Thrilled crowds are celebrating New Year’s Eve with fireworks and festivities across Australia, free of COVID-19 restrictions for the first time in three years.
Bolstered again by overseas and interstate tourists, a million-plus revellers crammed into Sydney harbourside vantage points on a muggy evening to see the city’s world-renowned pyrotechnic show.
In a $5.8 million production, about 13,000 fireworks have gone up in smoke in two displays from the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and city rooftops.
UK tourist Cornelius Keogh, 63, who has been travelling throughout Australia with his Dutch partner was giddy with excitement lining up for six hours to secure a spot.
“It’s a feeling. It’s a need to be part of this in this great city. It’s one of the best new year’s celebrations there is so we said ‘let’s do it, let’s see it live’,” he told AAP overlooking the Harbour Bridge.
Dancing ahead of a group of eight friends and family, Jasbir Singh, a 36-year-old construction worker drove from Melbourne was excited being part of the thousands pouring into Circular Quay.
His friends were blaring loud Bhangra music from a boom box as onlookers clapped them on.
“Sydney is a beautiful city with lots of people and we just came to watch the fireworks at the harbour and to be part of the big crowd”, the first-time visitor said.
Ron Waterman, 50, a basketball coach from New York, and his wife lined up since midday to take part in the festivities.
“I used to see the fireworks on TV so when I got the chance to come out to Australia, I said I have to come and see the show for myself up close,” he told AAP.
“It’s good seeing people out having a good time and enjoying themselves without any altercations or complaints.”
Crowds built quickly in Melbourne’s CBD as families and groups of friends flocked to parks for early fireworks, before an estimated 450,000 people filled the city at midnight.
“There’s food trucks, music, entertainment and it’s all free, it’s a beautiful night,” picnicker Kim told AAP while enjoying a gin and tonic at one of four celebration zones around the city.
It was set to be one of Melbourne’s biggest parties since the start of the pandemic, with revellers taking advantage of life without mask mandates.
The celebrations, worth about $4 million, included fireworks set off from a record 30 rooftops as the clock strikes 12.
Restaurant Freyja, in Collins Street, experienced a rush of diners keen to watch the display from the top of a city skyscraper.
Venue manager Deborah Mckay said the streets were buzzing and patrons were extra keen to say farewell not just to 2022, but to the height of the pandemic.
“They’ve obviously had a really hard last few years and definitely they will be letting their hair down,” she told AAP.
For the first time, there are family friendly fireworks in Perth before a show along the Swan River when the clock strikes 12.
Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart are also celebrating with two fireworks displays, but expected severe weather forced Darwin’s public events to be cancelled.
