The new year is fast approaching and one destination on many travel lists as a place to say “Happy New Year” is Sydney, Australia. At this time of year, the magnificent harbour city boasts endless activities and places to visit to keep you and your family entertained for the entire duration of your stay. Choose to laze away your days on the city’s plentiful sandy stretches or enjoy clear blue summer skies while dining alfresco at Sydney’s selection of fine food establishments – and make sure to take in Sydney Harbour itself with a luxury cruise. Sydneysiders are friendly, welcoming and relaxed and love showing off their beautiful city to international guests, so we have compiled a list of Top 10 things for you and your family to do and see for New Year’s Eve.
So let Villa Getaways take care of all your accommodation needs and we will leave the NYE enjoyment to you. With over a decade of experience matching clients to their perfect location, Villa Getaways only deals with most elite properties, including a mix of super-stylish interiors, spectacular views, waterside locations and enviable street addresses.
While all our villas boast premium, modern facilities, each location has its own individual character and many have standout features you will not find in any hotel. Comfort and style are foremost in the selection of properties within our residential portfolio.
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10. Bondi Beach
Home to many of Sydney’s beautiful people where skin is on show and style is a premium, Bondi is one of the world’s most famous beaches. Throngs of tourists flood to Bondi year upon year for the fun relaxed lifestyle, fabulous dining, endless people watching and fresh sea air. If you are staying in our Bronte, Bellevue Hill or Coogee Villa, you must take the family on the scenic Bondi to Bronte and Coogee Beach walk.
Enjoy Sydney’s stellar Eastern coastline in its glorious summer hues and if your destination is Coogee, check out the Coogee Bay Hotel, directly opposite the Beach. This award-winning hotel and entertainment venue offers relaxed pub lunches in the spacious beer garden with a designated kids’ area to give parents a bit of a break.
9. The Blue Mountains
Just an hour by train from Sydney’s CBD and you will find the charming villages nestled throughout the world heritage-listed Blue Mountains region. Part of the Great Dividing Range, the region is host to many attractions. Visit the monolithic Three Sisters at Echo Point or enjoy a bush-walking trail. There are numerous galleries to visit and dining options in quaint B&Bs and restaurants among the bush setting. High Tea at the Hydro Majestic in Medlow Bath offers a spectacular vantage point overlooking the Megalong Valley. The hotel’s iconic grounds stretch more than a kilometer across the escarpment and are currently being refurbished to a world-class standard.
If you’re keen to stretch your legs, there are golf courses at Leura, Blackheath and Wentworth Falls, each offering the amazing views typical of their location. Perhaps a day spa is the ideal anecdote you’re looking for after enjoying all the festivities in the city.
8. Fine Dining
Sydney food aficionados take their dining very seriously. With Australia’s fantastic climate and space for grazing, there is so much on offer when you dine out in the Harbour city. Plus, with Sydney’s azure blue skies and sizzling summer vibe, alfresco daytime dining is a must. There are plenty of options but some favourites to tempt your tastebuds are executive chef Peter Gilmore’s creations at Quay restaurant, Tetsuya’s iconic heritage-listed Japanese restaurant, The kids will love The Grounds in Alexandria for the market days with live entertainment make sure you check out Kitchen by Mike in Rosebery.
7. Manly
If you have enjoyed the buzz of Bondi, head to the Northern Beaches’ oceanside offering, Manly Beach, North Head and Ferry Bower, for some fun family entertainment. Manly is home to the exquisite Shelly Beach, which is perfect for young families with its protected setting. Unless you’re staying in Villa Getaways’ Manly or Mosman residences, you can choose to catch a famous Sydney Harbour Ferry to get you there. Ferries run regularly until about midnight every night and provide a fun, family atmosphere to carry you across the harbour, joined by others eager to take advantage of the magnificent weather and festive vibe of Sydney’s NYE celebrations.
6. Dine In
Villa Getaways’ luxury addresses provide the ideal platform for entertaining at home. With each Sydney villa boasting spacious entertaining areas, fully equipped modern kitchens, plenty of seating and separate dining rooms, it’s easy take advantage of the private chef services on offer in Sydney. For catering excellence, you’ll find the very best chefs and cuisine from around the world to help your ‘home away from home’ set the scene for a gastronomic adventure.
Enjoy meals in the privacy of your own luxury villa – a more practical alternative if you have very young children or you simply want to enjoy the company of those closest to you.
5. Sydney Harbour Foreshore
Visiting Sydney would not be the same without a trip to the Sydney Opera House to see the majestic sky-scraping sails created by acclaimed Danish architect Jorn Utzon. The Opera House forecourt and Circular Quay are home to plenty of dining and entertainment venues, along with historic sites and tourist attractions.
Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art to see the latest exhibitions then wander into The Rocks; Sydney’s historic precinct, The Rocks is home to the city’s oldest The Rocks Markets has plenty of items worth fossicking for.
4. Sydney Festival
If you’re after some culture or fancy checking out a theatre performance, Sydney Festival provides an atmospheric experience you’ll savor for years to come. Around 400 kaleidoscopic performances from both international and local artists take part in about 140 events throughout 30 venues, including the iconic Carriageworks in Redfern and Keystone Festival Bar at the Hyde Park Barracks Museum. For almost four decades, Sydney Festival has provided Sydney with a diversity of performances ranging from contemporary dance, Flamenco extraordinaires, burlesque circus, outstanding musicians, Flemish theatre, family programs, comedy acts and traditional Indigenous arts.
3. Shark Island
If you’re wondering where the best – and least crowded – vantage points are to watch the NYE fireworks, one delightful location should catch your eye. Shark Island directly faces the Sydney Harbour Bridge to provide a stellar spot to see the dazzling show. National parkland located off Rose Bay ferry wharf, Shark Island provides an exclusive location to watch the spectacle, with ticket sales and limited access providing plenty of room for everyone to enjoy a sunset with views of the city skyline and the bridge. If you’re staying in one of our Vaucluse or Eastern Suburb villas, try the award-winning Catalina Restaurant, a beautiful waterside spot for a summer lunch or dinner. Go exploring to find one of the many harbour side parks and beaches while you’re in Sydney, including Nielson Park and Shark Beach in Vaucluse and Camp Cove in Watsons Bay.
2. Sydney Theatre Company NYE Party
If you’re planning on leaving the kids at home for the night, the best tickets in town are often left for the adults. Enjoy front-row seats to spectacular fireworks, launched from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and running along the harbour on barges. The Theatre Bar at the End of the Wharf is the perfect vantage point for you to really get an eyeful of how well Sydney puts on a party.
Enjoy sunset drinks overlooking the harbour as you get ready to farewell 2014 and see in the New Year. Acclaimed chef Marco Adler, famous for Sydney’s Rockpool Bar & Grill and London’s Great Eastern Dining Room, will provide a profusion of tasty canapés, while you enjoy the lavish waterside location.
1. Harbour Cruise
You’ll find it hard to beat a better location in Sydney to watch the NYE Fireworks than Sydney Harbour itself. There are several boat charter businesses that hire luxury yachts, catamarans and launches to cruise around the harbour and enjoy cocktails, canapés and celebrations galore. Sydney has harbour cruising down pat and the flotilla of luxury boats available proves it.
A harbour cruise provides the ideal scenario for anyone interested in a more private affair. You’ll be able to cruise up and down the harbour and watch the many waterside celebrations taking place during this momentous event.
Your experienced captain and crew staff will be able to navigate the heavy-traffic areas to ensure you are well positioned to get the best out of the spectacular NYE firework display with passengers all looking to have fun and let their hair down to bring in the New Year in memorable style.
Thank You!