Bondi Beach, BondiCredit: Destination NSW
Young people enjoying views from the southern end of Bondi Beach.
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Sydney’s coastline is a string of stunning coves, bays and beaches making an incredible backdrop for a waterfront meal. With a cornucopia of fresh produce within easy reach of Sydney and a wealth of culinary talent on show, the city’s waterfront dining scene is home to some of the state’s best restaurants.
Cafe Sydney
Set on the rooftop of the historic Customs House building in Circular Quay, Cafe Sydney treats diners to a 180-degree panorama of Sydney Harbour. Don’t let the name fool you – this is no cafe, but an acclaimed fine diner. You can expect a natural-light-filled dining room, attentive service and a menu that heroes Australian ingredients (particularly local seafood) and plays with all the cultural influences within the Sydney dining scene.
Cafe Sydney, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Diners enjoying food and drink with harbour views from Cafe Sydney, Sydney.
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Cafe Sydney, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Diners enjoying food and drink with harbour views from Cafe Sydney, Sydney.
Bennelong
At Bennelong, you’ll dine inside one Sydney icon while gazing upon another. Tucked under the famous sails of the Sydney Opera House, the dining room has views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, framed within the unique wooden beams that support the sails’ huge windows. Celebrated executive chef Peter Gilmore and head chef Rob Cockerill create intricately presented dishes inspired by conversations with Australia’s most passionate producers. Take a seat at a white-clothed table in the restaurant for a three-course a la carte menu or for a slightly more casual experience, enjoy two courses at the counter. If you have tickets for a performance at the famous venue next below, stop by the bar for a pre-show cocktail and snacks.
Bennelong Restaurant, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Bennelong Restaurant, Sydney.
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Bennelong Restaurant, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Bennelong Restaurant, Sydney.
Oncore by Clare Smyth
High above the city on the 26th floor of the Crown Towers, Oncore by Clare Smyth is the first and only international restaurant from the eponymous three-Michelin-starred chef. Once named the best female chef in the world, Smyth pays homage to her childhood in Northern Ireland, while incorporating local flavours. Make sure you order her signature ‘potato and roe’, a seaweed beurre blanc with herring and trout roe. Finish the evening with a nightcap on the open terrace at CIRQ, Crown’s rooftop cocktail bar, to see the city lit up at night.
Crown Towers, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Couple dining at Oncore by Clare Smyth overlooking expansive views of Sydney Harbour from Crown Towers.
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Crown Towers, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Couple dining at Oncore by Clare Smyth overlooking expansive views of Sydney Harbour from Crown Towers.
Icebergs Dining Room & Bar
An icon for locals and visitors alike, Icebergs has been serving the ultimate waterside dining experience since 2002. Sitting on the cliffs of iconic Bondi Beach, the modern Italian cuisine pairs perfectly with a breezy seaside atmosphere and Australian aesthetic with blue-hued interiors that reflect the unobstructed ocean view. The seasonally changing menu in the dining room is woven with locally sourced produce, fresh seafood and Australian native flavours. Or head to the bar for a more relaxed atmosphere and Iceberg’s signature cocktails that match, in colour and vibe, the sunny scenes at the beach below.
Ammos Brighton
Much-loved chef Peter Conistis has opened the doors of his latest Greek jewel, Ammos Brighton, to reveal stunning vistas of the beach in Brighton-Le-Sands in Sydney’s south. But it’s not simply the oceanic backdrop of this stylish restaurant that captivates diners. Conistis’ menu makes perfect fare for beachside grazing as it would be in Greece. Expect everything from slow-roasted lamb shoulder with tzatziki, to saganaki with poached figs and fire-roasted rock lobster. Dine on all this plus Hellenic-inspired cocktails and Greek wines in a bright and light diner ideal for laidback lunch or early dinner with views of a coastal sunset.
Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, Bondi Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a meal and drinks at Icebergs Dining Room and Bar overlooking Bondi Beach.
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Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, Bondi Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a meal and drinks at Icebergs Dining Room and Bar overlooking Bondi Beach.
Promenade Bondi Beach
Sitting right in the centre of Sydney’s most famous beach promenade, this sleek but welcoming all-day establishment invites beachgoers off the sand with the laidback kiosk and bar. For more elegant gatherings, book a table in the dining room, where sustainable and local ingredients play a starring role in handmade pastas dishes and seafood plates with Mediterranean flavours. Part of the recently revived historic Bondi Pavilion, Promenade is the place to spend the day watching the waves roll in and Bondi’s colourful parade of people pass by.
Oborozuki
Part teppanyaki restaurant, part fine diner, Oborozuki mixes elegance and theatre, Japanese flavours and French technique. Diners at the restaurant are treated to views of Circular Quay and the Sydney Harbour Bridge alongside a menu focused on seasonal ingredients, Australian produce, French wine and Japanese sake. Located at Bennelong Point off Macquarie Street, settle in with an a la carte menu in the dining room or opt into one of three private teppanyaki rooms, where five-to-nine guests can enjoy a thrilling culinary experience with a master teppanyaki chef.
Promenade Bondi Beach Credit: Jiwon Kim
Promenade Bondi Beach
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Promenade Bondi Beach Credit: Jiwon Kim
Promenade Bondi Beach
Pilu at Freshwater
With clear views over Freshwater Beach, the two-hatted fine-dining restaurant Pilu at Freshwater is the essence of Sydney's Northern Beaches. Acclaimed chef Giovanni Pilu plates up a menu inspired by NSW produce and his Sardinian heritage – like spaghetti with bottarga and calamari or coral trout with blood orange and Campari. Pick a sunny day to make the most of the beautiful Hamptons-esque dining room and the glorious views.
Pearl Dining
Head to this vibrant Quay Quarter venue to experience modern Cantonese cuisine paired with impressive views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. From one harbourside city to another, Pearl Dining is inspired by Hong Kong’s culinary mastery, serving traditional and exceptionally crafted dim sum, wok fries and Chinese roast meats but in a quintessentially Sydney locale. On sunny days, it’s well worth booking a table on the balcony.
Pilu at Freshwater, Freshwater Credit: Destination NSW
Couple arriving at Pilu at Freshwater in the Northern Beaches of Sydney.
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Pilu at Freshwater, Freshwater Credit: Destination NSW
Couple arriving at Pilu at Freshwater in the Northern Beaches of Sydney.
Pilu at Freshwater, Freshwater Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying fine dining at Pilu at Freshwater, Freshwater.
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Pilu at Freshwater, Freshwater Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying fine dining at Pilu at Freshwater, Freshwater.
Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel
This sprawling pub, restaurant and hotel is the centre of Watsons Bay summer weekend plans. With its iconic blue-and-white-striped umbrellas and al fresco dining area stepping down to crystal-clear water, towering palm trees and a storybook wharf, you might think you’re at a beachside club in Greece or Italy. The menu has a Mediterranean lean with antipasti and pasta served alongside seafood platters, buckets of fresh prawns and four kinds of spritzes.
Summer Salt
Looking over Elouera Beach in Sydney’s south, Cronulla’s iconic waterside diner Summer Salt has relaunched with a bold new look and contemporary Italian-leaning menu. Inside, a spectrum of dazzling blue tones mimic the attention-drawing ocean beyond, while on the plate, diners are treated to beautiful produce that showcases the region with bold, Italian flavours and plenty of locally caught seafood. Pair it with a signature Aphrodite cocktail that refreshes with vodka, watermelon and coconut.
Watsons Bay Hotel, Watsons Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Young people enjoying food on a sunny day at Watsons Bay Hotel.
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Watsons Bay Hotel, Watsons Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Young people enjoying food on a sunny day at Watsons Bay Hotel.
More Inspirational Stories
Sydney New Year's Eve, SydneyCredit: Keith McInnes
Spectacular 9pm Welcome to Country fireworks display across Sydney Harbour to celebrate the New Year
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The countdown is on for the biggest night of the year. As the clock strikes midnight on 31 December, more than one million people will gather around Sydney Harbour to ring in 2025. This year, experience Sydney at its summer best, spend the biggest night in the city, then wind down out of town.
Where to watch the fireworks
Observatory Hill
One of the highest points in the city, Observatory Hill is on the edge of The Rocks and is positioned straight at the Sydney Harbour Bridge – it’s probably the closest you can get to the bridge without being on it. Sensitive ears? Bring some ear plugs.
Free entry – no tickets required
Mrs Macquarie’s Point
This iconic NYE vantage point just next to the Royal Botanic Garden has spectacular views of Circular Quay, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and the barges that dot the water near the bridge. Here, there’s a real party atmosphere with pop-up bars and food trucks spread out around the point.
Free entry – no tickets required
NYE Pier Party
At Pier One Sydney Harbour‘s exclusive NYE Pier Party, you’ll be almost close enough to touch the fireworks. Tickets include a mouthwatering menu from food stalls along the pier, free flowing drinks and a set from famed Aussie singer-DJ Havana Brown.
Tickets from $549pp
Celebration New Year's Eve
The rooftop Sculpture Terrace at the Museum of Contemporary Art will transform into the city’s most spectacular LGBTQIA+ NYE celebration. From the rooftop setting, you’ll have a front row seat to the biggest night of the year, plus canapes, bottomless drinks, DJs and cabaret acts.
Tickets from $697pp
New Year's Eve Opera Gala at Sydney Opera House
This is a truly iconic Sydney celebration. Start the evening with drinks overlooking the harbour before heading inside for the Opera Gala Concert. Watch the 9pm fireworks during intermission then enjoy the rest of the show before the exclusive Midnight Party kicks off in the Northern Foyer. Expect incredible views of the fireworks, Champagne and a night of dancing.
Tickets from $199pp
Rooftop bars
Ring in the new year at one of Sydney’s glamorous rooftop bars where you can pair breathtaking views with live music, Champagne and a cocktail the colour of the fireworks. Aster at the top of the InterContinental Sydney has some of the best views in the city, looking out over the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. At the Shangri-La Hotel, marvel at the fireworks from the sky-high Altitude restaurant and Blu Bar. For fireworks views from Darling Harbour, get tickets to the festivities at Zephyr (DJ and saxophonist included) at the Hyatt Regency, Untied Barangaroo (featuring flowing frosé and a DJ set) and CIRQ at Crown Sydney (where you’ll join a masquerade soiree).
Tickets required
Lawn With A View, New Years Eve, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying a picnic in the Royal Botanic Gardens on New Years Eve at the Lawn With A View event
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Lawn With A View, New Years Eve, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying a picnic in the Royal Botanic Gardens on New Years Eve at the Lawn With A View event
Lawn With A View, New Years Eve, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying the fireworks display at the Lawn With A View event on New Years Eve in the Royal Botanic Gardens
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Lawn With A View, New Years Eve, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying the fireworks display at the Lawn With A View event on New Years Eve in the Royal Botanic Gardens
Watch the fireworks on the water
Harbour islands
Three of Sydney’s tiny harbour islands are prime vantage points for the NYE fireworks. Clark Island and Shark Island sit either side of Point Piper and have clear views of the harbour and the bridge. Goat Island is close to Balmain on the western side, so you’ll get to see the ‘back’ side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the firework barges. Entry is free though you’ll need to pay for the ferry transfers. You can bring your own food and alcohol.
(Note that these islands are sold out for NYE 2024 – remember to book early for 2025)
Cockatoo Island
Spend the night in the middle of the action on World Heritage-listed Cockatoo Island. Choose a pre-erected tent (or bring your own) on the Eastern Apron for stellar views of the harbour and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. You’ll also be able to see the explosives fire out of a fireworks barge just offshore.
Tickets from 514.42 for a four-person campsite
(Note that a minimum two-night stay applies – NYE guests will stay from Monday 30 December to Wednesday 1 January.)
Harbour cruises
The harbour will be dotted with hundreds of boats during the NYE celebrations, most illuminated with coloured lights and filled with excited revellers. Splash out on an indulgent multi-course dinner, free-flowing drinks and live music aboard the glass-walled Clearview, MV Vagabond Spirit or a Sydney Showboat ferry. Captain Cook Cruises offers a range of cruise options including a more budget-friendly evening where you can bring your own food and drink onboard.
Private charter
For a more exclusive experience, book a private charter boat to enjoy the countdown with your closest friends. Sydney Harbour Escapes, Sydney Harbour Specialists and Eastcoast Sailing have luxurious fleets available for hire. Prices start at around $3,000 and go up well over $100,000 for extra luxury options.
New Year's Eve Fireworks 2020, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Spectacular midnight fireworks display across Sydney Harbour to celebrate the start of 2021.
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New Year's Eve Fireworks 2020, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Spectacular midnight fireworks display across Sydney Harbour to celebrate the start of 2021.
New year, new adventures: ultimate summer getaways close to Sydney
When the fireworks have faded and the last Champagne cork has been popped, take the opportunity to discover the wonders that await just a short drive from the city. Get a taste of spectacular scenery on a day trip or stay away a little longer in unique hotels or bush camps on postcard beaches. Sparkling coastline scenes, lush forests, one-of-kind adventures and stylish stays await on the Central Coast, in Kiama and the Shoalhaven, and in the city of Newcastle.
Central Coast | 1 hours’ drive
North of Sydney, a necklace of jewel-like beaches is strung along the coast, backed by the untouched bushland of national parks. It’s a quintessential slice of the Aussie coastal lifestyle with characterful villages packed with waterside eats, world-class surf, and family adventure.
Things to do:
- Take a dip or learn to surf in the gentle waves of Terrigal Beach, follow the new boardwalk around the Haven, and try snorkelling or diving in the crystal clear water.
- Hop between the 41 beaches that stretch along 80 kilometres of coastline. Try Toowoon Bay for families, Soldiers Beach for surfing and North Avoca for dog-friendly adventures.
- Cruise around the oyster leases of the Hawkesbury River with Sydney Oyster Farm Tours, then get your waders on to sample a freshly shucked shellfish from a table in the water.
- Meet Elvis the crocodile and Hugo the Galapagos tortoise, then book in for a behind the scenes encounter at the Australian Reptile Park.
- Discover a new adventure in the lush Glenworth Valley – horse riding, quad biking, kayaking, abseiling, camping and more.
- Enjoy a romantic retreat at the five-star Bells at Killcare, a plush Hamptons-style retreat with private lodges boasting sunny rooftops and room service from Bells’ award-winning restaurant.
Terrigal Beach, Terrigal Credit: Destination Central Coast
Dolphins catching a wave at Terrigal Beach, Terrigal on the Central Coast of NSW.
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Terrigal Beach, Terrigal Credit: Destination Central Coast
Dolphins catching a wave at Terrigal Beach, Terrigal on the Central Coast of NSW.
Kiama & Shoalhaven | 2 hours’ drive
Part of the spectacular South Coast, these neighbouring regions sit south of Wollongong and promise golden beaches, legendary waves, charming villages and natural wonders. From the historic streets of Kiama – now home to galleries and small bars – to beautiful Huskisson, named Australia’s best Tiny Tourism Town for 2024, these areas made for meandering.
Things to do:
- Cruise alongside the bay’s 100 resident dolphins, on board, or in a boat’s boom net, an ocean adventure with Jervis Bay Wild.
- See ocean water crash through a rocky opening and explode up to 30 metres in the air at the Kiama Blowhole, the largest natural blowhole in the world.
- Savour native ingredients at one-hat restaurant Bangalay Dining, then check in to one of the breezy, luxury villas set among coastal sand forest.
- Sleep in style in the bush in one of Paperbark Camp’s stylish safari tents, where kangaroos and king parrots can be seen from the outdoor bathtubs.
Kiama Blowhole, Kiama Credit: Destination NSW
Water plume spouting from the Kiama blowhole.
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Kiama Blowhole, Kiama Credit: Destination NSW
Water plume spouting from the Kiama blowhole.
Newcastle | 2 hours’ drive
NSW’s second city, Newcastle was built on steel and shipping but today it’s better known for its thriving arts scene, creative community, delicious dining and photogenic ocean pools. Explore on foot, on two wheels or from the water, uncovering fascinating maritime history, vintage stores, tiny galleries and a buzzy night life.
Things to do:
- Take an adventure cruise with Coast XP, watching dolphins leap in your wake as you pass famed surf beaches, World War II forts and the bustling Newcastle Harbour.
- Join the locals for a beachside breakfast or a woodfired pizza on the rooftop of the always-popular Merewether Surfhouse.
- Toast the day with a drink at the city’s highest bar, Rooftop at QT. Sip unique cocktails or local Hunter wines while you take in the 180-degree views over the city.
- Wake to the sound of the waves at Noah’s on the Beach, a classy beachfront hotel. Choose an ocean facing room for that all important view and head out the front door for a sunrise surf.
- Splash out at Crystalbrook Kingsley, Newcastle’s first five-star hotel that has transformed the historic Council Administration Centre building. Don’t miss dinner with a view at the rooftop Roundhouse restaurant.
Merewether Baths, Newcastle Credit: Destination NSW
Young people enjoying a day at the Merewether Baths in Newcastle.
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Merewether Baths, Newcastle Credit: Destination NSW
Young people enjoying a day at the Merewether Baths in Newcastle.