Australia welcomes 2024 in style with spectacular fireworks extravaganza as millions of partygoers line Sydney Harbor to get the perfect vantage point

Australia has ushered in the New Year with monumental fireworks displays as millions of partygoers flock to Sydney Harbor to secure the best views.

Sydney’s iconic fireworks show launched at midnight from the Sydney Harbor Bridge, Sydney Opera House, ships and city buildings.

More than 8.5 tonnes of fireworks were planned for the 9pm and 12am displays, with a crew of 60 and more than 11km of cable required for the event.

The City of Sydney estimated that $6.2 million would be spent on the fireworks and that more than 425 million people would watch the show live and from around the world.

Sydney’s iconic fireworks show launched at midnight from the Sydney Harbor Bridge, Sydney Opera House, ships and city buildings

The council listed 49 viewing points for the event, 11 of which sold out after going through a voting system to check numbers.

Meanwhile, an eight-minute fireworks display at midnight in Melbourne showed more lasers and projections than previous years, lighting up the skyline from 27 rooftops.

The show was preceded by a five-minute screening at 9.30pm, featuring four Celebration Zones in Docklands, Flagstaff Gardens, Kings Domain and Treasury Gardens.

Earlier on Sunday evening, ABC was criticized for its family-friendly 9pm coverage of Australia’s iconic New Year’s Eve celebrations on ‘Invasion Day’.

The extravaganza is usually known as the ‘children’s fireworks display’, with the younger crowd going to bed before midnight.

The City of Sydney listed 49 viewing points for the event, 11 of which sold out after going through a voting system to check numbers

More than 8.5 tons of fireworks were planned for the displays at 9 p.m. and 12 p.m.

The ABC was criticized earlier on Sunday for its ‘woke’ coverage of the fireworks at 9pm

This year, after the characters from the popular cartoon Bluey were projected onto the pillars of the Sydney Harbor Bridge, the show started at 9pm with a racially charged monologue and rap performance of a song called ‘Our People’ by indigenous rap group ‘3 Percent ‘.

Confused parents took to social media to complain that the management at Calling Country’s fireworks display was not suitable for children.

“Why is everything so woke… just play some pop music and show the fireworks,” someone wrote on X.

Another said: ‘Who at ABCaustralia thought it was a good idea to put on a terrible rap group before the children’s fireworks and then just show projections on the bridge for a lot of the fireworks?’

‘Daughter was so disappointed. I should have stayed with the Bluey,” a third wrote.

The City of Sydney estimated $6.2 million would be spent on the fireworks

Some of Sydney’s most popular spots for the infamous New Year’s Eve fireworks were already full on Sunday morning

An impressive fireworks display was seen along Melbourne’s Yarra River

Revelers in Perth were treated to two impressive displays, one at 8pm from a barge on the Swan River and a second at midnight as fireworks atop buildings across the city announced the New Year.

Fireworks in Adelaide were showcased from the Riverbank district.

In Brisbane, the South Bank Parklands hosted two fireworks shows along the Brisbane River, one at 8:30 PM and one at midnight.

Some of Sydney’s most popular spots for the infamous New Year’s Eve fireworks were already full on Sunday morning after large crowds gathered in the early hours.

People have been queuing at the Sydney Opera House since midnight on Sunday to get the perfect view of the fireworks

This year, port venues were free to enter after the NSW Government scrapped the existing ticketing system

In Melbourne, an eight-minute fireworks show at midnight featured more lasers and projections than in previous years

A group of men had been queuing at the Domain for three days when the queue started moving to let people into the Royal Botanic Gardens just before 8am.

People had also been queuing at the Opera House since midnight, with footage showing crowds rushing to the gate at the harbor for a good view.

Meanwhile, others set up tents on Cockatoo Island and camped there overnight.

A change was made to this year’s events, with port venues free to enter after the NSW Government scrapped the existing ticketing system.

The high numbers are prompting NSW Transport to implement extra train and bus services in and around the city, with 1000 trains expected to run through the area well into the night.