Late sorting out your NYE plans and wondering where are the best places still available to watch the fireworks in Sydney this New Years Eve 2022 without breaking the bank? We’ve got you covered.
The Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks are one of the best in the world and not to be missed, so here’s the best places to see the fireworks on NYE in Sydney 2022 for $450 and less (some of the spots are even free!).
Only locations with availability have been included in this article. Note that many places such as Hickson Road Reserve and Blues Point have already sold out of tickets so have not been included in the article.
As of the date of publishing, tickets to all the below are still available but buy quickly as tickets sell out fast!
Sydney New Years Eve 2022 Boat Cruises
Spending New Years Eve on a boat in Sydney Harbour watching the fireworks is always a popular way to see in the new year.
Some boats can be pretty expensive – especially if you want to charter your own. Here are the cheapest ones we found, all for less than $450:
Sydney Midnight Fireworks Cruise (Darling Harbour)
Click here to purchase Fantasea Crystal Midnight Fireworks Cruise from Darling Harbour
$425.25 for adults and $265.91 for children.
Departing from Darling Harbour (Pier 26), this 2.5 hour cruise has 2 outside viewing levels to ensure you get the best view of the fireworks. The boat departs at 10pm and returns at 12.30.
Sydney 9pm Fireworks Cruise (Darling Harbour)
If you’ve got kids or don’t want to justify spending over $400, book a boat for the 9pm Fireworks. They work out about $100 cheaper than the midnight fireworks. You get to watch the 9pm fireworks and then hopefully be back home in time to see the midnight fireworks on the television (or go to bed early)!.
Click here to purchase Fantasea Crystal 9pm Fireworks Cruise from Darling Harbour
$319.09 for adults and $212.73 for children.
Departs from Darling Harbour at 7pm and returning back at 9.30pm.
Sydney 9pm Fireworks Cruise (Manly)
Alternatively, if you’ll be in Manly or near the North Shore/Northern Beaches, you can get a ferry from Manly to see the 9pm fireworks. The tickets work out about $50/$60 cheaper than the boats from Darling Harbour, with an adult ticket costing $265.91 and child tickets costing $159.55. Click here to buy tickets.
The boat departs from Manly at 7pm and returns back at 9.15pm after the 9pm fireworks.
With all the above cruises you can bring your own food onboard, and purchase food and drinks at the bar. No food or drink is included in the cost of the ticket.
New Years Eve 2022 – Islands Within Sydney Harbour
If you still want to get on a boat at New Years Eve to see the Sydney fireworks but don’t want the heavy price tag, check out the islands in Sydney Harbour that you can visit for NYE 2022! All ticket prices include your return ferry transfer to the island.
Shark Island
Offering fantastic views of the Harbour Bridge is Shark Island, close to Point Piper and Rose Bay.
Tickets: $259.57 for adults and $185.07 for children aged 5-15. Buy tickets online here.
Ferries departs from Rose Bay Wharf at 6.15pm and 7pm to Shark Island, then depart from Shark Island at 12.30 and 1.15am.
Bring a picnic (no BYO alcohol – bags are searched) or purchase some on site. There’s also a DJ playing tunes.
Capacity 780 people.
Clark Island
Close to Darling Point, Clark Island is another island in Sydney Harbour that offers incredible views of the Sydney fireworks.
Tickets: $285.28 for adults and $203.32 for children aged 5-15. Buy tickets online here.
Meet at the AMP Building, 33 Alfred Street Circular Quay 30 minutes before ferry departure time. Ferries departs at 6pm and 6.45pm to Clark Island, then depart from Clark Island at 12.30 and 1.15am.
Bring a picnic (no BYO alcohol – bags are searched) or purchase some on site.
Capacity is limited to 680 people.
Goat Island
Located on the other side of the Harbour Bridge to both Shark Island and Clark Island, Goat Island is close to Balmain and also provides you with uninterrupted views of the Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks.
Tickets: $227.46 for adults and $152.42 for children aged 5-15. Buy tickets online here.
Meet at Barangaroo Ferry Wharf 30 minutes before ferry departure time. Ferries departs at 6.30pm and 7.15pm to Goat Island.
No food is available for sale here so bring your own food.
Capacity is limited to 780 people.
Sydney New Years Eve 2022 Vantage Points
If you’d rather see in the New Year on dry land with no boats involved, check out the best vantage points to watch the Sydney fireworks.
Sydney Opera House
A FREE but very popular spot to watch the Sydney New Years Eve fireworks due to the epic views is right by the Sydney Opera House.
This vantage point will close by 2pm if not sooner, so make sure to get there early to get a good spot!
Opening times are 7.30am until 1.30am.
Maximum capacity is 6,000 people.
Mrs Macquaries Point
A famous spot to get perfect views of Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House is Mrs Macquaries Point. Note that the Gold tickets have sold out but the Silver tickets are still available.
Silver tickets are $43.70 for adults and $23.25 for children. Buy your tickets here.
Opening hours: 3pm-1am
Bring a picnic (no BYO alcohol or no glass) or purchase them on site. Toilets are available on-site.
Maximum capacity is 7,000 people.
Royal Botanic Gardens: Lawn With The View
Located on Bennelong Lawn, this is a great Harbourside location right opposite the Opera House. It’s a little bit more expensive, but included in the price of tickets is a delicious hamper!
Tickets are $381.13 for both adults and children. A vegetarian hamper is also available, as well as an other dietary hamper – select when booking tickets. Buy tickets online here.
You cannot bring your own food or drinks here.
Maximum capacity is 3,000 people.
Royal Botanic Gardens: Bridgeview
Similar to Lawn With The View, this is one of the best locations to watch the Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks from. You’ll also get a hamper, and so therefore can’t bring your own food and drinks.
Tickets are $396.47 for adults and children, and a vegetarian and other dietary hamper selection is available. Buy tickets online here.
Dawes Point (Tar-Ra Park)
Located right under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, this FREE vantage point does get very busy!
With some spots offering much better vantage points than others, it’s certainly best to get here early to secure a good spot.
Opening times from 1pm-1am.
Maximum capacity is 22,000 people.
Barangaroo Reserve
Located on the western side of Sydney Harbour Bridge is Barangaroo – another one of Sydney’s largest vantage points to see the fireworks. You can get some really lovely views of the fireworks from Barangaroo Reserve and it’s a great place for families.
Tickets cost $57.10 for adults and $26 for children aged 4-17. Buy tickets online here.
Bring a picnic (no BYO alcohol or no glass) or purchase food and drink on site at one of the many food trucks.
Opening time: 5pm-12.45.
Maximum capacity is 10,500 people.
Observation Hill Park
If you’re looking for another central location to watch the fireworks for FREE then head to Observation Hill Park! Tickets still need to be obtained beforehand – click here to visit the website.
Opening times: 5pm-1am, but all ticket holders must arrive by 10.30pm.
Views here can be partially obstructed by trees so it’s best to get here early to get a good spot!
Bring a picnic (no BYO alcohol or no glass) or purchase them on site.
Maximum capacity is 3,150 people.
Eastern Suburbs:
Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs also have some great spots from which you can watch the Sydney NYE fireworks.
Strickland Estate
A great location is by the Heritage Listed Strickland House along the Hermitage Foreshore in Vaucluse – offering a perfect view of the fireworks.
Tickets $43.71 adults, $25.50 for children aged 5-15. Buy tickets online here.
Opening hours: 5.30pm-12.30.
Bring a picnic (no BYO alcohol or no glass) or purchase them on site. Toilets are available on-site.
Maximum capacity is 2,000 people.
The roads around the Hermitage Foreshore will be closed on NYE and there is very limited parking. Take public transport or walk if possible. Buses will run to Edgecliff and Bondi Junction.
Dudley Page Reserve
Dudley Page Reserve is always a popular spot for families and locals. Located on a hill in Dover Heights, Dudley Page Reserve provides uninterrupted views of the fireworks and is a really nice relaxed environment.
Tickets $50 for adults, $25 for concessions (pensioners + children aged 5-15). Buy tickets online here.
Opening hours: 6pm-12.30.
Bring a picnic (no BYO alcohol – bags are searched) or buy food and drinks on site. There’s also a DJ and kids entertainer here.
Toilets are available on-site.
Maximum capacity is 3,000 people
Lots of the roads around Dudley Page Reserve will be closed on NYE and there is very limited parking so take public transport or walk if possible. Buses will run to Edgecliff and Bondi Junction.
North Bondi Golf Course/Hugh Bamford Reserve
Another elevated point in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, the Hugh Bamford Reserve located just north of Bondi Beach is a non-ticketed location where you can see the Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks for FREE. No tickets are required to be booked online prior.
North Shore:
Bradley’s Head: Mast Precinct
Located in the Sydney Harbour National Park in Mosman, Bradley’s Head Mast Precinct is a great family friendly place to watch the Sydney NYE Fireworks.
Tickets $56.18 for adults and $29.30 for children aged 5-15. Buy tickets online here.
Opening times: 3pm-12.30. It’s definitely worth here to get early as some views are obscured.
Bring a picnic (no BYO alcohol – bags are searched) or buy food and drinks on site. There’s also a DJ here.
Maximum capacity is 1,600 people.
Bradley’s Head: Amphitheatre
With slightly better views than at the Mast Precinct, the views at Bradley’s Head of the fireworks are stunning. The better views is reflected in the higher ticket prices here.
Tickets $88.30 for adults and $45,37 for children aged 5-15. Buy tickets online here.
Opening times: 3pm-12.30.
Bring a picnic (no BYO alcohol – bags are searched) or buy food and drinks on site.
Maximum capacity is 800 people.
If coming from Circular Quay, plan your journey carefully. The last ferry from Circular Quay leaves at 4.50pm, arriving at Taronga Zoo wharf at 5.10pm. No ferries depart from Taronga Zoo wharf after 7pm. If you’re returning to the city at the end of the night you’ll need to take a bus. Ferries will depart from Taronga Zoo wharf at 12.50am and 1.50am to Circular Quay.
North Head
Another FREE spot to see the Sydney 2022 New Years Eve Fireworks is from North Head – Manly. Although the fireworks are further away, it’s still a lovely spot to enjoy the fireworks from a distance.
Gates open at 5.30pm and close at 12.20.
Maximum capacity is 2,000 people but no tickets are required to be booked online prior.
Luna Park Harbour Party
With unlimited rides, great vantage points to see the fireworks, epic DJs and entertainment, the Harbour Party at Luna Park is a really fun place to see in the new year.
There’s a range of ticket prices – from general admission at $155.78 to Crystal, Diamond and Gold VIP ($410.65 to $767.48) which includes food and prime firework views. Buy tickets online here!
Can You Kayak In Sydney Harbour On New Years Eve?
This is something I really wanted to do – and did a lot of research into it. I spoke to a couple of companies who were contemplating doing it, but logistically it was just too difficult as the harbour is so busy with boats it could get dangerous.
Also don’t go out on a kayak yourself – the Marine Police will pull you over and you will get in trouble.