A cracker of a fireworks display is set to ring in the New Year for Sydneysiders, but it could mean a serious hit for your bank balance with popular vantage points given huge price tags.
More than a dozen of Sydney‘s most popular New Year’s Eve vantage points are subject to paid ticketing – with some harbour side spots going for a whopping $385.
The ‘pay to view’ model was introduced by the NSW government in 2011 for some areas but has since expanded due to the Omicron outbreak to ensure social distancing and crowd control.
Prime vantage points of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House fireworks display are retailing from $46.90 to $385 – and there’s no BYO alcohol allowed.
More than a dozen of Sydney’s most popular New Year’s Eve vantage points are subject to paid ticketing this New Year’s Eve (pictured, revellers gather at Bradfield Park in North Sydney on December 31, 2020)
Ticketed vantage points have been expanded across Sydney due to the Omicron outbreak to ensure social distancing and crowd control (pictured, midnight fireworks explode over the Sydney Opera House)
This year, Royal Botanic Gardens: The Point, is offering an adult-only New Year’s celebration complete with a DJ.
Spectators will be treated to a three course feed including an entree, main and dessert, with a raft of seating options on offer – but it will set you back $385.
For a slightly cheaper alternative the Botanic Gardens: Bridgeview is offering access to the Tarpeian Lawn with entertainment and a licensed bar for $260 a pop.
For revellers who want to bring their own alcohol and enjoy the fireworks, the Botanic gardens has a ‘silver’ section for $43 which jump to $156 for ‘gold’.
However the ticket price only includes a patch of grass to sit on, port-a-loos and water refill stations.
Bradely’s Head in Mosman has family tickets available which will set two adults and two children back $60 to watch the fireworks (pictured, crowds line the harbour in North Sydney to catch a glimpse of the midnight fireworks)
The cheapest views are available for as little as $12.50 for Dawes Point while spots in Elizabeth Bay, Glebe, Darling Point and Pyrmont are still ticketed but free (pictured, Sydneysiders flock to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair for NYE celebrations)
More budget-friendly harbour side vantage points are available but may still leave revellers out of pocket.
Bradley’s Head in Mosman has family tickets available which will set two adults and two children back around $60 to watch the fireworks.
Towards Circular Quay adult tickets are priced at $25, which increase to $50 at nearby Hickson Reserve.
In Barangaroo spots retail up to $46.90 but you wont be able to BYO, with food and drinks available to purchase on-site.
The cheapest views available go as low as $12.50 for Dawes Point while spots in Elizabeth Bay, Glebe, Darling Point and Pyrmont are still ticketed but free.
The City of Sydney has maintained it will not make residents pay for six vantage points it controls.
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Sydney councillor Linda Scott, claimed Sydneysiders were effectively being charged twice for viewing the fireworks funded by ratepayers.
Prime vantage points of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House fireworks display are retailing from $46.90 to $385 (pictured, crowds build along the Circular Quay foreshore for NYE in 2018 long before the pandemic hit)
‘It’s so disappointing to see each year more and more public spaces, particularly those sitting under the New South Wales government, charging to attend,’ Ms Scott told The ABC.
‘This shouldn’t be the practice of a good government, especially after the year that we’ve had — New Year’s Eve should be free and fun.’
However the NSW government has argued the use of ticketing is to enable Covid safe events by reducing the risk of over crowding at popular vantage points.
It added visitors were able to purchase their New Year’s Eve tickets using their NSW Dine and Discover vouchers.
As of Thursday, only three out of 31 ticketed vantage points have completely sold out, including two with free admission.
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