Australia Welcomes in the New Year

Sydney is right up there with New York city as being one of the world’s most famous destinations for New Year’s eve celebrations.  This year was no different as Sydneysiders welcomed the New Year once again with a massive fireworks display over the harbor bridge:

As many as 1 million Sydneysiders braved wind and (predicted) rain to welcome 2007. And, as usual, the Harbour Bridge was the hub of the extravaganza.

For the 9pm lightshow, a red question mark turned into a coathanger more than 100 metres wide. Two hours later an illuminated diamond appeared to mark the bridge’s jubilee year. But the crescendo came just after midnight, when the glowing symbol erupted in a sea of stars exploding in all directions.

The Wizard of Oz was this year’s theme. Roving stilt-walkers and characters from the classic 1939 film including Dorothy, Toto and the Wicked Witch of the West roamed the Lord Mayor’s picnic in the Royal Botanic Gardens. As Dorothy’s magical red slippers were projected onto the bridge’s pylons at 9.08pm, thousands of children were encouraged to click their heels three times, causing the city to be bathed in green light.

Here is another picture of the harbor bridge:

Sydney is definitely one of the world’s most beautiful cities due to it’s magnificent harbor and it’s iconic bridge and opera house.  Next New Year I definitely want to celebrate it in Sydney.  You have to get reservations for hotels months in advance because it is so popular but I’m going to do it. 

However, Melbourne isn’t a bad place to spend the New Year either:

BACKYARD barbies, pub bashes, swanky social gatherings and beach parties — the celebration scenes varied wildly across Victoria but at 10 seconds to midnight all united in a countdown.

Thousands of people flocked to Melbourne’s CBD, where there were six free parties along the Yarra to see in 2007. All eyes were skyward at 9.15pm for a family fireworks show, to be followed by a midnight fireworks spectacular.

At Lorne, teenagers began partying early in the day, sipping beer and spirits by the beach. As the town’s population began to swell, many youngsters headed to bottle shops for supplies.

At Melbourne’s Alexandra Gardens the scene was starkly different — a maze of tartan picnic blankets, prams, toddlers and not an underage drinker in sight.

More than 3000 families lined the banks of the Yarra at Alexandra Gardens for the 9.15pm fireworks.

Here is a picture from Federation Square which is right across from Flinder’s Street Station in downtown Melbourne and is the main gathering for people in Melbourne:

Happy New Year from Down Under everyone!