We’re less than a month from “that” countdown, and it’s high time Sydneysiders and visitors start to shuffle their New Year’s Eve plans into place with the best NYE parties in Sydney.
To help, Sydney Travel Guide has put together a round-up of Sydney’s best New Year’s Eve parties, from Sydney Opera House’s big end-of-year blowout to some of Sydney’s best restaurants for a celebratory NYE Dinner.
The 14 best NYE parties in Sydney
1. Start the new year at Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House is celebrating New Year’s Eve with its traditional Midnight Party, offering prime views of the fireworks shooting from Sydney Harbour Bridge, the harbour and the iconic sails. It’s a bit of a choose-your-own-adventure here.
You can either sit down to a special pre-opening show of Cinderella in the Joan Sutherland Theatre before it opens for a full season from January 2, or you can see the Concert Hall’s annual Christmas Gala show. All roads then lead to the official party, kicking off when the countdown rocks 12 with prime views of the fireworks, live entertainment and free-flowing drinks and canapes.
This is typically the most popular of all the NYE parties Sydney has to offer, and the first one to sell out well before 31 Dec. Get in quick.
Where: Sydney Opera House; Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000
Price: From $199
2. Have a New York-style NYE with Dean & Nancy
Walking up the winding staircase and into Dean & Nancy on 22 always feels like you’ve just stumbled upon a classic black-and-white ball in New York City. The glamourous rooftop bar is an easy pick if you’re looking for something a bit swankier for New Year’s Eve, with a $220 ticket netting you a trove of bespoke cocktails, live music and an opulent spread of food to match.
Where: 2 Hunter St, Sydney NSW 2000
Price: $220
3. Get comfortable at the cosy Old Fitz
You might feel like you’re hiding away from the NYE fireworks inside the transportive Old Fitz. But this vintage-minded pub is still a great place to spend New Year’s Eve, with a $120 entry-free bringing you into a French-style banquet with a glass of bubbles on arrival and live entertainment from gypsy jazz group Coucou Zazous.
Where: 129 Dowling St, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011
Price: $120
4. Celebrate NYE in style at Barangaroo House
Barangaroo House is dedicating each of its three levels to a different theme for a massive New Year’s Eve party in Barangaroo. Head up to rooftop bar Smoke and you’ll find everything pushed towards the 90s, on the middle ground vinyl bar Rekodo is hosting a 70s-style disco, and the ground floor will celebrating the noughties. Unlike most New Year’s Eve parties in Sydney, this one is completely free. Although you’d need to get in early to beat the crowds.
Where: 35 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000
Price: Free
5. Party in Darling Harbour at W Sydney
W Sydney’s most impressive space, the 29/30 bar, is going all-out for New Year’s Eve. The Darling Harbour hotel will throw a pulsating New Year’s Eve party with DJs all night, free-flowing Champagne, oysters and even a taco station. Tickets are set at a punchy $499 but you can also climb higher and fork out $3,750 for your very own cabana.
Where: 31 Wheat Rd, Sydney NSW 2000
Price: $499 – $3,750
6. Go all out with a rave at Bungalow 8
Cockle Bar Wharf’s tropical-themed Bungalow 8 is keeping things simple for its big New Year’s Eve party. There are a number of packages available, however, so you can splash as you much as you want. Entry is set at a low $49 if you just want to party, but you can also get 11 friends together and shell out $5,000 for your very own cabana with bottle service and share platters all night.
Where: 3 Lime St, Sydney NSW 2000
Price: $49 – $5,000
bungalow8sydney.com.au
7. Preview the Nowhere Festival with an epic NYE party
Few harbour views can top the one from the MCA rooftop terraces, which is why Gorgeous is always one of the first New Year’s Eve parties to sell out each year. For 2024, they’ll be helping preview Cockatoo Island’s massive Nowhere Festival (scheduled for February), with a rooftop rave headlined by Fabric’s resident DJ Craig Richards.
Where: 140 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000
Price: $399
8. Party by the beach at Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel
The imposing Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel is a great way to catch Sydney’s NYE fireworks from a completely different vantage point. Those colourful crackers will look incredible in the far background as you party the night away at this massive beachside hotel, where Hyoketsu are hosting a wild New Year’s Eve party with DJ sets by Yolanda Be Cool, Go Freek and more.
Reasonably priced $205 tickets get you access to the party, 2 drink vouchers and access to the Beach Club, but you’ll need to go for the $450 Premium VIP package if you want access the to the Top Deck with a 3-hour drink package and roving canapés.
Where: 10 Marine Parade, Watsons Bay NSW 2030
Price: $205 – $450
10. Take the family to Taronga Zoo for perfect views
Most New Year’s Eve parties in Sydney are for adults only, but if you want to get the kids involved we suggest checking out the annual blowout at Taronga Zoo. As one of the world’s most picturesque zoos, Taronga is always in such high demand as it peeks over the entire harbour from its leafy location in Mosman with three different parties to choose from.
To make the most of it, book into Taronga’s 3-night NYE package. You’ll get to stay at the Wildlife Retreat over the New Year’s Eve period while also having a special New Year’s Eve dinner at Me-Gal with a 5-hour drinks package and a 4-course menu. The package is expensive but easily one of the most unique ways to spend New Year’s Eve on Sydney Harbour.
Where: Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman NSW 2088
Price: $5,925 per room, twin share
11. Have a retro blowout at Bar 83
Bar 83 carves a unique shadow over Sydney CBD. You’ll find this swanky retro bar atop Sydney Tower with its bright red, Jetsons-esque interior just begging to host a throwback rave. Well, dreams do come true. You’re looking at a spicy $850 for access, but you’ll get to party 83 floors above Sydney with a 70’s nightclub vibe set up with charcuterie stations, cocktails, free flowing Champagne and canapes.
Where: Westfield Sydney, Level 4/108 Market St, Sydney NSW 2000
Price: $850
12. Have a relaxed dinner at O Bar & Dining
If you favour a more relaxed New Year’s Eve dinner over a chaotic, Champagne-fuelled party then head along to O Bar & Dining. The famously stylish revolving restaurant is upping the ante for the end of the year with a $780 8-course set menu with matching wines and elevated classics like dry-aged duck breast and black truffle tart.
Where: Australia Square, level 47/264 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
Price: $780
13. Party at one of the world’s best nightclubs
Carousel, the only Australian nightclub named amongst the world’s top 100 party venues, is celebrating a successful year with a big, full-throated New Year’s Eve party that’ll run all night and then some. Warehouse3000 and Salinas are bringing in heavy-hitter Osunlade to headline the sweaty celebration in case you feel like raving 2024 into the dirt.
Where: 169 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Price: $44.99
14. Hit the dancefloor one last time at The Argyle
The Argyle, as we’ve known for it for over a decade, is closing. At least as a nightclub. Hunter St Hospitality announced the news earlier this month and it’s hit a sore spot for many who’ve spent plenty of nights partying in the heritage sandstone building. While that doesn’t necessarily spell doom and gloom for Sydney’s nightlife, it is a big hit to our dance-loving hearts.
While plans are underway to turn The Argyle into a high-end restaurant, the institution will host one final New Year’s Eve before ending with a New Year’s Day party. It’ll be an epic party pulling together everything that has made this long-standing nightclub such a force for the past 17 years. Needless to say, run, don’t walk. Tickets are flying fast.
Tickets include a pass outs all night so you can come and go as you please (a rarity for Sydney nightclubs) and the VIP upgrade will net you a three-hour drinks package from 7pm to 10pm.
Where: 18 Argyle St, The Rocks NSW 2000
Price: $40.83
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