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Where to view fireworks

The harbour lit up on January 1, 2016.

Best vantage points to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks

Hotels with rooms ideal for viewing the fireworks

There are vantage points for watching the fireworks the whole of the way around the harbour.

Locals know the good spots and they sneak away to small coves and hideaways in the Sydney Harbour National Park or on the higher points of Vaucluse and Watsons Bay.

For visitors to the city, the Opera House promenade and the area near the Botanic Gardens are the most popular vantage points, but to claim a spot you have to arrive early in the day and be prepared to squat for hours.

Below are the main points around Sydney Harbour and surrounds from which locals view the spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks displays. These locations have varying accessibility: some are free while others charge a fee. To get to most locations it is advisable to use public transport as free parking is hard to come by on the evening.

Food and beverage can range from BYO to limited purchase of alcohol on site. Alcohol can be consumed and/or purchased at most locations, but not all. Glass is banned at most locations. Check local council restrictions prior to attending.

Balls Head Reserve, Waverton	Blues Point Reserve, McMahons Point
Bradley's Head	Bradfield Park, Milsons Point
Christison Park, Vaucluse	Clarke's Point, Hunters Hill
Clark Island	Cremorne Point Reserve, Cremorne Pt
Darling Harbour	Dawes Point Park
East Circular Quay	Embarkation Park
Fort Denison	Goat Island
Illoura Reserve (Peacock Point, Balmain)	Kurraba Point Reserve (Neutral Bay)
Manns Point, Greenwich	Middle Head
Mrs Macquaries Point	Nielsen Park, Vaucluse
North Head	Point Piper
Pyrmont Point Park	Pyrmont Bay Park
The Rocks	Royal Botanic Gardens
Shark Island	Simmons Point (Balmain)
Sydney Opera House	Tarpeian Precinct (Macquarie Street Lawns)
Yurulbin Park, Birchgrove

If you are planning to book a hotel room from which you can watch the harbour fireworks, these hotels all have rooms with harbour views. But be warned, these hotel rooms may book out so if you are intent on seeing the fireworks in this way you should book as early in the year as possible.