New Year’s Eve Chaos as Sydney Harbour Draws Front‑Row Fireworks Seekers From 4 a.m.
Thousands of people have joined massive queues around Sydney Harbour ahead of the world-famous New Year’s Eve fireworks - with some setting up camp at 4:00 a.m. The gates to Mrs Macquarie's Chair, the city's most sought-after vantage point, opened at 9:30 a.m., sparking a frantic stampede.
In This Article:
- Dawn Crowds Grow to More Than 2,000 as Front‑Row Viewing Points Fill Up
- International Visitors Join the Spectacle as Harbour City Prepares for Millions
- Security and Transport Surge as 1,000 Extra Services Planned for a 46‑Hour Operation
- Defiance in the Face of Terror: Police Preparedness and Public Safety
Dawn Crowds Grow to More Than 2,000 as Front‑Row Viewing Points Fill Up
By dawn, more than 2,000 people were queuing, some having camped overnight to secure front-row seats for the midnight show. Once the gates opened, the foreshore became a kilometer-long racetrack with people dragging picnic rugs and eskies in the scramble for territory.
International Visitors Join the Spectacle as Harbour City Prepares for Millions
International visitors were also swept up in the excitement. 'I live in Germany, I've never experienced anything like this,' one tourist told the ABC. Sydney Harbour is set to host over a million spectators tonight, with tens of thousands already packed into viewing areas long before sunset. Mrs Macquarie's Chair remains Sydney's 'crown jewel' for New Year's Eve, offering iconic views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
Security and Transport Surge as 1,000 Extra Services Planned for a 46‑Hour Operation
'We're expecting big crowds in the city tonight - more than a million people coming to join in the celebrations,' NSW Transport Minister John Graham said. To manage the influx, Graham announced a huge transport operation. 'More than 1,000 extra services are going to be in place, that's a 40 percent uplift on a normal day,' he said. He confirmed public transport will run continuously for 46 hours, with Metro trains expected to clear crowds 'in about half the time it would usually take'.
Defiance in the Face of Terror: Police Preparedness and Public Safety
'We can't be in a situation where this horrible criminal terrorist event changes the way we live in our beautiful city. We have to show defiance,' he said. 'Police are on high alert. Transport is ramping up. There is a massive logistical exercise, with tens of thousands of public servants keeping you safe,' he said. The aftermath of the Bondi massacre has led to unprecedented police measures across Sydney. 'There'll be a number of heavily armed officers deployed across metropolitan Sydney… They'll be operational and highly visible,' Minns confirmed. He explained that new protocols mean armed officers will mingle with the crowd. 'If you see a heavily armed officer, it doesn't mean there's an active operation. It means they're there in preparation for any eventuality. We want the community to see police and know they can enjoy the night without fear.' The citywide operation will include riot squads, PolAir helicopters, dog units and marine police. Details around tactical changes remain secret. 'We're not going to be cowered by terrorism,' Minns said. 'The best way to demonstrate defiance is to live your life and get some joy out of New Year's Eve, safe in the knowledge that thousands of officers are protecting you.'
