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Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Sydney with points

Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Sydney with points
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Growing up, my family used to listen to the ball drop in Times Square in New York. Over the years, I’ve become interested in other New Year’s celebrations around the world and there is one that has particularly stood out for me: the New Year’s Eve celebration in Sydney, Australia.





Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - 02-Feux de Sydney 2

Among the first to turn the page on the new year, Sydney offers an extremely impressive fireworks show for New Year’s Eve. Besides, partying in the middle of the austral summer is much more pleasant than being in the cold in Times Square.

Having attended various New Year’s Eve celebrations around the world, the one in Sydney is a pyrotechnic masterpiece!

Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - Sydney fireworks

The different points of view

New Year’s Eve fireworks in Sydney are set off from several platforms on either side of the Harbour Bridge.

So there are plenty of places to see the lights; you can also choose between free spots or private events.

As for the evening’s programming, there are two sets of fireworks: the 9 p.m. family show (8-10 minutes) and the midnight show (12-15 minutes).





Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - Harbour Bridge 2
Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - Harbour Bridge

Although you can’t see the Sydney Opera House from Darling Harbour, you can still see the fireworks.

Darling Harbour is a very charming place to spend the evening.

Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - Darling Harbour 2
Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - Darling Harbour

Free places

The free places are extremely crowded; some people set up camp up to 24 hours in advance!

How to know if there is room left at a location or not? The city of Sydney has several boards in the center where you can find all the information.

Based on what I’ve seen and the personal experience of my Australian friends, the best free New Year’s Eve spots in Sydney sell out around 1pm – 3pm.





Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - Circular Quay

Here are the main free spots:

  • Brandfield Park
  • Mary Booth Reserve
  • Cremorne Point Reserve
  • Dawes Point Park
  • The Rocks
  • Observatory Hill
  • Circular Quay
  • Sydney Opera House
  • Mrs Macquaries Point
  • Embarkation Park
  • Darling Harbour
  • Pyrmont Bay Park
  • Pirrama Park







Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - Sydney Opera House
Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - Sydney Opera House 2

The most popular are The Rocks, Circular Quay, Sydney Opera House and Mrs Macquaries Point.

The latter offers the best perspective of the Sydney New Year’s Eve show, in my opinion, as you can see the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House in the background.





Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - Mrs Macquarie Point

Don’t want to spend the day saving your place and waiting in a tide of people for New Year’s Eve in Sydney? There are many private events, but you must buy tickets in advance.





Most of them have a minimal number of seats so that people who pay are not crowded together. I would advise you to watch for the on-sale time and get your tickets then.

The best events are hosted by the Royal Botanical Garden in Sydney.

New Year’s Eve tickets in Sydney usually go on sale in early September.









What is included? Ask around, because it differs from one organizer to another! (price per person)

  • Midnight at the Oasys $460 AUD
  • The Point $485 AUD
  • Calyx Garden Party $595 AUD
  • Lawn with the View $360 AUD
  • Harbour Hoopla $350 AUD
  • Private boats (between $500AUD and $1,500 AUD)
  • Hotels and restaurants with a terrace







Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - 04a-Événements Payants

Our experience

As for us, we went to Midnight at the Oasys. I LOVED the experience and plan to do it again.





Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - Entrée du site

The fact that we had to pay for it allowed us to spend a stress-free day at the beach and we only arrived in town around 5pm.

The event is at Mrs Macquaries Point and is located in front of the free zone.





Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - 05-La table de notre groupe!

We received snacks as we entered the site and then a 5-course meal during the evening.

We had to get our plates ourselves, but the tables were booked in our names so there was no fear of losing our place.

All drinks, alcoholic or not, were not included in the price of the event.





Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - 06-Midnight at the Oasys
Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - 06a-Midnight at the Oasys 2

There was a dance floor, a DJ and plenty of room to watch the fireworks; along the water and on two large bleachers.





Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - 07-Piste de danse et estrade

The points

I paid almost nothing out of my own pocket except for food and the regular small daily expenses of travel. Otherwise, this little one-week stay in Australia would have been excessively expensive.

Managing my credit cards well and mastering several rewards programs is essential to travel for almost free.





I was able to use my HSBC rewards points to cover the cost of the evening at Midnight at the Oasys, travel to Australia with my Aeroplan points, and stay in a hotel with my Marriott Bonvoy points.





How to get there

I was lucky enough to go before the Aeroplan program was revamped; less expensive in points, but I paid carrier surcharges.

Currently, a one-way economy flight on a partner’s aircraft will cost approximately 75,000 points. With Air Canada, you may have to pay more or less since the pricing is dynamic; this is precisely the case here where you can get away with 110,000 points during the holiday season!





Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - Sydney NYE Points Aeroplan Fr

To save on the number of points required, you will generally have to go through Los Angeles or San Francisco where the number of points will be partly fixed. However, since it is with a partner carrier (United), seats will be harder to find.





Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - Sydney fireworks

I suggest you book your tickets as soon as they go on sale. Not only is it the holiday season, but we are also in the peak of the Australian summer season.





Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - Vue de nuit de Sydney

Here are some Aeroplan credit card offers that will make it easy for you to earn Aeroplan Points:





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Lodging

There are two Marriott hotels that are extremely well located and inexpensive in points. These will have a very nice valuation:







This is a great opportunity to redeem your Annual Free Night Award during this peak season at the Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Central Park!





Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - 09-Hôtels Marriott

With the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card offer, a couple can earn up to 50,000 points each. You’ll have the points you need to cover your stay in Sydney at one of the two hotels!





Featured
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$990
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 110,000 points
Ends Sep 22, 2026
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The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card is the best credit card in Canada for free hotel nights.

New Cardmembers can earn up to 110,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points with the current offer:

  • Earn 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on your Card in your first 6 months of Cardmembership.
  • Plus, earn 30,000 points by making a purchase during your 15th month of Cardmembership.

This offer ends on September 22, 2026. The annual fee is $120, and there is no annual fee on Additional Cards, so you can add a partner or a family member at no extra cost.

Every year after your first Card anniversary, you receive an Annual Free Night Award good for a redemption of up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide. At a valuation of 0.9 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, that certificate is worth roughly $315, which on its own more than covers the $120 annual fee. That is the main reason to keep this Card year after year instead of cancelling it.

To get the most out of the certificate, aim it at a night that would otherwise price close to the 35,000 point ceiling.

The Card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Those credits count toward the next Elite tier, so you begin every year 15 nights ahead of where you would otherwise start.

You move up to Gold Elite status automatically when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card in a year, or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your Card.

Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at 0.9 cents each. On that basis, the 110,000 point welcome offer is worth about $990, and an Annual Free Night Award used at its full 35,000 point ceiling is worth about $315.

Marriott Bonvoy points pull their weight on free nights rather than on gift cards or merchandise, which is why this Card should be judged on the hotel stays it produces.

You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 hotels around the world.

The Card carries a solid package of coverages: $500,000 travel accident insurance, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel or motel burglary at $500 each, car rental theft and damage up to $85,000 for rentals of up to 48 days, Purchase Protection for 90 days and a one year Extended Warranty.

Two things to plan around: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, and the 21.99% purchase interest rate, which makes this a Card to pay in full every month. Like all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is published for this Card, and you can see whether you would be approved before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
  • 2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,437
2nd Year Value$312

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

Tips and Tricks

Here are some tips for a great New Year’s Eve in Sydney:

  • Be prepared for all kinds of weather: bring a poncho, jacket, hat and sunscreen
  • Bring a picnic towel, your food and plenty of water if you are aiming for a free place
  • Have a plan B if your first choice of location is full
  • The paths to the stations are one-way after the stroke of midnight, so get an updated map on site, as it will be impossible to « cut through » a regular route
  • Public transportation is available until 4:00 a.m. (leave after 1:00 a.m. to avoid the heaviest traffic); forget about renting a car
  • You can expect to be home in 1-3 hours, depending on the location of your accommodation
  • Fireworks installations may interfere with your plans to visit the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Royal Botanical Garden







Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - Feux de Sydney 5
Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney with points - 10-Fin

Bottom line

Australia has reopened its borders. It’s an excellent time to plan a New Year’s Eve in Sydney for December 31, 2023, or December 31, 2024!

So you have plenty of time to prepare for that party with the points!

Would you like to travel to Australia? Check out our guide to travelling to Australia with points.





Follow my adventures on my Instagram account @wanderingaline!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bms281hD5p_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Annual fee
$150
Our valuation
$350
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
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Ends Nov 1, 2026
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With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card +* CardMC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

  • No fees for foreign currency transactions
  • 6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
  • Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
  • Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xEntertainment
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650
2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Go further with American Express Membership Rewards

To maximize your Membership Rewards earning, check our complete American Express Membership Rewards program guide and our best American Express Membership Rewards credit cards ranking, updated monthly by the Milesopedia team.

Our featured card

Annual fee
$150
Our valuation
$350
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 35,000 points
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card +* CardMC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

  • No fees for foreign currency transactions
  • 6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
  • Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
  • Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xEntertainment
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650
2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

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