Get Planning for a Safe and Memorable New Year's Eve

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydneysiders and visitors coming into the city this New Year's Eve are being encouraged to make the most of the latest digital tools, including interactive maps and live social media feeds, to plan a safe and enjoyable night.

1.6 million people are expected to gather around Sydney Harbour for the 9PM Family Fireworks and Midnight Fireworks displays. Tens of thousands more will attend ticketed events and licensed premises throughout the city and neighbouring areas.

The Sydney New Year's Eve website, Telstra app, printed event guide and city centre information booths will provide audiences with essential planning and transport advice, along with tips on how to make the most of the night.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said planning ahead was crucial to ensuring a safe and memorable New Year's Eve.

“We're expecting large crowds, so take advantage of our planning tools and arrive early to secure a good spot,” the Lord Mayor said.

“Visit the New Year's Eve website to search for the best vantage points on our interactive map, receive transport updates and access details about what's on around town to ensure you get around safely and enjoy your night.”

The official 2014 Sydney New Year's Eve website is a one-stop shop for essential event information, including an interactive vantage point map to help people find the best spot to ring in the New Year.

More than 65 vantage points are included and can be searched for features including food and drink, alcohol restrictions, accessible toilets, entry fees and mobility access. The website will be updated throughout the night as vantage points reach capacity.

The website also features a 'plan ahead' page with road closures and public transport information, while a 'program of events' page provides a rundown of the night's entertainment on Sydney Harbour and what's on listings for other parts of Sydney like Balmain, Bondi and Manly.

The official Sydney NYE Telstra app will feature live updates on vantage points, 360-degree video footage taken around the harbour, and the ability to preload 50 text messages for family and friends that will be sent from midnight – free of charge, no matter what network you're on.

App users can also live stream Telstra's Sydney New Year's Eve YouTube show, which will feature live performances by The Temper Trap and Art vs Science.

The official Sydney New Year's Eve event guide is available for spectators to pick up from Sydney Airport, major train stations, hotels, tourism information kiosks and the City's libraries and community centres.

It features a map of harbourside vantage points, transport hubs and other important locations, detailed information about the extra transport services that will be running throughout the night, and advice on mobility access.

An information booth will be set up at Circular Quay from 27 December, and five additional booths will be available on 31 December, with volunteer staff offering information, directions and live updates on crowd capacity at key vantage points.

The booths will be located at Customs House forecourt, Wynyard (cnr George and Margaret streets), Town Hall (Queen Victoria Building), St James (Queens Square) and Macquarie Street (Shakespeare Place and Bridge Street).

Audiences will also be able to get up-to-the-minute information throughout the night on Twitter by following the hashtag #SydNYE and @cityofsydney.

For more information, visit sydneynewyearseve.com