Fireworks in Sydney

Sydney NYE fireworks

Sydney is now one of our favorite cities, for multiple reasons. We love the museums, restaurants and live music scene, the varied architecture, and the friendly people. Plus, it’s safe and clean. And, if you like free fabulous pyrotechnics, Sydney is the place. Fireworks in Sydney are frequent and fantastic.

Weekly Fireworks in Darling Harbour

Our first experience with fireworks in Sydney was from the bridge in Darling Harbour, a popular tourist spot in the city center. For much of summer, the Darling Harbour fireworks are every Saturday night at 9PM. On our first weekend in Sydney, we joined the throngs lining the bridge to see the show, while many more watched from shore and aboard boats in nearby bays.

Darling Harbour fireworks 2024
Fireworks in Darling Harbour

New Year’s Fireworks in Sydney Harbour

We started 2025 with a bang! Spending New Year’s on a boat in Sydney was one of our most memorable New Year’s Eves. And that includes Sylvester in Munich and Hogmanay in Edinburgh. On our boat, we were part of the celebration, anchored alongside the bridge and Opera House. The fireworks were the highlight of the night. Sydney knows how to put on a fireworks show!

Anchoring in Sydney Harbour For New Years Eve

We scoped out a spot early and anchored in Farm Cove, between the Opera House and Botanic Gardens with views of both iconic attractions, plus the famous bridge.

When we arrived there was plenty of room in the anchorage, and even during the fireworks it wasn’t too crowded. Only smaller boats are allowed in this anchorage for New Year’s Eve, so we didn’t have to worry about our view being blocked. We thought spending New Year’s on a boat in Sydney would be a lot more chaotic, but it was worse on shore.

Boats in Sydney Harbour
Boats anchored in Farm Cove on New Year’s Eve

People streamed into the Botanical Gardens and Opera House viewing areas at the crack of dawn on New Year’s Eve. While we were drinking our coffee in comfort on Go, they were sitting in the sun all day waiting for the show.

New Year's Eve crowd Sydney
The crowd forming on shore midday on New Year’s Eve

We didn’t realize how lucky we were to be celebrating New Year’s Eve on our own boat in Sydney. Boat cruises are extremely popular, packing people onto to vessels of all sizes starting at hundreds of dollars a pop and going way up.

Boats by Opera House New Years Eve
On the water in Sydney waiting for NYE fireworks

We also thought it would be uncomfortable, but it wasn’t bad. The ferries go by at high speed, but it really wasn’t that rough on board. One of the benefits of living on a catamaran! Plus, the ferries don’t run after dark, so we slept in peace.

fast ferry
One of the Sydney fast ferries in the harbour
The Early Show

New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney start early, with a “kids fireworks” at 9PM. The 9PM show ran for almost ten minutes and was excellent. We were surrounded by fireworks, and that’s when we knew we were in for something special at midnight. Fireworks in Sydney are a natural occurrence, elevated to an art form.

The early fireworks on NYE in Sydney Harbour
The early fireworks on NYE in Sydney
Sydney’s New Years Fireworks

Just like Christmas, Sydney goes all out for New Year’s and the city’s fireworks are a huge production. They use more than 9 tons of fireworks, setting them off from 264 points, including the Harbour Bridge. The total cost of the 12 minute production is estimated at $6.3 million. No wonder Sydney is the top spot in the world to visit for New Year’s Eve fireworks!

Sydney NYE fireworks
Sydney fireworks

Celebrating New Years Eve on a boat is always fun: we’ve watched fireworks in Curacao and Bocas del Toro, and both were great shows. Watching the fireworks in Sydney on New Year’s Eve from our boat topped both. Here’s a small snippet of video from New Year’s Eve.

Australia Day Fireworks in Sydney

Australia Day fireworks
Australia Day fireworks in Sydney

One of our last days anchored in Sydney was Australia Day, so we again moved to Farm Cove for the celebration. From our boat, we watched and heard some of the performances outside the opera house, and of course the fireworks! It was cool how the fireworks were interspersed with the performances. it was different from New Year’s Eve, but still a great show!

Domino

The only one who didn’t like the fireworks in Sydney was Domino. The noise is too much for her. She’s a resilient cat, and is doing fine now.

Domino the cat
Domino was not a happy cat during the fireworks

Sydney is a great city for fireworks and more! Hope you enjoyed!

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Author: Mel

Living aboard a sailboat, blogging about the places we visit and the adventures we have. Love hiking, cycling, scuba, animals and adventure.

6 thoughts on “Fireworks in Sydney”

  1. What a great show! I, also, have enjoyed wonderful firework shows.

    But, yeh, the effects on animals and persons with PTSD is distressing — even the so-called “silent” ones. Some communities now — like those in the Galápagos Islands — now prohibit such light shows.

  2. Wow! So much effort spent on fireworks in Sidney! It looks spectacular!! I’ve also witnessed New Years eve in Curacao – does Sidney launch fireworks off for thext 7 days after NYE too? Lol. Your poor kitty!

    1. That’s so great Tanya! We were anchored in Spanish Waters, the main anchorage in Curacao. On New Years Eve, they did two separate sets of fireworks shows: earlier when it is midnight in Europe, and again at midnight in Curacao. It was a lot!

  3. Mel – What amazing pictures of the fireworks over the opera house! And I love that the kids show was almost the same length as the midnight fireworks.

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