What’s on for New Year’s Eve? Here are some local NYE events in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and the Hunter to farewell 2025 and celebrate New Year’s Eve with your friends and family.
There are events planned all over the region including family-friendly events organised for Newcastle Foreshore, Maitland Riverside and Nelson Bay Foreshore in Port Stephens.
If you want to just see fireworks, different fireworks displays are scheduled for 9pm in Newcastle, Maitland, Nelson Bay and Hunter Valley Gardens.
If you feel like heading south to celebrate NYE, check out the New Year’s Eve events on the Central Coast at Gosford and The Entrance, and Sydney.
Newcastle
Ring in 2026 on the Harbour Foreshore with an unforgettable family-friendly celebration from 5pm to 9.15pm. Explore vibrant zones designed for every kind of celebration and dance, dine, play, create or simply unwind.
At the heart of the event is the Wish Exchange, a whimsical installation where you can share your hopes for 2026. Leave a message in the colourful Wish Call Center and watch it light up the LED “wallpaper of dreams” behind the DJ stage.
Kids will love the NYE Kids Zone, bursting with hands-on workshops, sideshow games, face painting, eco-friendly crafts and more. Across the precinct, enjoy a stellar lineup of homegrown music, comedy and cabaret, plus three DJ stations, including a kids’ disco.
With two dedicated picnic areas, a Quiet Zone, accessible viewing, and Eat Streets across the site, there’s space for everyone in the community to come together in celebration.
The night will finish with a dazzling 12-minute fireworks display over the harbour in a sparkling sendoff to 2025.
Find out more by visiting the City of Newcastle website.
Lake Macquarie
There will be fireworks displays at the following locations in Lake Macquarie which are not affiliated with Lake Macquarie City Council.
Wangi Wangi RSL Club
This display will run from a barge in the lake in front of Wangi Wangi RSL Club from 9-9.15pm.
Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto
This display will run from 9pm. There will also be kids activities and a jumping castle.
Toronto Hotel
Live On The Lake event, features live music and a fireworks display at 9am.
8 at Trinity, Morisset Park
This display will run for 12 minutes from 9pm.
Bargoed house grounds, Old Pacific Highway Swansea
Private event with two fireworks displays scheduled for 9pm and 12am.
Maitland
Gather your friends and family and head into Central Maitland on Wednesday 31 December to enjoy all the New Year’s Eve festivities and end the year with a bang!
Head to Maitland Riverbank, Riverside Car Park and RH Taylor Reserve, Lorn, and join Maitland City Council for New Years Eve celebration to end the year with a bang!
From 5pm, this family friendly event has a lot to offer, with free amusements, face painting, live music, activities and a disco playing all the top hits from 2025. There will be loads of food, beverage and dessert stalls available to tantalise the taste buds of all attendees.
Celebrations will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display that will light up the night sky at 9.00pm. For more information, visit Maitland Events.
Cessnock / Hunter Valley
Ring in the new year at Hunter Valley Gardens Christmas Lights Spectacular. Enjoy 4.5 million Christmas lights display before enjoying a fireworks display (weather dependent) at 9pm. The fireworks are best viewed from the event area in the Garden. To purchase tickets for New Year’s Eve, you will need to purchase a Christmas Light ticket for December 31. Tickets can be purchased online.
Port Stephens
Celebrate the end of 2025 on the Nelson Bay foreshore with the d’Albora New Year’s Eve 9pm Fireworks. This much-loved community event attracts thousands of locals and visitors each year and offers a safe, family-friendly way to welcome the new year.
- Live music from 3pm to 6pm with Jake Folbigg
- DJ BIGGS from 6pm to 9pm, in the lead-up to the fireworks
- A range of casual and formal dining options, including restaurants, cafés, bars and the Marina Ice Creamery
- Kids’ activities and special offers at Zoneout Games
- Plus, retailers will be open with NYE glow sticks and novelty items available
- Fireworks display from 9pm
For more information including road closures, the best places to park and the best viewing points visit the Port Stephens Council website. This event takes place within an alcohol free zone, with alcoholic drinks and glass prohibited.
Central Coast
Gosford
If you’re heading down to celebrate NYE on the Central Coast, Central Coast Council is organising a free and fun celebration for everyone to enjoy. Bring your friends and family along to Leagues Club Park in Gosford and enjoy the live music, kids entertainment, and food vendors. The fireworks finale will be at 9pm after the Mariners A-League game. Look to the skies for a dazzling fireworks display to welcome 2026 in unforgettable style!
For more information about the Gosford event, visit the Central Coast Council website.
The Entrance
There’s also a NYE event at The Entrance. Celebrate the last sunset for 2025 at The Entrance. as it comes alive on New Year’s Eve. The free water’s edge event will feature live music on the Memorial Park Stage. Food trucks and stalls, amusements, kid’s activities and roving entertainment will be part of this event. To finish the festivities a spectacular fireworks display can been seen over the water at 9pm. For more information about The Entrance event, visit the Central Coast Council website.
Sydney
If you want to be part of an iconic NYE event, head to Sydney. More than a million people will be making their way into the city and surrounds for the celebrations. Watch the 9pm or midnight fireworks from one of these viewing areas on the harbour. Here’s a list of vantage points around Sydney Harbour.
If you don’t feel like heading out for NYE events or to see fireworks, stay at home and watch the 9pm or midnight City of Sydney fireworks. The fireworks are streamed live on the City of Sydney website at 9pm and midnight. You can also watch the event on ABC and iview. The broadcast begins at 8.30pm and there’s also a synchronised soundtrack on the radio.
Start planning for NYE 2025. Even though it’s too late to enter the ballot for free tickets to watch Sydney’s iconic fireworks on the Cahill Expressway, there are other NPSW spots around the harbour you can book next year.
Staying Home?
If going out to a local NYE event isn’t an option, stay home and transform your home into a family-friendly NYE extravaganza. Here are some fun, creative, and memorable ways to ring in the new year with your kids right in the comfort of your own home. Invite some friends and family over to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2025!
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