Whether you’re looking for family-friendly fireworks, or a midnight countdown spectacular, here’s the full schedule for what’s happening on New Year’s Eve across every state capital.
Of course if you can’t get to your local fireworks event in person, you can follow the ABC’s exclusive broadcast of the Sydney Harbour fireworks on ABC TV and iview from 8.30pm (AEDT).
Keep reading to find out what each state capital has planned (all times local), or jump to see what’s happening in your capital city:
Sydney
The New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney will begin with a smoking ceremony at 7:30pm, before a Calling Country fireworks display at 9:30pm celebrating the local histories and contemporary experiences of Indigenous storytellers.
The display is creatively directed by First Nations artists Carmen Glynn-Braun and Dennis Golding from Re-Right Collective in partnership with Gadigal artist Nadeena Dixon.
The city will also welcome the WorldPride 2023 festival with a special three-minute lighting display at 11pm before a pyrotechnic spectacular at the stroke of midnight.
About 2,000 fireworks will be launched from the four sails of the Sydney Opera House, while 7,000 effects will fire from 184 positions on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and four rooftops around the city.
A list of 51 ticketed and free vantage points to watch the fireworks can be found on the Sydney New Year’s Eve website.
Official celebrations in Parramatta in the city’s west are being held across five locations — Old Toongabbie, Winston Hills, Dundas Valley, North Parramatta, Ermington.
The ticketed celebrations will include live music and fireworks at 9pm.
Fireworks displays will also be held in regional centres across the state, including in Wollongong, Newcastle and Wagga Wagga, among others.
Melbourne
Melbourne will ring in 2023 with two fireworks celebrations, a five-minute display at 9:30pm and an eight-minute display at midnight.
Thirty CBD rooftops will be used to launch the fireworks displays.
Four Celebration Zones will be set up in Docklands, Flagstaff Gardens, Kings Domain and Treasury Gardens.
However, the City of Melbourne says the midnight fireworks display is designed to be viewed from afar, and advises that “skyline views from further away provide the best show”.
In Geelong, a fireworks display will be held on the Waterfront at 9:30pm for families, before the main show at midnight.
Ballarat and Bendigo are among the regional centres also hosting celebrations.
Brisbane
South Bank Parklands will play host to Brisbane’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, with the evening featuring two fireworks shows – one at 8:30pm for kids and another at midnight.
Both fireworks displays are set to last for 10 minutes, with recommended vantage points at Clem Jones Promenade, Streets Beach, River Quay Green and Riverside Green, and the Cultural Forecourt.
On the Gold Coast, midnight fireworks displays will be launched from the Surfers Paradise foreshore and Coolangatta Beach.
Other major fireworks displays around the state will be at Mooloolaba and Kings Beach at Caloundra, the Esplanade in Cairns, and The Strand in Townsville, which can also be viewed from Magnetic Island.
Perth
Perth will have a 9pm fireworks display at Elizabeth Quay for families, with an adjoining free entry fun fair open from 5pm.
Fireworks will launch at midnight from four rooftops in the city, with the City of Perth recommending Yagan Square, Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge Piazza and James Street as the best viewing spots.
Meanwhile, a five-minute fireworks display will also ring in the new year in Fremantle, with the best vantage points to be found along Marine Terrace and at Esplanade Park.
Adelaide
The Light Up family event at Rymill Park/Murlawirrapurka will feature two fireworks shows at 9:30pm and midnight.
There will also be a midnight fireworks show in Park 10/Warnpangga in North Adelaide.
Fireworks will also return to Glenelg for the first time since 2018, with displays at both 9:30pm and midnight.
Hobart
Fireworks displays will light up the River Derwent at 9:30pm and midnight.
The fireworks will be set off from a barge at the entrance of Sullivans Cove, with the City of Hobart advising the best viewpoints are expected to be from the Regatta Grounds, Parliament House Lawns and Princes Park.
Parking is free at the Regatta Grounds, with space for families to enjoy the fireworks from near the Cenotaph.
Canberra
Canberra’s New Year’s Eve celebrations will take place on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.
Fireworks will be launched from two barges across Central and East basins at 9pm and midnight, with each fireworks display to last for about 10 minutes.
There will be four hub areas set up along the foreshore at Regatta Point, Patrick White Lawns, Rond Terrace and Bowen Park to provide the best vantage points.
Unlike previous years, the west basin will not feature in this year’s display and there will be no hub at Lennox Gardens.
Darwin
The Darwin Waterfront is due to host New Year’s Eve celebrations, with a free event at 3pm.
Cultural icons Bananas in Pyjamas are scheduled to make an appearance at 5pm, before Australian rock band Birds of Tokyo plays at 7pm.
Fireworks displays are scheduled for 9pm, and midnight.
However, all of that may be cancelled if the monsoonal weather worsens, so keep an eye out for any updates.
If you’re in Alice Springs, the council is holding a free party with a barbecue, games and music at the Alice Springs Aquatic and Leisure Centre from 5:30pm to 9:30pm.
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