Sydney New Year’s Eve-Plan Your Trip
-Sydney Harbour Foreshore
Important event information
- -Smoking ceremony 19:30
-Welcome to Country & Pylon projections and lighting effects 20:30
-Calling Country fireworks 21:00
-Sydney Harbour lights 21:15
-Midnight fireworks 00:00
-Finish 00:12
One night, many ways to celebrate this New Year’s Eve! Hundreds of thousands of people will line the harbour foreshore for the 9pm and midnight New Year’s Eve fireworks. Get ready to ring in the new year with our top tips to plan a safe, enjoyable and stress-free New Year’s Eve (NYE).
Thousands of extra public transport services will run throughout the day and night. Leave the car at home as many major roads will close throughout the day and night across the city, North Sydney and various local council areas. For details of road closures see below or visit livetraffic.com.
Top tips to plan your night:
- Check vantage point capacity updates BEFORE leaving home: Most vantage points are free and not ticketed. Popular vantage points will reach capacity early in the day. Check the Official Sydney NYE 2024 vantage point map before leaving home for the latest updates on which vantage points are full or have capacity. Once areas are full they will be closed. Make sure to plan ahead to know what you can and can’t bring into the vantage point site.
- Plan your trip by transport ahead of time: use the Trip Planner or a real-time transport app like the Opal Travel App to plan your trip by transport and keep up to date with real-time service updates. Transport services will be running all through the night but there will be changes to regular services.
- No direct transport to Circular Quay from mid-afternoon: due to road closures, and as vantage points around the harbour reach capacity, trains, light rail and ferries will stop running to Circular Quay progressively from mid-afternoon. Be prepared to walk further than usual from nearby transport hubs including Wynyard, Town Hall and Martin Place. After the midnight fireworks, expect big crowds at transport hubs, consider staying out until after 1am to avoid the peak crowds. Be patient and follow directions of staff on site.
- Be aware of changes to public transport and walking routes: Transport services will be affected by road closures, and there will be changes to walking routes and how you access vantage points around the harbour. The way you arrive will be different to the way you leave. For more info NYE transport changes see Trains, Metro, Buses, Ferries and Light Rail.
- Getting there: see the NYE24 – Getting to Sydney CBD Vantage points map (pdf 710KB)
- Getting home: see the NYE24 – Sydney CBD Getting home map (pdf 185KB) and NYE24 – North Sydney Getting home map (pdf 177KB)
- Know your transport ticketing options: Travel on public transport is not free on NYE. You’ll need to use an Opal card or contactless debit/credit card or mobile device to tap on and off transport services wherever Opal is accepted. If you’re using an Opal card, top it up online beforehand. See more info on ticketing here.
Road closure information
- Major roads will close progressively from mid-afternoon in the Sydney CBD and North Sydney around the harbour.
- Road closures will affect access to car parks and drop off locations. If you’re planning to drive on New Year’s Eve to the city or around the harbour foreshore in a local council area be aware that roads will be closed across many parts of the city. Plan ahead to see which roads are closed, and when they will reopen.
- Check livetraffic.com before you get in the car, and see our road closure maps.
Stay connected
Get real-time updates on transport services, vantage points and road closures at your fingertips by following these social media handles:
- Event and vantage point capacity updates: Check the official SydNYE website vantage point updates and follow @cityofsydney on Facebook and Instagram.
- For information on local council vantage points, ticketing and access arrangements please visit the relevant local council website.
- Transport updates: follow @TrainsInfo, @BusesInfo, @FerriesInfo and @SydneyMetro for real-time updates on transport services and NYE changes. For a full list of live updates on TfNSW social handles see our social media page. Plan your trip using the Trip Planner or Opal Travel App for real-time service updates.
- Traffic updates: follow @LiveTrafficSyd for real-time updates on event road closures and traffic conditions. You can also download the Live Traffic NSW App.
