The ultimate guide to New Year’s Eve Sydney 2019/2020

Popular ticketed reserves and vantage points

• NYE at Bradleys Head: Mast Precinct: Nearby to the Athol Lawn, the Mast Precinct offers access to the upper road, boardwalk and grassy areas near the Mast. There will be live entertainment and music and food available for purchase. Tickets from $29.
• NYE at Bradleys Head: Athol Lawn: On the Mosman foreshore, Bradley's Head has excellent views of the harbour and is an affordable North Shore option. Food is available for purchase, alcohol is prohibited. Tickets from $21.
• New Year's Eve at Barangaroo Reserve: One of the newest places you can watch the big show from, Barangaroo is limited to ticketholders only. But at an affordable $41.80 a ticket, it's an ideal spot for an evening picnic to kick off the New Year. There's also food and drink for sale.
• Dudley Page Reserve: One that's great for the kids and for the wallet, with tickets from just $20 a pop for children 5-16 years old. The child-friendly event has free jumping castle and facepainting. There's room on the lawn to bring your own picnic and there's a bar on site.
• North Sydney's Mary Booth Reserve, Bradfield Park, Quibaree Park and Blues Point Reserve: Previously free vantage points, four of the North Shore's parks and reserves are selling tickets to some of the best seats in town. Available from $10 a pop, plus a small booking fee, it's a small price to catch such spectacular views the Harbour Bridge fireworks. Food is available for purchase, alcohol is prohibited.
• NYE at Strickland House: For a quieter and more unique view make a beeline to the lawn of the historic Strickland House in Vaucluse. This family friendly event starts at 5.30pm and is BYO. You may bring a responsible amount of alcohol however large eskies and cartons of beer are not permitted. Tickets from $38.33.

Popular ticketed island parties

• New Year's Eve at Goat Island: Take in the view from the west side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge from Goat Island, near Balmain. Ferries to the island depart at 6:30pm and 7:15pm. Tickets from $216.75.
• Shark Island: Have a vibrant start to the new year at this island party, dancing to DJ-inspired tunes and dining on gourmet eats (for sale) like New York style hot dogs and nachos. Ferries to the island depart at 6:15pm and 7pm. Tickets from $176.
• Cockatoo Island Glamping and Camping: Spending a nights on Cockatoo Island over New Year's Eve with epic views of the fireworks costs less than some of these events and you don't have to worry about getting on public transport or into a taxi after the fireworks are done. Tickets from $400.
• Clark Island Garden Party: Join the garden party on Clark Island, located in Sydney Harbour near Darling Point. Partygoers will get a 3-course meal and a cocktail on arrival, not to mention epic views of the fireworks. The party runs from 6pm to 1.15am. Tickets from $245.

Popular ticketed New Year's Eve Sydney parties

• Cruise Bar: Sitting right underneath the Harbour Bridge with pristine views over the harbour, Cruise Bar comes alive with the sound of Aussie DJs and glasses of sparkling clinking to the theme of Carnivale. Tickets from $109 + booking fee.
• Harbour Party NYE 2019 at Luna Park: Ride all of the rides and then party your way into the new year with Hot Dub Time Machine, Example, Thandi Phoenix and more. Rides will be open until 1am and the park will be open until 3am at this 18+ event. Tickets from $99.
• New Year's Eve at Pier One Sydney Harbour: Unrivalled views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge are what you'll get at this hotel on a pier, just below the fireworks site. This all-inclusive event includes entertainment and unlimited food and drink. Tickets from $599.
• NYE in the Park at Victoria Park: Party your way into the new year with some of the biggest names in dance. Coined the easiest and best new year's party, this year's lineup include Sneaky Sound System, Hermitude, Girl Talk and Client Liaison. There's even a VIP SkyDeck for unimpeded views of the acts. Who knows, you might even be able to snatch a glimpse of the NYE fireworks from it. Tickets from $85.89.

Getting around: Sydney New Year's Eve Road closures and public transport options:

While lines for transport leaving the city centre are often long, New Year's Eve is still a night to leave your car at home if you can.

Information about public transport hasn't been released for this year yet, but here's what the go was last year (2018):

• 4,500 extra transport services, including an additional 1,000 trains, will be running on New Year's Eve
• Circular Quay station will be closed from 6pm-1am and Milsons Point station will be closed to city-bound travellers from 6pm-12am.
• Buses replace light rail services from 2:30pm-4am
• Ferries will stop running on New Year's Eve from 8pm-12:45am and Transport NSW expects services to fill up, so plan to travel early.
• Uber surcharges were very high last year, so be extra careful in checking the rate before booking a car.
• Road closures start from 11am: Cahill Expressway will close to traffic from 11am and roads in The Rocks will close from 2pm, Anzac Bridge and the Western Distributor will be closed between 8:30pm-9:30pm and again from 11:30pm-1:30am. The Harbour Bridge is closed to walkers and cyclists from 6pm- and traffic from 11pm-1:30am. All streets in the CBD north from Liverpool Street will be closed from 11pm.