Sydney is famous for ringing in the New Year with fireworks over Sydney Harbour.
The display is staged around Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, making the harbour skyline its defining backdrop. Because Australia lies close to the International Date Line, Sydney is among the major cities that celebrate New Year's Day relatively early in the global sequence.
Sydney's modern celebration includes several timed events before midnight, including an early fireworks show for families and a midnight display. The harbour fireworks are often confused with Australia's national day celebrations, but New Year's Eve and Australia Day are separate events. The New Year's program is organized for large crowds around the harbour and is also broadcast internationally.