The elegance and splendour of New Year’s Eve celebrations never fail to impress visitors from around the globe. The fireworks, lighting, and projection show during these events is among the most impressive in the world. Over a million people watch the New Year’s Eve concert live all along Sydney Harbour foreshore, while over 425 million more around the world tune in online. Two dazzling firework displays, the first at 9 p.m. and the major event at midnight, will feature the breath-taking Sydney Harbour, the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the magnificent Sydney Opera House.
The Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks show will take place at 9 p.m. and midnight on Saturday, 31 December 2022, and thousands of individuals are expected to surround the Harbour to watch these.
Blockage of Traffic
Road closures in the Sydney Central Business District begin as early as 4am, with the majority of the CBD and Pyrmont experiencing full closures by 7pm. Prior to the midnight fireworks, the Sydney Harbour Bridge will indeed be closed to all traffic in both directions beginning at 11 p.m. Both firework shows will require the closure of the citybound lanes of the Anzac Bridge from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., then again from 11 p.m. to 1:30 am. Road closures begin at 5 p.m. on major thoroughfares in North Sydney, Milsons Point, and Kirribilli, with some local road closures surrounding vantage sites beginning in the wee hours of the morning. By 3 a.m. on New Year’s Day (1 January), most routes in North Sydney and Milsons Point will reopen, while by 4 a.m. in the Sydney CBD, most roads will reopen. Drivers and service providers are strongly encouraged to become informed with the street closures in advance. Get live updates at livetraffic.com.
TfNSW also provides an interactive map of road closures in Sydney on New Year’s Eve, detailing closures, clearways, and access for each local government.
Timing of major road closures from midnight on December 31st to midnight on January 1st, 2019. Royal Botanic Garden & Domain roadways, including Art Gallery Rd., will be closed from midnight on December 30 to four in the morning on January 1. Beginning at 4 a.m. on December 31 and lasting until 6 a.m. on January 1, Macquarie Street will be closed between Bridge At 8 a.m. on December 31st, drivers will find northbound Cahill Expressway open. Please be aware that Cahill Expressway southbound would be blocked starting at 10pm on Monday, December 26. The road will be closed at both ends starting at 4.30 a.m. on Sunday, January 8, 2023. From 12 AM on December 31 to 4 AM on January 1, Hickson Road will be closed between Millers Point and Barangaroo.
Lanes north of Bridge St. at Circular Quay, between 2pm on the 31st and 4am on the 1st, will be closed. This includes George St./Hickson Rd. to Pottinger St.; Phillip St.; Young St.; Pitt St.; Loftus St.; and Upper Fort St. at Observatory, Blue St. at North Sydney Station, 12 p.m. on the 31st to 3 a.m. on the 1st, The Central Station Railway Colonnade, from 5pm on December 31 to 4am on January 1. Southbound Pacific Highway, Blues Point Road, Alfred Street South, and other local roads in the North Sydney & Milsons Point areas will be closed from 11 p.m. on December 31 until 3 a.m. on January 1.
Time: December 31st, 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. On January 1, Wheat Road between King Street Wharf and Darling Island Road between King Street Wharf and Pyrmont will be closed.
From midnight on December 31 to four in the morning on January 1, major thoroughfares in the Central Business District among York St and Macquarie St from Circular Quay to Hyde Park, as well as streets in The Rocks like Argyle St, Harrington St, Cumberland St, and parts of Hickson Rd, and Pyrmont’s Pirrama Rd will be closed. Use the York St. or Glebe Off-Ramps instead of the Harbour Bridge after 7 p.m. Keep going along Sussex St. to reach Darling Harbour.
Time: December 31 from 8 p.m. until 1:30 a.m. The section of Darling Drive between Pyrmont Bridge Road and Pier Street will reopen on January 1. Beginning at 8 p.m. on December 31 and ending at 3 a.m. On January 1, the exit ramp for the Pacific Highway from the Sydney Harbour Bridge into North Sydney and a portion of Walker Street will reopen. 8.30pm – 9.30pm Monday, December 31: Western Distributor and Anzac Bridge citybound lanes
Times: December 31st, 10 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. Millers Point streets, as of January 1; these include parts including Kent St, Windmill St, Argyle St, and Lower Fort St. Times: December 31st, 10pm – 4am First of the year: streets between Wynyard and Town Hall, including Margaret and Druitt streets, and parts of York and Clarence streets.
Time: Dec. 31 at 11 p.m. – 1:20 a.m. The Sydney Harbour Bridge and Anzac Bridge were both closed to citybound traffic on January 1, and the Western Distributor was also shut down in its entirety connecting Pyrmont and the central business district. Sussex Street, Kent Street, and all of King Street Wharf in the Central Business District West are all closed. Hyde Park and surrounding streets in the south-central business district have also been closed, including parts of Liverpool, Pitt, Castlereagh, and Elizabeth streets, as well as roadways near Central station. The pedestrian and bicycle bridge crossing across Sydney Harbour will indeed be restricted from 6pm on December 31 to 2am on January 1.
Despite this, all 13 maxi cabs will continue to operate smoothly and accept bookings as usual. Click here to book you taxi.
Dates and times listed in this article are subject to change and are not guaranteed in any way; readers are encouraged to double-check details with relevant authorities or other sources.