Sydney is famous for its New Year's Eve fireworks over Sydney Harbour.
The celebration uses landmarks including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House as a backdrop for large fireworks displays. Because Australia lies near the International Date Line, Sydney's midnight celebration is among the major New Year's events seen early by international audiences, although it is not the first inhabited place on Earth to reach the new year.
The program commonly includes an earlier family fireworks display and a larger midnight show. Boats in the harbour, viewing areas along the foreshore, and televised broadcasts make the event visible far beyond central Sydney.
A frequent misconception is that the Harbour Bridge itself is the entire venue. The event is organized across Sydney Harbour, with pyrotechnics launched from multiple locations and viewed from many surrounding suburbs and waterways.