Australian New Year’s Eve celebrations are some of the brightest in the world. Not only is this beautiful country one of the first places across the globe to welcome the new year, but it is also positioned in the Southern hemisphere, which means that New Year's Eve marks the middle of the summer in Australia.
Major cities host special New Year’s Eve events and incredible firework displays. Parades, live music shows, food festivals, and public countdowns gather cheerful crowds of locals and visitors. Lots of Australians ring in the New Year on boat cruises or on the beach. Others prefer to throw smaller parties and barbeques in their back yards. As NYE countdown and fireworks from major cities like Sydney are broadcast, everyone can enjoy the show from the comfort of their home, raising a glass of champagne.
No celebration can compare to the fireworks launched over Sydney Harbour. This iconic event gathers over 1 million people on Syndey's waterfront. For the 2021 celebrations, access to the harbour area will be restricted due to health safety measures.
Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, throws quite a show too. Dazzling fireworks over the Yarra River and lots of parties on the river banks draw huge crowds. This year, the City of Melbourne holds the New Year Street Feasts—a mouth-watering, two-day dining experience on December 31 and January 1. Some ten precincts, including places like Flinders Lane, in the heart of Melbourne, will turn into outdoor dining hubs. Prior booking is a must, though.
Western Australia knows how to say farewell to 2020 too! Perth Cultural Centre hosts the major NYE celebration—The City at New Year's Eve. Here everyone can enjoy the exciting street program with music, workshops, installations, and two firework displays: at 9 pm and midnight. NYE parties at The Camfield (Australia's biggest pub) and Prince Lane are worth checking out.
Tassie-style New Year's Eve is also based on...guess what? Fireworks! Hobart Harbour looks stunning when the fireworks are launched from the Constitution Dock. The pyrotechnic show can be seen from Hobart waterfront, but also more remote places like Mount Wellington and Kangaroo Bluff. Traditionally, Hobart also hosts the Taste of Tasmania, a week-long culinary event, but this year it has been canceled.
Besides the NYE events and firework display, Australia boasts an endless list of activities. As New Year's falls in the middle of summer, we suggest combining the celebration with some outdoor adventures to enjoy what Australia has to offer to the fullest. Taking in the beauty of Tasmania's lavender fields, smiling to quokka in Western Australia, being mesmerized by the Field of Light Uluru in Northern Territory, or climbing Mount Kosciuszko in New South Wales could make this New Year's celebration the brightest memory of the decade.
