26 Incredible Ways To Spend New Year's Eve

Still don’t have plans for New Year’s Eve? Here are 26 ways to welcome 2026.

New Year’s Eve in Australia is one of the most anticipated nights of the year, and there are so many ways to celebrate across the country. Some usher in the New Year surrounded by loved ones at home. Others flock to designated firework zones with friends or head out on the town for a night to remember.

Many flee the city, hoping for nothing more than a quiet conversation around a fire pit under the stars, while some are already fast asleep once the clock strikes midnight. Whatever your preference, here’s a few ways you can welcome 2026.

1. NYE on the Rooftop

Where: Hotel Marvell, Byron Bay, NSW
When: Until 12am
Tickets: $149 per person

Hotel Marvell in Byron Bay, NSW — Spend New Year’s Eve by the rooftop pool at Hotel Marvell.

Cheers to new beginnings at NYE on the Rooftop, hosted by Hotel Marvell in the beachside town of Byron Bay. Alongside stunning views out to the ocean, guests can look forward to Roederer champagne on arrival, snacks, roving canapes, live music and a dazzling countdown.

If you’d rather be in bed before midnight, opt for the NYE dinner downstairs at Byron Bay Oyster Bar, from 5pm–8:30pm. Known as one of Byron Bay’s most luxurious stays, why not book the night at Hotel Marvell and start 2026 in paradise?

2. House of Splendour

Where: Sydney Opera House, NSW
When: 8pm–1:30am
Tickets: $1050 per person (18+)

Champagne flutes — Cheers to 2026 at House of Splendour. (Image: Getty/Wil Punt)

Ring in the New Year with House of Splendour at the iconic Sydney Opera House. Located within Yallamundi Rooms, House of Splendour offers Sydneysiders prime real estate for the city’s midnight fireworks display.

Kick things off with a feast of canapes, free-flowing Champagne, premium wines and food stations. As the night progresses, expect bangers from a DJ on the decks, as well as roving entertainment to build the hype before the clock strikes twelve.

3. NYE25 White Party

Where: The Sebel Kiama, NSW
When: From 7pm
Tickets: $99 per person (18+)

One of Kiama’s coolest stays is hosting the party to end all parties so you can welcome 2026 with a bang. Taking full advantage of its Kiama Harbour views, the Sebel is throwing the NYE25 White Party at its onsite restaurant, Yves Social.

Jervis Bay Distilling Co. and Young Henrys will be serving up drinks as DJs pump out tunes in a bass-thumping countdown to midnight. As the name suggests, guests must come dressed to the nines in full white – so maybe avoid ordering that cab sav.

4. NYE on Bennelong Lawn

Where: Botanic Gardens of Sydney, NSW
When: From 9am
Tickets: Free entry; no ticket required

NYE on Bennelong Lawn in Sydney, NSW — Bennelong Lawn is the perfect vantage point for the fireworks. (Image: Destination NSW)

The Botanic Gardens of Sydney is arguably the best place to be on New Year’s Eve. With uninterrupted views across the harbour, it’s prime real estate for grabbing your favourite snacks (no BYO alcohol), spreading a blanket and enjoying the fireworks from Bennelong Lawn .

For those keen on front-row seats, gates will open at 9am – but many Sydneysiders arrive beforehand as they close once capacity hits 1000. If you miss out, don’t stress. Just head over to Fleet Steps (3000 capacity), the Tarpeian Lawn (3500 capacity) or Mrs Macquaries Point (10,000 capacity).

5. Summer Music Series

Where: Thredbo Alpine Hotel, NSW
When: 7pm–12:30am
Tickets: Free entry; no ticket required

Thredbo Alpine Bar in Thredbo, NSW — Celebrate 2025 the Thredbo way.

If you’re down south this NYE, you won’t miss out on the fun. The annual Summer Music Series at Thredbo Alpine Hotel will host a NYE Party presented by Balter at the Alpine Bar. Known as one of the coolest hangouts in town, you’ll be treated to more than just music.

After a day on the slopes or exploring town, slink in for a drink and live music sets by DJ Doyle and The Spindrift Saga. With a limited capacity, it’s best to arrive early – entry is free on a first-come-first-served basis.

6. New Year’s Eve Harbour Party

Where: Luna Park, Sydney, NSW
When: 6pm–2am
Tickets: $329 per person (18+)

Luna Park in Sydney, NSW — Enjoy access to unlimited rides at Luna Park this NYE. (Image: Destination NSW)

Sydney’s Luna Park invites you to celebrate the New Year on a rollercoaster high – literally. Yes, the amusement park’s New Year’s Eve Harbour Party offers prime views of the midnight fireworks, but what really sets this party apart is its line-up of extracurriculars.

Expect unlimited access to every ride, as well as live DJ sets and delicious bites. Where will you be when the clock strikes 12? Whirling away on the Tango Train? Relaxing on the ferris wheel? Or tearing up the dance floor with your best mates? Get your ticket to find out!

7. NYE at The Entrance

Where: Central Coast, NSW
When: 6pm–9pm
Tickets: Free entry; no ticket required

Say goodbye to 2025 at The Entrance this year, with music, food trucks, rides, live entertainment and, of course, fireworks! Unfolding along the town’s picturesque waterfront at Memorial Park, NYE at The Entrance promises free thrills for the whole family.

Running across three hours and wrapping up with a 9pm fireworks display, it’s the perfect celebration for little ones in tow. Everyone can enjoy the event, thanks to accessible parking and toilets, Auslan interpreters, free earplugs and a dedicated space for those with sensory needs.

8. Elrow Bondi Beach XXL

Where: Bondi Beach, Sydney, NSW
When: 6pm–12:30am
Tickets: $248 per person

For the first time in over a decade, New Year’s Eve is returning to Bondi with Elrow Bondi Beach XXL , an immersive party experience held on one of Sydney’s best beaches. Two huge stages will host a line-up of live music: The Rowmunda, a pirate ship battling a sea monster; and The Pink Cathedral, an inflatable church tent.

While the main festival is 18+ only, those with little ones can still come down to celebrate at the free Locals Lawn Family Zone. This all-ages area will run separately, with food trucks, roaming performers and a 9pm fireworks display.

9. NYE at Felons

Where: Manly, NSW
When: From 6pm
Tickets: $149 per person

Felons Manly in Sydney, NSW — Soak up harbourside views without the crowds this New Year’s at Felons Manly.

Want the waterfront views without having to fight the crowds this New Year’s Eve? No worries, just head to Felons on Manly Wharf, where you can sit back, relax and still enjoy the iconic fireworks over the harbour (at both 9pm and midnight).

The brewery is welcoming 2026 with a sunset feast over the water, paired perfectly with ice-cold beers and DJs spinning decks on the jetty. Each ticket includes a drink upon arrival, as well as a shared menu of fresh seafood, sirloin and roaming desserts.

10. NYE on the Yarra River

Where: Afloat & Arbory, Melbourne, Vic
When: 6pm–12am
Tickets: $165–$225 per person

Afloat in Melbourne, Vic — Welcome 2026 on the Yarra River in Melbourne.

You’re in for a night to remember this New Year’s Eve if you’re in the Victorian capital. Two of Melbourne’s best restaurants, Afloat and Arbory Bar, are again teaming up to throw an epic NYE Party on the Yarra River – complete with prime views of the city’s midnight fireworks.

Hosted across both waterfront venues, guests can gather to enjoy live music and entertainment under twinkling festoon fairylights. Depending on your budget, you can book a Main Deck Afloat package ($225) or an Arbory Package ($165) – while one is on the water and the other on land, both include canapes and bottomless house drinks.

11. NYE Rooftop Party

Where: QT Melbourne, Vic
When: From 7pm
Tickets: $325 per person (18+)

Drink in views of the city skyline from Rooftop at QT , the stunning onsite bar at QT Melbourne. Treat yourself to bottomless drinks, roving canapes and freshly shucked oysters as you and your best mates groove to live bands and DJ sets.

As the year ticks over to 2026, you’ll also have uninterrupted views of the midnight fireworks. Too tired to head home afterwards? No worries! You’re already at one of Melbourne’s best hotels after all, so just book a luxurious room downstairs.

12. Dinner at Moonhouse

Where: Balaclava, Vic
When: From 5:30pm
Tickets: $88 per person

Moonhouse in Melbourne, Vic — Moonhouse will be serving a one-off set menu this New Year’s Eve.

Foodies in Melbourne this New Year’s should head to Moonhouse . Located above Restaurant Balaclava, the intimate bar is planning a one-off set menu featuring everything from freshly shucked oysters and roast duck bao to pork belly skewers and steamed gai lan.

In partnership with highly lauded Aussie distillery Archie Rose, Moonhouse will also be serving a limited edition martini, an off-menu cocktail available for one night only. Don’t leave after downing dessert either – a live DJ set will carry you through to 2026.

13. NYE at Hofbräuhaus

Where: Melbourne, Vic
When: 6:30pm–10:30pm
Tickets: Free entry; no ticket required

Hofbrauhaus in Melbourne, Vic — Celebrate with a stein or two of German beer at Hofbräuhaus. (Image: Brian Doherty)

Ring in the New Year Bavarian-style at Hofbräuhaus in Melbourne , a traditional-style German pub that really knows how to celebrate. It’s all about big biers and bigger cheers, with live music kicking off from 6:30pm.

The festive beer hall will be pouring steins of imported beer, as well as authentic dishes like schnitzel, spätzle and sauerkraut. There is no ticket required, no set menu and no formal seating – just great food, great drinks and even better times. Prost!

14. Woodford Folk Festival

Where: Moreton Bay, Qld
When: 27 December – 1 January
Tickets: From $142 (18+)

Woodford Folk Festival in Brisbane, Qld — Create, connect, laugh and dance into 2026. (Image: Tourism & Events Queensland)

Welcome the New Year by setting your soul free at the Woodford Folk Festival . Built by a diverse congregation of the creative community, the festival has transformed into a village of music, culture and colour since its inception in 1887.

The vibrant event is held in the magical lands of Woodfordia by Lake Gkula, around a 1.5-hour drive north of Brisbane. Headlined by local, national and international acts, festival-goers are invited to create, connect, laugh, listen and dance into 2026.

15. NYE at Haven Pool Club

Where: Mondrian Gold Coast, Qld
When: 9pm–12:30am
Tickets: $295 per person (18+)

One of Australia’s hottest hotel openings of 2025, Mondrian Gold Coast is not only celebrating the beginning of 2026, but its first year of operational success. The lively open-air event will take over the hotel’s oceanfront deck, known as Haven Pool Club , for a party like no other.

Guests can expect live hibachi stations, premium beverages (including endless margaritas) and a rotating line-up of local DJs, including Nicka35, Carter, Kira Kira and SVLT. Welcome the New Year in tropical bliss, immersed in the Gold Coast’s unmistakable coastal energy.

16. Dinner at The Lex

Where: W Brisbane, Qld
When: From 5pm or 6:15pm
Tickets: $195 per person

The Lex at W Brisbane, Qld — Indulge in a sumptuous four-course menu this NYE at The Lex. (Image: Markus Ravik)

You’re invited to dine in style this New Year’s Eve at The Lex , located on level three of the stunning W Brisbane. Not only does this unmatched Brissie location deliver world-class food and service, but it also offers first-row seats to the NYE fireworks.

Indulge in a sumptuous four-course menu, as well as champagne, cocktails, beer and wine. Top it all off with live music and breathtaking views of the city skyline as you reminisce on the year. Reservations are from either 5pm or 6:15pm for a two-hour seating.

17. NYE White Party

Where: Cali Beach Club, Surfers Paradise, Qld
When: From 7pm
Tickets: $109–$179 (18+)

Cali Beach Club in Surfers Paradise, Qld — Cali Beach Club is ringing in 2025 with a classic White Party.

If your ideal New Year’s Eve celebrations involve partying into the early hours, then Cali Beach Club’s NYE White Party is for you. Set against the sparkling backdrop of Surfers Paradise, guests can look forward to live DJ sets, roving entertainment and beachside fireworks.

There’s plenty of space to mingle and dance with your mates, but if you’re keen to level up the night, book a poolside lounge, deck daybed, booth, or go all-out with a VIP cabana. While early bird and first release tickets have sold out, second and final release tickets are still up for grabs.

18. Taste of Summer

Where: Hobart, Tas
When: 27 December – 3 January
Tickets: $90 per person (on NYE)

food stalls at the Hobart/Nipaluna’s Taste of Summer — Taste of Summer is one of the capital’s best festivals. (Image: Alastair Bett)

Hobart’s gorgeous waterfront explodes with flavour and festivity over the New Year period, as Taste of Summer transforms Princes Wharf into a celebration of Tasmania’s finest produce. The week-long celebration opens at midday daily, giving you plenty of time to grab a coffee and wander down.

Over 80 locally led artisan stalls will be dishing up seasonal fare, fresh seafood, craft beer and premium wines across the week, paired perfectly with a line-up of live music. Don’t miss the big NYE party – with neon lights, performances and fireworks over the harbour, it’s the ultimate way to welcome 2026.

19. Launceston BeerFest

Where: Royal Park, Launceston, Tas
When: 4pm – 12:30am
Tickets: $43 per person

Beer tasting paddles — Cheers to 2025 with over 200 craft brews at NYE Beerfest in Launceston. (Image: Pauline Loroy)

Launceston’s annual NYE Beerfest invites you to spend the final day of the year at Royal Park, sampling your choice of more than 200 top-notch brews. Do you accept? If so, you’ve just signed up for one of the city’s hottest events – and there’s so much more than just beer to look forward to.

In the lead-up to an epic fireworks display come midnight, you can attend tasting sessions, masterclasses, comedy shows, live music sets and the (not-so-official) beer olympics. If you’re not a fan of beer, you’re still welcome – just grab a cider, wine cocktail or spirit instead!

20. Snack Festival

Where: Claremont Showground, Perth, WA
When: 5pm–1am
Tickets: $145 per person (18+)

Snack Festival in Perth, WA — Ring in the New Year at Snack Festival in Perth.

More NYE wonderland than music festival, Snack takes over Perth’s Claremont Showground with three main stages hosting epic music acts. Each stage has its own offshoot: The Pyramid Stage has a silent disco dancefloor, Sin City, a kissing booth, and the Duckzilla Stage, a VIP deck.

But that’s not all – in fact, it’s just the beginning. The festival also features thrilling rides and food trucks, as well as a beer garden, wedding chapel, snow park, piercing station, tattoo parlour and sumo wrestling ring. You’ll be having so much fun you won’t even notice the clock striking midnight.

21. Taste of Hearth

Where: Ritz-Carlton Perth, WA
When: 6pm–9.30pm
Tickets: $355 per person

Hearth in Perth, WA — Hearth champions fresh, local and seasonal produce.

See out 2025 with a decadent six-course dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Perth’s Taste of Hearth this New Year’s Eve. But it won’t be your usual menu. In true Hearth fashion, the menu is inspired by Western Australia’s landscape, from coast to country.

Think everything from torched Shark Bay scallops and Manjimup marron to a divine dessert of burnt coconut pavlova with quandong, desert lime and Geraldton wax. Service will pause at 8:15pm so guests can head out onto the terrace and watch the fireworks over Elizabeth Quay.

22. NYE Seafood Bash

Where: Stamford Plaza Adelaide, SA
When: 7:30pm–12:30am
Tickets: $229 per person (18+)

If you’re a foodie in the South Australian capital this NYE, you simply must find your way to the Stamford Plaza Adelaide. Why, you may ask? Because they’re hosting the Gonna Be Golden New Year’s Eve Seafood Bash , of course!

The all-local menu features fresh oysters, swimmer crab, Atlantic salmon, bluefin tuna, king prawns, scallop ceviche and more – paired with Wagyu Asado, fresh salads, charcuterie and dessert. There will also be a five-hour unlimited drinks package, live music and an award for best dressed!

23. New Year’s Eve Gala

Where: Kingsford The Barossa, SA
When: 6pm–1am
Tickets: $395 per person

Kingsford The Barossa in SA — Guests will be treated to a three-course set menu with paired wines.

To farewell 2025 in style, Kingsford The Barossa will be hosting an elegant New Year’s Eve Gala . Guests will begin with champagne and canapes before heading to the Wine Fault for a three-course set menu with paired wines.

Dinner finishes at 9:30pm, but the party is just getting started. Guests will be moved into the Lodge Bar, where live music, a late-night chef’s cheese table and drinks will carry you into the New Year. Be sure to book a room to avoid driving home, too.

24. Adelaide Strikers vs. Brisbane Heat

Where: Adelaide Oval, SA
When: From 7:15pm
Tickets: $69–$89

Adelaide Oval in SA — Adelaide Oval will host the nail-biting match on New Year’s Eve. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Sports fans – this one’s for you. It may not be the most conventional end of year celebration, but it sure is one of the coolest ways to do it. On New Year’s Eve 2025, the Adelaide Strikers will hit their home pitch to take on Brisbane Heat in an intense twenty20 match that’ll have the crowd going crazy.

Once the game finishes, be sure to stick around for an epic live performance by Birds of Tokyo. Still keen to kick on? Book your spot at the Post-Match Bash and enjoy one of Adelaide Oval’s best vantage points for the midnight fireworks.

25. NYE Concert

Where: Darwin Waterfront, NT
When: 3pm–12am
Tickets: Free entry; no ticket required

Say farewell to 2025 along Darwin’s picturesque waterfront with the city’s annual live concert , followed by a spectacular fireworks display over the sea. Enjoy performances by local musicians and entertainers before hitting the dancefloor for headliner Eskimo Joe.

This exciting community event is free for all to attend, so bring a picnic spread and relax on the grass with your nearest and dearest. Gates open at 3pm, with entertainment commencing from 5pm onwards.

26. New Years in the City

Where: Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra, ACT
When: 6pm–12:30am
Tickets: Free entry; no ticket required

NYE fireworks at Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra — Fireworks will light up Lake Burley Griffin at 9pm and midnight. (Image: EventsACT)

The country’s capital is turning up the heat this month for New Years in the City , promising a dazzling end to 2025. Grab your family and friends, find a big picnic blanket and pack all the snacks before heading down to Lake Burley Griffin in the afternoon.

After securing your waterfront spot for a perfect view of the fireworks, settle in for live music, entertainment, food trucks and that buzzing, building atmosphere. Whether you head home after the 9pm fireworks or stick around for the full midnight display, you’re in for a night to remember.

*All events were available to book at the time of writing.

Slow down and find your rhythm on a Murray River journey through time and place.

Trust is a funny thing. It seems not that long ago that my mother was insisting on pouring the milk into my cereal bowl, because she didn’t trust me not to slosh it over the table, and yet here I am on the Murray River at Mildura in far north-west Victoria, being handed the keys to a very new and very expensive luxury houseboat.

After a crash course in how not to crash, I’m at the wheel of the good ship Elevate – pride of the All Seasons fleet – guiding her upstream past red-ochre cliffs as pelicans glide above the rippled river and kookaburras call from reedy banks. There’s a brief moment of breath-holding while I negotiate a hairpin turn around a jagged reef of skeletal, submerged gum trees, before a cheer rings out and calm descends as the timeless river unfurls in front of us.

The Murray River winding through Yarrawonga. (Image: Rob Blackburn)

Setting sail from Mildura

Murray River birds — Home to a large number of bird species, including pelicans. (Image: The Precint Studios)

A journey along the Murray River is never less than magical, and launching from Mildura makes perfect sense. Up here the river is wide and largely empty, giving novice skippers like myself the confidence to nudge the 60-tonne houseboat up to the riverbank where we tie up for the night, without fear of shattering the glass elevator (the boat is fully wheelchair accessible) or spilling our Champagne.

My friends and I spend three days on the water, swimming and fishing, sitting around campfires onshore at night, and basking in air so warm you’d swear you were in the tropics. The simplicity of river life reveals an interesting dichotomy: we feel disconnected from the world but at the same time connected to Country, privileged to be part of something so ancient and special.

Stop one: Echuca

19th-century paddlesteamers — A historic 19th-century paddlesteamer cruises along the Murray River. (Image: Visit Victoria)

The six-hour drive from Melbourne to Mildura (or four hours and 20 minutes from Adelaide) is more than worth it, but you don’t have to travel that far to find fun on the river. Once Australia’s largest inland port, Echuca is the closest point on the Murray to Melbourne (two hours 45 minutes), and you’ll still find a plethora of paddlesteamers tethered to the historic timber wharf, a throwback to the thriving river trade days of the 19th century. The PS Adelaide, built in 1866 and the oldest wooden-hulled paddlesteamer operating in the world, departs daily for one-hour cruises, while a brand-new paddlesteamer, the PS Australian Star , is launching luxury seven-night voyages in December through APT Touring.

The town is also a hot food and wine destination. St Anne’s Winery at the historic Port of Echuca precinct has an incredibly photogenic cellar door, set inside an old carriage builders’ workshop on the wharf and filled with huge, 3000-litre port barrels. The Mill, meanwhile, is a cosy winter spot to sample regional produce as an open fire warms the red-brick walls of this former flour mill.

Stop two: Barmah National Park

Just half-an-hour upstream, Barmah National Park is flourishing, its river red gum landscape (the largest in the world) rebounding magnificently after the recent removal of more than 700 feral horses. The internationally significant Ramsar-listed wetland sits in the heart of Yorta Yorta Country, with Traditional Owners managing the environment in close partnership with Parks Victoria. Walkways weave through the forest, crossing creeks lined with rare or threatened plants, passing remnants of Yorta Yorta oven mounds and numerous scar trees, where the bark was removed to build canoes, containers or shields.

The Dharnya Centre (open weekdays until 3pm) is the cultural hub for the Yorta Yorta. Visitors can learn about the ecological significance of the Barmah Lakes on a 90-minute river cruise, led by a First Nations guide, or take a one-hour, guided cultural walking tour along the Yamyabuc Trail.

Stop three: Cobram

Continue east to Cobram to find the southern hemisphere’s largest inland beach. Swarming with sun-seekers in summer, the white sand of Thompson’s Beach is shaded by majestic river red gums and dotted with hundreds of beach umbrellas, as beachgoers launch all manner of water craft and set up stumps for beach cricket. But the beach is at its most captivating at sunset, when the crowds thin out, the glassy river mirrors the purple sky, and the canopies of the gum trees glow fiery orange.

The region is also home to some fine resorts and indulgent retreats. Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort has two riverside championship golf courses, luxury apartments and self-contained villas. While not strictly on the Murray, the historic wine town of Rutherglen is rife with boutique (and unique) accommodation, including an exquisitely renovated red-brick tower in a French provincial-style castle at Mount Ophir Estate. Fans of fortified wines can unravel the mystery of Rutherglen’s ‘Muscat Mile’, meeting the vignerons and master-blenders whose artistry has put the town on the global map for this rich and complex wine style.

Stop four: Albury-Wodonga

First Nations YindyamarraSculpture Walk — First Nations Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk is part of the Wagirra Trail. (Image: Carmen Zammit)

Follow the river far enough upstream and you’ll arrive at the twin border cities of Albury-Wodonga. The Hume Highway thunders through, but serenity can be found along the five-kilometre Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk – part of the Wagirra Trail that meanders through river wetlands just west of Albury in Wiradjuri country. Fifteen sculptures by local First Nations artists line the trail, conveying stories of reconciliation, enduring connection to culture, local Milawa lore and traditional practices. It feels a long way from Mildura, and it is, but the pelicans and kookaburras remind us that it’s the same river, the great conduit that connects our country.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

New Mildura motel Kar-rama. (Image: Iain Bond Photo)

Kar-Rama is a brand-new boutique, retro-styled motel in Mildura, with a butterfly-shaped pool and a tropical, Palm Springs vibe. Echuca Holiday Homes has a range of high-end accommodation options, both on the riverfront and in town.

Playing there

BruceMunro’s Trail of Lights in Mildura — Bruce Munro’s Trail of Lights in Mildura. (Image: Imogen Eveson)

Artist Bruce Munro’s Trail of Lights installation, comprising more than 12,000 illuminated ‘fireflies’, is currently lighting up Mildura’s Lock Island in the middle of the Murray. Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA) is a hub for contemporary art, with a rotating roster of exhibitions, and is a major outlet for young and First Nations artists.

Eating there

Mildura’s diverse demographic means it’s a fantastic place to eat. Andy’s Kitchen is a local favourite, serving up delicious pan-Asian dishes and creative cocktails in a Balinese-style garden setting. Call in to Spoons Riverside in Swan Hill to enjoy locally sourced, seasonal produce in a tranquil setting overlooking the river.