Top Spots to Spend New Year❜s Eve in Sydney with Kids 2017

Sydney New Year’s Eve may be somewhat tamer than in the days pre-children but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop! There are heaps of great vantage points around Sydney for watching the family friendly 9pm fireworks, which let families with young children enjoy an eight minute display and travel home before the late-night crowds arrive. Some events start even earlier with rides, food and entertainment from 4pm to allow the little ones to have heaps of New Year’s Eve fun before an early bed-time.

The legendary fireworks, set to popular music, adds sparkle and magic to the Sydney skyline, so check out our top spots to see Sydney’s fireworks!

EASTERN SUBURBS

Ring in the New Year at Dudley Page Reserve, Dover Heights. This event is perfect for families and includes free kids rides, food stalls, face painting, music, dancing, a licensed bar (no BYO) and relaxed family entertainment plus amazing views of the harbour fireworks – all in a fun and controlled environment. The atmosphere is laid back and local with a very family friendly vibe. Parking is limited so leave the car at home if you can.

Soak in the sand sand sea water at Coogee Pavilion and Coogee Rooftop. A perfect view of the Coogee fireworks, and cocktails in the summer breeze. The Coogee Sparkles NYE fireworks are always a hit for local families- watch them from the sand, or from Goldstein Reserve. Or secure yourself a spot in the Beach Bar at the Coogee Bay Hotel to dance the night away with one of the hottest female DJ duos on the music scene, The Faders.

Other top spots with awesome vantage points: Strickland House, Duff Reserve Point Piper & McKell Park- Darling Point.

 

 

INNER WEST

You can’t beat the views at Birchgrove Park. It’s a clear view to the Harbour Bridge from this park and it’s BYO. It’s laid back here and very festive, but it does get busy with crowds of around 5000 expected. However, it’s FREE.

Other top spots: Illoura Reserve – Balmain; Birchgrove Park- Birchgrove.

WEST

Though you won’t have harbour glimpses, Parramatta will be an explosion of light and colour as we farewell 2017 and ring in 2018! Bring your picnic rug and settle in for an evening of family-friendly entertainment and spectacular fireworks as Parramatta hosts one of Sydney’s largest New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Two stages will keep audiences on their feet from 6pm to 9pm. The Crescent Amphitheatre offers a beautiful evening under the stars spent with Frank Bennett, Grant Galea, Catherine Hunter and the Frank Bennett Orchestra as they throw it back to the golden years of the swing era. Perfect for young families, visit the Fairground stage to catch hilarious MC Tim Maddren, impressive acrobatics from the Snors Travelling Circus and sing along with The Trolls! 

There will also be yummy food stalls, amusement rides, DJ’s, roving entertainers, and plenty of room to settle in and get in prime viewing position at the three fireworks firing locations! At Parramatta Park, from 4pm, this is a FREE event!

 

 

SOUTH WEST

There’s no better place in south west Sydney to celebrate the biggest night on the calendar than with NYE Light Up The Lake! Overlooking Chipping Norton Lake, this is a fun and FREE night of great entertainment, exciting rides, amazing food and a spectacular family fireworks show at 9pm. Lily Guerrero, Gang of Brothers, Abbey Gardner  will be taking to the stage too.

Illuminate NYE is another great event run by Fairfield Council- this ticketed event will treat families to fireworks launching from 9 different sites at 9pm. There will be live entertainment, free amusement rides, children’s activities, so get down to Calmsley Hill City Farm!

 

 

NORTH SHORE

Located within Sydney Harbour National Park, Bradleys Head will be transformed this New Years Eve into a family friendly playground of light. There will be live music and entertainment to while down the moments until the new year kicks off with a bang! Head to Athol Lawn for exceptional and breathtaking views of Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Find your own little slice of paradise in the park to spend New Years Eve. This alcohol free zone will ensure everyone can relax in a safe environment. Tickets are around $74 for a family of four. Buy tickets online here. (FYI tickets to Athol Lawn don't give you access to the Mast Precinct or the Amphitheatre at Bradleys Head.)

The Greens - North Sydney is hosting a super family friendly carnival under the stars! There will be a wide array of food from oysters to gourmet hotdogs, as well as roving carnival performers including jugglers and hoola hoopers.

 

Other top spots: Blues Point Reserve – McMahon’s Point, Bradfield Park – North Sydney, Taronga Zoo – Mosman.

 

NORTHERN BEACHES

Celebrating New Years Eve in Manly? Meet at North Head to enjoy the amazing panorama and the colourful fireworks on the harbour. Situated on the northern most edge of the harbour and far from the hectic city crowds, North Head is a fantastic place to count down the New Year in style. It’s free and no bookings are required but it gets BUSY and there’s no parking- public transport is the way to go! BYO food, beverages and alcohol permitted (none for sale at this site).
 

 

Other top spots: Manly Cove – Manly.

CITY / HARBOUR

Spend New Year at Darling Harbour on 31 December from 7pm to 1.30 am, and be a part of one of the most talked-about celebrations in the world! This FREE event is family friendly with glass and BYO alcohol bans in public spaces, and a 9pm fireworks show, so that the little ones won’t miss out. There’s a capacity for 41,000 people at this venue- so the vibe will be incredible!

 

Barangaroo Reserve is perhaps the best and most affordable family place to view the fireworks. Bring your picnic rug and settle in on the Walumil and Stargazer lawns and enjoy light entertainment, family-friendly alcohol-free zones and licenced areas. Food and beverages can be purchased onsite including oysters with Mumm champagne or hot wings and Young Henrys.

Sydney Tower Eye has some super cool options for NYE celebrations, including a 9pm skywalk around the outside of Sydney’s tallest building, or views over the city from the observation deck.

Celebrate New Years Eve at the Royal Botanic Gardens with events for families and some adults only luxurious ones too!
The Lawn With The View offers a relaxed, picnic style celebration next to the Sydney Opera House. There will be an onsite bar, and gourmet picnic hampers for sale. This is a family-friendly event.
The Point will be the place to party this New Year’s Eve at the Fleet Steps North, at the very tip of Mrs Macquarie’s Point for $375. Adults only! 

Grab your blanket and see the fireworks from Pirrama Park wharf, Pyrmont for a wharf-viewing of the fireworks, and a modern-Asian inspired menu. This event is ticketed, so get in quick as there is only capacity for 600 people!

 

Views from the Water

Better still – enjoy the fireworks from a Ferry! Bookings essential.

Adventure Sails is also offering an unforgettable night on their cruise ship to view the fireworks from a clear vantage point on the water.

Captain Cook’s Cruises is offering a snazzy night with indoor and outdoor seating.

FantaSea NYE Cruises offering experiences ranging from 90 minutes onboard up to 7 hours.

 

 

Some Extras

NSW National Parks has a list of the best vantage points to see the fireworks in parks- including the Clark Island Garden Party, the Goat Island Party, The Shark Island Party and NYE at Nielsen Park.

The City of Sydney offers a complete list of all the vantage points to view the fireworks too.

If you plan to have a quiet one with the kids and stay home, click here for the best ways enjoy the action via live-streaming and TV.

Wishing you a safe, prosperous and Happy New Year from Team ellaslist!