New Years Eve fireworks Australia 2023: Sydney Opera House queue grows

The countdown to 2023 is well and truly underway as thousands flock to New Year’s Eve fireworks displays across the country.

With the 9pm ‘family-friendly’ fireworks fast approaching Australians are snapping up the best vantage points to take in the breathtaking displays.

With Covid dampening New Year’s celebrations for the past two years revellers have already began to pack into the best spots.

This year will be the first New Year’s Eve in three years without Covid restrictions, as many city’s celebrations are bigger and better than ever before.

Sydney is expected to welcome around one million people to the harbour for the iconic fireworks with NSW Police out in masses.

Thousands are already queuing to get onto the Sydney Opera House steps in search of the best seat in the house.

Police are patrolling Sydney Opera House ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations. Revellers turned out in droves to celebrate the arrival of the new year, the first without pandemic restrictionsin three years

Tens of thousands have already pitched their tents and are settling in ready to watch the fireworks spectacle.

Before the fireworks kick off at 9pm, a smoking ceremony will be held at 7:30pm, with a welcome to country to follow at approximately 8:57pm. 

NSW Police Superintendent Anthony Bell said while Sydneysiders are looking to make the most of unrestricted celebrations, community safety is paramount.

‘If you’re going to have fun tonight and party, party responsibly,’ Supt Bell said.

‘You know, don’t do something tonight that you’re going to regret or end up with a charge against your name or in hospital.’

At 9pm and midnight around 13,000 fireworks will light up the sky from the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and rooftops around the city.

Sydney is expected to welcome around one million people to the harbour for the iconic fireworks with NSW Police out in masses with this year’s display costing a whopping $5.8 million (pictured Sydney’s 2022 New Year’s Eve fireworks)

The giant display which cost a whopping $5.8 million will be able to be seen across the majority of the CBD.

Sydney’s mayor, Clover Moore, warned people to expect large crowds, road closures and stringent entry cut-offs.

‘2022 has been another year of significant challenges as we continued working to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,’ Ms Moore said.

‘But tonight we put the year behind us and look with hope to 2023.’

While in Melbourne a large fireworks display will be set off at 9.30pm before the feature at midnight, with around half a million people expected to make their way into the CBD for celebrations.

In Melbourne a large fireworks display will be set off at 9.30pm before the feature at midnight, with around half a million people expected to make their way into the CBD for celebrations

‘We are so pleased to be able to bring our biggest fireworks and New Year’s Eve celebrations ever,’ Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said on Friday.

‘This year (the celebration) is costing $3.94 million, that’s a fantastic investment for our small traders, for safety in our city.’

In Perth, for the first time, the Western Australian capital will have a family-friendly show kicking off at 9pm as well as their traditional Swan River midnight show.

In Brisbane, large crowds are already making their way to the Brisbane River and the Southbank area. A special fireworks display will begin at 8am, before another when the clock strikes 12 

In Brisbane, large crowds are already making their way to the Brisbane River and the Southbank area.

A special fireworks display will begin at 8am, before another when the clock strikes 12.

The Gold Coast is also set to light up, with about 30 tonnes of fireworks at Coomera, Broadwater Parklands, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Coolangatta.

The displays are among more than 130 organised fireworks events planned for Saturday night and crowds are starting to roll in.

In Adelaide, attendees are already enjoying the live music on the Glenelg foreshore.

The state will have a ‘hybrid’ show featuring both fireworks and lights at 9.30pm and then again at midnight.

Authorities in South Australia have urged partygoers to not use illegal fireworks, with the state expected to experience dangerous fire conditions across the next week.

In Darwin, there 9pm and midnight fireworks have ben cancelled as a result of severe weather.

Hobart’s River Derwent is also to be lit up with fireworks at 9.30pm and midnight.

Temperatures were well into the 30s in most capital cities around Australia with high teens to low 20s expected as 2022 comes to an end.