Australia’s Best New Year’s Eve 2021 Celebrations

Ringing in the New Year in Australia is quite the event. Sydney alone each year sees millions flock to the city’s famed harbour shore while billions onlook globally to catch the iconic city-wide firework display. Setting the celebratory standards as one of the first countries to see the clock strike midnight on 31 December and with the world more than ready to see this year come to an end, we’ve pulled together a list of Australia’s best New Year’s Eve 2021 celebrations.

Trending for New Year’s Eve 2021 celebrations in Australia is a three-pronged theme – intimate, safe and surrounded by loved ones wherever possible. In lieu of the large parties we have grown so accustomed to, this year like everything else, people are pairing back the pomp of the regular New Year’s Eve affair to reveal a celebration style that is much more refined. One that welcomes in the New Year with arms wide open, showing appreciation for the little things and care for all in place of the regular revelry.

Sydney fireworks display

Catch a spectacular display of fireworks

Across the country, from big cities to small regional towns, fireworks light up the Australian sky at midnight on New Year’s Eve. While attendance nationwide may be a little different this year, the show will go on.

In an attempt to deter crowds, Australia’s larger cities of Melbourne and Brisbane have scrapped their usual New Year’s Eve fireworks displays, while Sydney’s ‘family friendly’ 9pm fireworks show has been removed from this year’s schedule. However, the main event remains. Sydney’s iconic New Year’s Eve fireworks will light up the harbour city sky for billions across the world to watch live from home, welcoming in 2021 for seven whole celebratory minutes.

Dine-out with your nearest and dearest

With the hospitality industry being one of the most effected and regulated from the events of 2020, it is taking extreme COVID-safe measures to ensure the safety of patrons and staff. Restaurants and bars across the country are featuring menus and drinks packages exclusively created for the purpose of offering the maximum amount of fun and safety. For people to enjoy a night out with their nearest and dearest, celebrating the end of 2020 and to cheers in the New Year.

As each state is under their own set of restrictions, dinner and drinks may look a little different, but the level of enjoyment will be felt nationwide with something for everyone.

Sydney’s Alibi Bar & Kitchen will see diners start the year with good intentions and great company with a 100% plant-based 8-course Chef’s Menu at $95 per person, with the optional addition of a 3-hour beverage package for $139 served up beneath the indoor venues fairy light trees. The ACT’s Contentious Character Winery (just 20 minutes from Canberra) is hosting an evening of ‘Music in the Vines’ with wine and food to be spent in the company of loved ones (dogs included).

Music in the Vines, Contentious Character Winery

Hit the streets for a taste of Melbourne’s best restaurants. The City of Melbourne will transform from Flinders Lane to Little Bourke Street, Chinatown to Domain Road into a collection of 11 outdoor dining precincts collectively known for one night only as New Year Street Feasts with recovery brunches to take care of you New Year’s Day. In true Brisvegas fashion, say sayonara to 2020 at Factory Festival. And yes, it is a real live festival. Featuring live DJs, not one but nine bars, a silent disco, carnival rides, a games arcade, food trucks and more.

City of Melbourne and Melbourne Food and Wine Festival present New Year Street Feasts

Order in in-style

Make a night of it by staying in this New Year’s Eve in Australia. 2020 has seen the emergence of an abundance of restaurant quality meals become readily available at home along with the delivery of signature beverages made by your favourite bars, distillers brewers and more. So celebrate in-style this New Year’s Eve and order in a smorgasbord of culinary and mixology delights from your favourite venues for a fancy potluck between friends to welcome in the New Year from the safety of home. Add a dress-up or theme, a couple of activities and you’ll have yourself one hell of an evening in. 

 Merivale’s Mr. Wong at Home

Get some Vitamin Sea

Hit the high seas this New Year’s Eve to escape the monotony that has been 2020. As a water-locked country Australia is, as its anthem states, girt by sea. This geographical gift means that boat hire abounds in Australia. A simple google search, or swipe through a water-based sharing app will see your New Years Eve, surrounded by a select few of your favourite people, spent on the water.

Boat Party

Take in the dawn of New Year’s Day

Sunrise has long lived as a symbol of new beginnings, with each day offering a fresh perspective and start. What better way to welcome the new year with arms wide open, full of hope and optimism for a better year, than by watching the first sunrise of 2021. Although this daily event is one you can watch from just about anywhere, there are some more momentous ways to mark the moment.

Depending where you are in Australia will determine your sunrise vantage. While most believe you see the first sunrise in Australia from the continent’s most easterly point of Cape Byron, you will catch the first moments of New Year’s Day dawn from Mount Warning located in the Tweed Ranges west of Cap Byron. From which the summit views go beyond the horizon of Cape Byron. But this is just one way to see the first light of New Year’s Day.  

Mount Warning Summit sunrise