New Years Eve, Sydney 2015

When we arrived at Farm Cove at 11am it was busy and it just got busier! Perhaps the craziness of the Sydney to Hobart start last week was good preparation. At least yesterday most of the boats were at anchor and those arriving were moving slowly. People seemed happy enough and we saw them helping each other out during the odd anchor drag / reset. 

We were so close to the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge that it almost became passe, almost but not quite. I would look up from my book or food prep or eating and see them again and realise where we were, and be overwhelmed with all we have achieved to be here in Sydney for the NYE fireworks... 

Our family had sailed from Melbourne to Sydney in a 36' yacht. With 3 kids, now aged 11, 9 and 7 we had set sail from Melbourne to Sydney in February. We stopped in Tasmania for a bit, then back to Victoria then a side trip to NZ (by plane) then up the east coast of Australia and we're now in Sydney for the NYE fireworks! We got here on a yacht! Wow! 

The show Sydney put on was awesome! Air displays that made our Bass Strait hardened stomachs churn. Water spraying tug display that reassured us. Amazing graphics and short films projected on the bridge pylons highlighting Sydney's great assests. The Welcome to Country that reminded us of the origins of this land and all we had seen during our travels. I particularly liked the phrase they used "Always was. Always will be. Aboriginal Land." And then came the fireworks... 

The photos (only a few below but tons to see on Giles' post) only give an indication of the grandeur. The 9pm family fireworks display was wonderful. We were so close we could feel the boom in our chests. The smell of gunpowder stirring something primal inside. Looking around at the fireworks coming off the bridge and barges. Seeing the Opera House in silhouette with smoke and sparkling lights surrounding it I was in awe of the beauty. The forethought the city planners had to build such a bridge adding the pylons to make it look good despite no engineering need. Building an Opera House that works well as an opera house and is an amazing icon. To today's city leaders for spending the money to make the city so inviting and the event so well planned. 

Between the fireworks we were treated to a flotilla of lit ships passing by... It was fun to try and identify them as they cruised on by. I wondered what we looked like to the passengers on board. 

The pylons kept playing their light shows and then the countdown to the new year started around 100 seconds. The crowds on the water and shore joined in for the last 10 seconds then it all went off! 

I have never been so close to fireworks before the barge was about 200m away. At times I had to look away as the smoke and ash were hurting my eyes. I thought the 9pm fireworks were impressive but the midnight pyrotechnics were awesome! I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. 

I thoroughly recommend viewing the Sydney NYE fireworks from the water. It is a truly unique experience. Definitely to be had at least once in a lifetime. I'm so glad we brought the children up here to see them. It was a fitting finale to the (nearly) end of our journey.