The Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks are seen on screens around the world but there’s nothing quite like seeing, hearing and smelling them for yourself as a new year kicks in. And thankfully for New Year’s Eve 2023 it’s going to be easier than it’s been for years for international travellers to join locals under that big colourful sky.
When it comes to staying in Sydney on that special night some hotels have rooms with incredible views, others have spectacular viewing areas, and then there are those that have that location location location.
Even if your window doesn’t look out onto the action in the right hotel you can step out and be in a prime position and then when the night is over your bed is oh so close by. No battling for taxis or public transport queues for you.
Of course with this being the biggest night of the year a lot of the top hotels have a minimum night stay over New Year’s Eve and the sooner you can book the better. But it’s still worth checking closer to the time in case someone else has had to change their plans and there’s an opening for you.
So which hotels should be on your Sydney New Year’s Eve wish list?
Park Hyatt | Shangri La Hotel | The Four Seasons Hotel | InterContinental | Pier One | Pullman Quay Grand | The Sir Stamford | Rydges Sydney Harbour | The Macleay
Park Hyatt, Sydney
Nestled between the two biggest stars of the night, the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Park Hyatt is a prime location at any time of year. Add in the New Year’s Eve fireworks and it’s no wonder this is one of the hottest hotels to be in.
Watch the fireworks from your private balcony or on the boardwalk in front of the hotel. On New Year’s Eve the boardwalk is closed exclusively for hotel guests, both those staying in residence and those dining at one of the special 2023 New Year’s Eve dinners so you can be in the middle of the action without dealing with the crowds.
There’s also a party on the rooftop with free flowing Tattinger champagne, cocktails and canapes, although that is a special event and hotel guests will have to buy tickets before being able to take advantage of that one.
Shangri La Hotel, Sydney
With killer panoramic views of both the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House the Shangri La Hotel Sydney’s rooms with fireworks views get snapped up very quickly. But if you miss out on one of those premier rooms and want to be in the thick of it, it’s only about five minute’s walk to Circular Quay.
Keep in mind the 36th floor and the stellar vantage points offered by Altitude and Blu Bar are only for those who have booked and paid for a dinner reservation.
Of course, you don’t need to be staying at the hotel to sip champagne and dine in this prime location with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the spectacle outside.
But when you consider a 2023 New Year’s Eve window table dinner at Altitude has a minimum spend of $2500 per adult, splashing out on a room for the night and having your own private champagne party for two could almost be considered frugal.
The Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney
Get the right room at Sydney’s Four Seasons and you can watch the fireworks over the Opera House from your bubble bath.
But don’t get any ideas about throwing a bubble bath party with all of your friends; this hotel is so hot on New Year’s Eve that public access is limited. Guests are given two visitor passes per room in case they’d like to invite someone up, and no, they won’t be replaced if you lose them so don’t try that old line.
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Keep in mind that the fireworks can only be viewed from the Full Harbour View Rooms, but don’t worry if you’re booked into a room without the right view, as you’ll receive exclusive tickets to First Fleet Park to watch the fireworks from there.
Whether you’re staying at the Four Seasons or not, you can always book in for a New Year’s Eve dinner at Mode Kitchen and Bar, where they’ll have a three course set menu including caviar and lobster
for $170pp plus an optional free flowing beverage package from $40pp, plus access to First Fleet Park to watch the fireworks.
And it doesn’t have to be New Year’s Eve at Grain bar to try one of their delicious and oh so pretty Koala cocktails.
InterContinental Sydney
While the InterContinental Sydney’s rooftop lounge was closed for renovations last New Year’s Eve, in 2023 it’s back to being prime fireworks real estate. Details on the New Year’s Eve plans are still to be confirmed, and we can only imagine how quickly they’re going to be snapped up.
After the hotel’s $120 million transformation rooms with harbour views are better than ever making the InterContinental Sydney a top spot to ring in the new year. And if your room is facing the other way you’ll be able to slip outside to catch the action.
Pier One Sydney Harbour
Right on the water and just on the west side of the Harbour Bridge, Pier One Sydney Harbour is another top hotel with an enviable position.
Some rooms have private balconies where you can stand and look up at the bridge beside you, but if you miss out on a room with a view you can step out onto the pier and join the fireworks front row.
For New Year’s Eve 2023 Pier One will also be throwing a ticketed gala cocktail event in the Water Room from $449 with live entertainment, free flowing drinks, grazing stations and premium canapes, as well as two seatings at the Gantry restaurant which will have only just reopened six weeks before after a five month renovation.
Crown Towers
Every room, suite and villa in Sydney’s first six-star hotel has floor-to-ceiling windows for uninterrupted views, and if you’re facing the harbour that means you can pop the champagne in your room and enjoy the show.
There’s a long list of New Year’s Eve lunches and dinners at Crown Tower’s restaurants including Epicurean and Nobu, while from its towering position over Barangaroo and the harbour, the 26th-floor Oncore by Clare Smyth will see in midnight with a $450pp NYE fireworks package that includes a welcome cocktail, a glass of champagne and canapes.
Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour
On the Opera House side of Circular Quay in the middle of the action you’ll find the Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour.
In years gone by when people could move freely at New Year’s some people would camp out all day to be in front of the Pullman Quay Grand at midnight. An area that the hotel’s guests could pop in and out of as they pleased.
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That said, if you’d managed to book one of the harbour view rooms with a private balcony you’d be crazy to go anywhere else for midnight. Meanwhile those with rooms on the garden side can either step outside the hotel or find some good fireworks viewing spots in the foyer and on the pool deck.
Sir Stamford at Circular Quay
The Sir Stamford at Circular Quay is another luxury Sydney hotel that doesn’t only have rooms with harbour views, but also has some with their own private terraces where you can take in the fireworks in the fresh air.
And while the rooftop is usually closed to hotel guests, this is one of those times when exceptions can be made.
While they used to have more of a stand up and mingle sort of rooftop party, for New Year’s Eve 2023 the hotel will be hosting a six course dinner paired with matching wines inside the hotel before heading up to the rooftop for sparkling wine and fireworks at midnight. The New Year’s Eve at Sir Stamford dinner is $549pp and open to guests and non guests who get in before it’s sold out.
Rydges Sydney Harbour
The hotel formerly known as the Holiday Inn Old Sydney is now part of the Rydges hotel family. A heritage site dating back to 1926, the hotel is found up a cobblestone laneway in the Rocks, just one street back from the Overseas Passenger Terminal.
While some rooms at Rydges Sydney Harbour have harbour views, everyone who’s staying in the hotel on New Year’s Eve will be allowed to go and watch the fireworks from the rooftop at no extra cost. This one is for hotel guests only so you won’t be able to bring any friends, but you can always meet them downstairs in the rocks for a catch up after the show
The Macleay
Talk about front page views, The Macleay’s rooftop is where the Daily Telegraph photographers have taken their Sydney New Year’s Eve photos for more than ten years.
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A mix of hotel rooms and serviced apartments, The Macleay in Potts Point looks out over Sydney Harbour with the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and city skyline all laid out before you.
Guests who book Harbour View rooms also get access to that coveted rooftop position, and it’s so good the phone starts ringing on New Year’s Day with people trying to book for the next New Year’s Eve.
For the record, New Year’s Eve reservations open on the 5th of January and while they’re usually booked out by May I’m told it’s worth checking in as cancellations can happen. Who knows, you might just get lucky.
So there we have some of the best hotels for Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks.
If you’d rather stay in an Airbnb or private home I have a whole other story covering you with gorgeous Sydney harbour view studios, apartments and penthouses.
Keep in mind if you’re going to be in Sydney for New Year’s Eve it’s one of the busiest times of the year, so it’s best to also plan ahead if you want to do any tours or maybe a champagne cruise on the harbour.
You can find all sorts of great things to do in Sydney here.
And wherever you are this New Year’s Eve I hope it’s a very happy start to a sparkling new year.
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