How to celebrate New Year’s Eve in your nearest city

Sydney

The eyes of the world are fixed on the Harbour City every December 31, when Sydney becomes the first major city on earth to enter the New Year. Due to safety concerns surrounding COVID-19, the NSW government has toned down proceedings a bit this year: The 9pm family fireworks have been cancelled, and the midnight display to ring in 2021 will be shortened. While normally, every inch of spare turf around the water is occupied by more than a million admirers, attendence for non-residents will instead be more tightly controlled, with large crowds likely to be dispersed and the areas closest to the harbour requiring a New Year's Eve Pass (reserved for those with accommodation or venue bookings). 

Despite the restrictions, Sydney Harbour YHA's exclusive location means its annual rooftop NYE party will be going ahead, and bookings will entitle guests to New Year's Eve Passes for the night as well as the insane views from the rooftop lounge of the building. We highly recommend grabbing tickets while they're still available, or picking one of our other Sydney-based locations to stay and making a restaurant booking for the evening to secure your Pass.

Stay at: one of five YHAs in and around Sydney

Melbourne

Melbourne's NYE celebrations are going to be a little different this year. The City of Melbourne and Victorian State Government have finally released the details, and we're sorry to report that there will be no fireworks display.

However, the two-day New Year Street Feasts event which will be held in its place promises to be a fantastic way to celebrate the New Year in true Melbournian fashion - with fine food and a wineglass in hand - all while supporting local eateries who've been doing it tough during lockdown. We're definitely thankful to be having festivities at all after all Victoria's been through in recent months, so check out the programme and go out and celebrate a gourmet New Year in Australia's culinary capital!

Stay at: Melbourne Central YHA or Melbourne Metro YHA

Adelaide

Much like Melbourne, The City of Adelaide has decided to forego a large fireworks event for New Year's Eve this time around in favour of a culinary-themed family night out. Festivities will be spread across the city and North Adelaide, with authorities encouraging revellers to head out for scrumptious food and to see live music performances all over town in the beautiful summer weather.

There'll be plenty of options all over town for your eating and drinking, so to get involved, Adelaide Central YHA is definitely the place to be!

Stay at: Adelaide Central YHA

Perth

Western Australia is three hours behind the East Coast, so Perth arrives fashionably late (by Aussie standards) to the New Year’s party. The Swan River is a magical spot to ring in the New Year, and despite COVID restrictions and a slightly altered order of proceedings, Perth's 'City at New Year's Eve' event promises to be a wonderful way to close out 2020. 

As announced by the City of Perth, fireworks in Perth WILL go ahead at both 9pm and midnight, while stage entertainment and a ton of street performances and art installations will be spread out across the Northbridge precinct to keep the crowds moving and enjoying different spots throughout the night. Despite all the uncertainty in the leadup, Perth's NYE festivities promise to be something special this year!

Stay at: Perth City YHA

Hobart

There won't be the wonderful Taste of Tasmania festival on this year, but at the last time of asking, plans were still on for waterfront fireworks in the city on the 31st of December. Details remain thin on the ground, but Tasmania has been doing comparatively well in regards to the Coronavirus pandemic, so it's fair to expect that compared with other cities, Hobart might be a little more relaxed in its restrictions.

Only time will tell, so keep checking back. In the meantime, with the Sydney to Hobart going ahead, and the triumphant vessels trickling in from the 28th to moor at Constitution Dock, Hobart is still a fantastic place to spend a Christmas and New Year, fireworks or no! 

Stay at: Hobart Central YHA

Brisbane

Sadly, Brisbane City Council has announced that there will be no fireworks to mark the start of 2021, and there's little indication of alternate arrangements put on by the City. There are, however, a myriad of privately operated events and celebrations at venues throughout Brisbane that'll be even more exclusive due to occupancy limits and the lack of public festivities. If you're planning on being in Brissy for New Year's eve,  there's only one right choice for accommodation... 

Stay at: Brisbane City YHA

Canberra

Normally, the capital’s biggest New Year’s Eve party takes place just a block’s stroll away from Canberra City YHA with live music and activities at Civic Square, but we're waiting to hear from the ACT government about whether it'll go ahead. We'll update you soon!

Stay at: Canberra City YHA