantly & contribute a small share of our total operational emissions. 2015 NYE event emissions were 552 tonnes of which the combustion of fireworks made up only 4.8 tonnes, or 0.9% of the event emissions. Since 2016, we have reported & offset 662 tonnes of emissions each year for the NYE event as part of our ongoing organisational carbon neutral certification. This includes a 20% buffer above 2015 emissions, to ensure that emissions are not under reported.

City Of Sydney Green Report 2022-2023

You can find more information about the event’s sustainability on the now-returned Sydney NYE Sustainability webpage.

In early September, the Sydney New Year’s Eve (NYE) website was updated for the 2023 edition, revealing 96% of Sydney NYE vantage points are free this year as well as a very plain & white website design.

Last edition, 57% of Sydney NYE vantage points were revealed to be paid ticketed so the Australian Labor Party made an election promise to make all New South Wales (NSW) Government-controlled vantage points free of charge if they won the March state election, which they did.

There are still some paid vantage points. However, most have a good reason to be paid such as included ferry trips (Goat/Clark/Shark Island), charity fundraisers (Taronga Zoo/Royal Botanic Gardens: Foundation & Friends Picnic) & containing venues (Sydney Opera House: Midden By Mark Olive/Opera Bar/House Kitchen/Yallamundi Rooms/Joan Sutherland Theatre/Concert Hall).

The charity fundraisers were given limited exemptions by the NSW Government. The two charities are the Taronga Conservation Society of Australia (Taronga Zoo) and the Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation (Royal Botanic Gardens: Foundation & Friends Picnic). These charity fundraisers underpin their conservation & scientific work.

There is also a free vantage point still at the Sydney Opera House.

There are 2 notable paid exceptions to this year’s vantage points: Cockatoo Island/Wareamah & Dudley Page Reserve.

Cockatoo Island/Wareamah is controlled by the Australian Government via the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust – thus, the NSW Government cannot control that vantage point. However, this vantage point includes compulsory accommodation, which would significantly cost a lot. The price for this vantage point varies from AUD$430 to AUD$9500.

Most significantly is Dudley Page Reserve, which is controlled by the NSW Government via Waverly Council. However, despite being ultimately controlled by the NSW Government, it is still paid at up to AUD$60 per adult with included entertainment. A significant argument in keeping this vantage point paid is that this vantage point is more targeted to Waverly residents as it is the eastern most vantage point at nearly 7km east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The cost may be also to cover the cost of the vantage point-exclusive entertainment.

The NSW Government referred Sydney Spectaculars to Waverly Council on this issue regarding Dudley Page Reserve.

Vantage points already sold out (as of 2nd 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

Also, all COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have now been removed for the NYE2023 edition including proof of free ticket for City Of Sydney-managed vantage points.

Back to the updated Sydney NYE website, it is very plain & white compared to the colourfulness of previous editions, symbolising the present lack of overall creativity of the overall event.

The updated website did reveal some new details of the 2023 edition:

• KIIS 106.5 will once again be the official radio broadcaster.
• The 7:30pm Smoking Ceremony will be conducted on 2 extra vessels this year apart from the traditional Tribal Warrior vessel: Mari Nawi & Wirawi, making it the biggest Smoking Ceremony yet in its 18-year history.
• The Sydney Opera House will be used for fireworks at Midnight at least for 1 more edition. Could this mean a 50th anniversary tribute is in the works?
• Apart from the Sydney Opera House & Harbour Bridge, “some of Sydney’s iconic landmarks” will also be used for fireworks at Midnight (though this most likely refers to the 4 city buildings)

City Of Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said Sydney NYE resources would help people to make a plan for the big night & explore the many ways to celebrate:

Sydney New Year’s Eve is an iconic event & a wonderful celebration of our safe, harmonious and vibrant city.

With COVID-restrictions lifted & more parkland access available, we anticipate there will be large crowds across the city keen to see the fireworks. I encourage everyone to check out sydneynewyearseve.com and plan ahead.

Whether you’re watching at home or coming to join us along the foreshore, the event is a great way to reflect on the year past & look with hope to the year ahead. I hope locals and visitors alike enjoy the show!

Clover Moore, City Of Sydney Lord Mayor