New Year’s Eve Sydney 2019/2020 (everything you should know for Sydney NYE)
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Why New Year’s Eve Sydney is so popular?
One of the best destinations in the world for the New Year’s Eve 2019/2020 celebration. Sydney is packed full of festive parties, dinners, and most importantly one of the biggest fireworks shows on New Year’s Eve in the world. For some, it’s the biggest party day of the year, some called it an intimate dinner, others the scenery of the fireworks.
NYE is Australia’s biggest public event. The fireworks of Sydney’s New Year’s bring over one million people to the harbour shore. The calculation shows the fireworks had been watched by over a billion people around the world by various media channels.

Many overseas tourists landing in Sydney closer to NYE without having zero NYE 2019/2020 plans. If you have enough to spend in your pocket, your chances are high to book one of the best NYE 2019 celebration events. But if you are looking for cheap activities to have fun and celebrate the NYE in Sydney, your chances may be limited. Do you know that finding a free spot to watch fireworks as hard as that much?
In this article, we have listed Things to do in Sydney for NYE 2019/2020 that suits for rich and budgeted travelers. In fact, we have divided the traveler segments into premium, mid-range, and budget. Finally, we have included some of the tips for family friendly locations to watch fireworks.
How to find new year’s eve Sydney accommodation?
The is the busiest time period for Sydney hotel is between Christmas and New year and hotel accommodation prices become pretty ridiculous. If a hotel facing the Harbour Bridge, the accommodation prices surely jumped high by adding the “Harbour View”. Our best advice to book your accommodation earliest as possible to save some money or look for travel deals. Why not just reserve a room up in advanced if you are not sure about your travel plans and cancel if things have changed. These days hotels are flexible in their booking terms and most of the international hotels offer 24 hour cancellation policies.
If you are on a budget, New Year’s Eve Sydney accommodation may give you very limited options. Maybe a good idea to hunt down friends around Sydney for a couch share if you are traveling in as a backpacker. Below are few tips to book your New Year’s Eve Sydney accommodation for 2019/2020.
Guide for selecting an accommodation
- Premium traveler – If money is not a consideration, book a hotel with a view of the Harbour
- Traveling on Budget – look for hotels around Sydney Harbour such as Central YHA. The rooftop on YHA is backpacker favorite has unobstructed views compared to other hostels in the city.
- Airbnb and other accommodation – Seek accommodation closer to inner cities suburbs which have plenty of access by public transport. Some of the areas you can look for are Mascot and Coogee.
There are many apps available from the app store to find cheap accommodations options. Once we have come across an app that gives last minute travel deals. After you enable the GPS location feature, those apps search the best available travel deals.
Best NYE Sydney 2019/2020 vantage points
We have put to gather a list of vantage points NYE Sydney where we suggest Based on traveler segments. When you are selecting New Year’s Eve Sydney Vantage points to view the fireworks in 2019/2020, you need to be considered the restrictions apply for each of these locations. These restrictions could be restrictions on alcohol consumption, not suitable for family friendly, and provide accessible facilities. Below are few NYE Sydney Vantage points, we have tried and tested through out past few years and my favorite picks.
New Year’s Eve Sydney vantage points with free access (Budget Traveller)
Bradfield Park
This is our favourite NYE Sydney Vantage point if you are travelling on a budget. However, there are pros and cons here. It is free to enter but highly congested. Bradfield park offers views of the eastern and western sides of the Sydney Harbour bridge. Hence, you can view most of the fireworks display. Some of the restrictions apply here is No BYO and needed a booking via the government web site. There will be accessible toilets available on site, however, we advise you to inform the officials before you head out there.
Mrs. Macquaries Point
This vantage point is the second favourite location of us to view the fireworks of NYE Sydney 2019/20. Free entries to this NYE Sydney Vantage point tempted many people to heads this side and it will be highly congested. The restrictions apply here are no BYO, and booking required. As we mentioned earlier on Bradfield Park, Mrs. Macquaries point will off accessible toilet facilities as well.
Mid-range traveler
We categorized mid-range travelers who can afford a lifetime experience, however, they do not have deep pockets as such premium travelers. Hence, see our guide to best NYE Sydney Vantage points 2020 for mid-range travelers.
Barangaroo Reserve
The modern era of construction and Barangaroo offers excellent views of Balmain, Goat Island, Balls Head, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This is not a free area as such Bradfield Park to celebrate New Year’s Eve Sydney. Therefore, need to purchase a ticket. The venue opens from 6 pm and no BYO drinks policy applies.
Campbells Cove at the Rocks
Alcohol prohibited ticketed area to view the best of NYE 2019/20 fireworks. The NYE Sydney Vantage points offer great views of Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House.
Royal Botanic garden
Bennelong lawn area of the Royal Botanical Garden is our third selection for mid-range travelers who don’t mind spending on a ticket. This NYE Vantage point opens from 6 pm to public with No BYO alcohol restrictions. The biggest disadvantage of this point that it offers particle views of the NYE fireworks.
NYE Vantage points for Premium Travelers

If you have deep pockets, locking one of the best NYE vantage points to see fireworks and celebrate NYE 2020 easy. You have choices of either book a sit-down meal and celebrate the NYE 2019/2020 with quit and elegance. If not, book an NYE Sydney harbour cruise if you love views from the harbour.
Taronga Zoo NYE event
One of our suggestions to the premium traveler segment to book a Sydney NYE 2019/20 celebration with Taronga Zoo. This venue gives unobstructed views of the harbour. The venue opens from 6 pm and it applies no BYO policy.
Taronga Zoo has opened its ticket sale for NYE Sydney 2019/20 and top of the range tickets priced at $600 pp. This includes best views can Sydney offers, secure on-site parking, live entertainment, and premium food hamper. The cheapest NYE Sydney ticket at Taronga Zoo priced at $200 and a heavily trimmed premium version. Parking won’t be secured on-site and you may have to park at Spit Junction. The Gold Reserve ticket is the best in terms of affordability and amenities. Parking is guaranteed on-site and magnificent views of New Years’ Eve Sydney fireworks.
Luna Park
Luna Park Sydney is one of our choices if you don’t mind to pay extra for NYE celebration. The Luna park offers the ultimate New Year’s Eve party in five-star luxury and with the best views of the fireworks. The options are to purchase a VIP ticket and usually, it includes decadent canapés, a carvery and quality beverage.
Sydney Opera house
Undoubtedly, the best suggested venue to celebrate New Year’s Eve Sydney 2020. You will be privileged by enjoying drinks or a wonderful meal overlooking Sydney Harbour, as you count down to the festival of fire. No doubt this is the best vantage point in Sydney for NYE 2019/20. Sydney Opera house offers a couple of options to celebrate NYE and those are pre-performance dinner or a midnight party.
The New years eve Sydney ticket sale has opened since 7th June at Opera house. And it wouldn’t last long as expected. All sold out and priced at $695 pp for this magnificent 6 hour event at Portside NYE party. Whoever secured a ticket lucky to capture the best fireworks while enjoying roaming canapés and non-stop entertainment at Opera House.
New Year’s Cruise Sydney
A cruise ride at the Sydney harbour is a great alternative to view the best of NYE fireworks from a panoramic angle. If the cruise docks on the correct place at midnight, you won’t find any obstructions to view fireworks from every side of Sydney. There are options to book a private New Year’s Eve cruise if you do not like to share a large cruise with strangers. With multiple New Year’s Eve cruises in Sydney ranging from kids friendly 9 pm Fireworks Only cruises to approximately 6 hour cruises that include both the 9 pm and Midnight Fireworks, there is no better way to celebrate the new year in Sydney 2019/20.

New Year’s Eve Sydney travel tips
- Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually the least expensive days to fly in and out.
- Don’t get a rental car as the city is husting with incoming traffic. So, try uber or other hire car option.
- No shades in most of the free and open spaces. So, check the weather forecast before you head out.
- The Harbour Bridge will be closed in both directions from 11 pm until 1.30 am.
- Ferries will not stop at Circular Quay after 5 pm.
- Download apps from Sydney city council and TransportNSW for the lastest public transport updates.
Related articles