Hundreds of Aussie revellers are still partying hours after the biggest New Year’s Eve celebrations in recent years.
More than a million people packed Sydney Harbour for the city’s world famous midnight fireworks with similar scenes across the country.
But not everyone was ready to call it a night with many partying long after the sun came up.
Hundreds were still celebrating on Sunday morning after they flocked to Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach to enjoy the the first sunrise for 2023.
There were similar scenes on the Gold Coast at Surfers Paradise and in Byron Bay, the first place in Australia where the sun rises.
As some worse for wear slept off their big night, others stripped down and headed into the surf for a refreshing early morning dip.
Others preferred to sit back on the sand to nurse sore heads or continue the festivities.
Many revellers rang in the first sunrise of 2023 with a refreshing dip at Bondi Beach
Couples continued the romance with an early morning embrace while watching the sunrise
Bondi was packed with beachgoers as NYE celebrations continued well after sunrise
Many revellers at Bondi stripped down and headed into the surf for their first 2023 swim
Other revellers snapped selfies of themselves ringing 2023 on Sydney’s Bondi Beach
North of the border on the Gold Coast, many revellers also headed to Surfers Paradise
Thousands more will head to Bondi and other beaches across the nation on Sunday with both Sydney and the Gold Coast set to reach a top of 27C.
On the Gold Coast, one reveller had to be rescued by lifeguards after getting into difficulty in the water during a late-night swim.
NSW Police said most Sydney revellers were well behaved, despite 83 arrests in the CBD.
Al least 25 charges laid for various offences, including assault police, assault, prohibited drug related offences, offensive behaviour. More than 200 traffic and railway infringement notices were also issued.
Police remain out in force with a host of New Years Day festivals and parties across Australia, including the Field Day in The Domain, Sydney.
‘For those continuing celebrations into the morning and across New Year’s Day, our officers will maintain a highly-visible presence across the state to ensure all revellers do so safely,’ NSW Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke said.
Other revellers preferred to take in the sunrise from the sand after a long night
Many beachgoers at Bondi welcomed in 2023 with an early morning dip
Many revellers headed to Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach to continue post-NYE festivities
Beachgoers on the Gold Coast also headed into the ocean for an early morning swim
As the sun rose for the first time in 2023, many Bondi revellers weren’t ready to head home yet
Other Bondi revellers opted to relax on the grass after a big night of festivities
Revellers were out in force to make up for time lost in the last three years, as celebrations were dampened by the black summer bushfires in 2020 and the Covid-19 pandemic the following two years.
Partygoers turned out in droves across Australia to ring in 2023 in style – with local and state government organisers putting on celebrations bigger and better than ever before.
Crowds in the nation’s focal point Sydney hit around the million mark, as thousands queued up well in advance earlier in the day to fight for a spot on the steps of the iconic Opera House.
Revellers were still packing on the PDA hours after the clock struck midnight
Many revellers enjoyed a snooze on the beach after the biggest New Years’ celebrations in recent years
A McDonalds run and an early morning swim ensured the party continued for these partygoers
Some who stayed up to watch the sunrise were ready to head home soon after (pictured, beachgoers at Surfers Paradise)
In Sydney, 13,000 fireworks totalling $7million lit up the sky from the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and rooftops around the city.
In a nod to the upcoming World Pride festival taking place in Sydney in February, the progress pride flag colours were projected onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge at 11pm.
Later in the night, confronting footage showed revellers n the Rocks screaming out in distress as a large group makes their way through a barricade as helpless police and security watch on.
Parents were even forced to hold young children above their heads fearing they would be trampled in the chaos.
The near-disaster unfolded when swarms of revellers started pushing through guarded barriers into the ticketed section to get a better view of the fireworks just before midnight.
It’s understood City of Sydney organisers will now rethink holding ticketed and non-ticketed events in adjacent areas on New Year’s Eve.
While in Melbourne’s CBD, crowds built up quickly with families and groups of friends flocking to parks for early fireworks, before an estimated 450,000 people continued on to see in the new year.
In what felt like Melbourne’s out of Covid party, revellers took advantage of life without masks with fireworks set off from a record 30 rooftops in celebrations costing around $4million.
Swimmers also braved the water at Surfers Paradise as the sun rose
Despite the lack of sleep, many beachgoers were determined to continue the festivities
It was an early start for lifesavers at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday
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