Capital cities over the country have pulled out all the stops to prepare a range of displays with special effects and some never-before-used fireworks.
Jump to what’s happening in your capital city:
Sydney
More than one million people usually watch the fireworks on Sydney Harbour.
Sydney’s highly anticipated midnight fireworks display over the harbour will included two new colours — lime and peach — thanks to new technology that allows for the use of more pastel colours.
There will also be pulsating fireworks, to represent this year’s theme, The Pulse of Sydney.
A family fireworks show will start at 9:00pm, followed by Calling Country — a celebration of Australia’s Indigenous heritage.
Thousands of extra buses and trains will run on Monday and into the early hours of Tuesday, however commuters are urged to plan ahead.
Trains won’t stop at Circular Quay from 5:00pm until midnight due to the anticipated large crowds. Wynyard, Town Hall or Martin Place stations can be used to access the harbour foreshore.
Trains from the city to the north shore won’t stop at Milsons Point from 6:00pm until midnight — but you can get off at North Sydney to continue your trip.
Bus services into and out of the city will also use different routes and stops while road closures are in place.
Ferries will be busy — plan to arrive early and have a plan B. No ferries will operate in the harbour from 8:00pm until 12:54am.
Melbourne
PHOTO There will be fireworks displays at 9:00pm and midnight in Melbourne.
Up to 350,000 people are expected to attend Melbourne’s celebrations, which include a fireworks display spread over a 7.5-kilometre radius in what is described as a “world first”.
From the ground to the tops of 22 buildings, 14 tonnes of fireworks worth $234,000 will be set off as the clock strikes midnight.
Open from 9:00pm until 1:00am, the four official midnight live sites are the Docklands, Flagstaff Gardens, Treasury Gardens and Kings Domain.
A fireworks display will also be held at Footscray Park at 9:30pm.
Public transport will be free across Melbourne from 6:00pm on New Year’s Eve until 6:00am on New Year’s Day.
Trams and trains will run to a normal weekday timetable with some additional services.
Changes will apply to some central city bus routes after 6:00pm.
After midnight services: Trains will run every 10 minutes until 1:30am, trams will run every 5 to 10 minutes until 2:00am and buses will depart the city every 15 minutes.
Canberra
PHOTO Fireworks displays from behind Civic Square will light the skies at 9pm and again at 12pm to welcome the new year.
New Year’s Eve in the city will feature family entertainment, pop-up performers and a variety of local food on offer from 6:00pm.
More than 12,000 individual pyrotechnics will light up the sky above Civic Square in fireworks displays at 9:00pm and midnight.
Roads in the city — including London Circuit, between Akuna Street and Northbourne Avenue — will be closed from 5:00pm.
Two car parks — on the corner of London Circuit and Constitution Avenue, and at East Row — will be closed from 2:00pm.
Public transport will operate to a holiday timetable on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Hobart
PHOTO Hobart’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display is billed as being the biggest ever.
Hobart’s fireworks display will be the biggest the city has ever seen, with literally a tonne of crackers set to be lit up along the waterfront.
The midnight display will run for 10 minutes and has been programmed to match the music pumping from the Taste of Tasmania festival being held in the city at the same time.
A smaller fireworks show will be held in the same location at the family-friendly time of 9:30pm.
New Year’s Eve public transport will run to a weekday holiday timetable. There will be extra services on main routes.
Metro will offer a $2 cash flat fare after 6:00pm, but you will be charged full price if you use your Greencard.
Public transport will run to a Sunday public holiday timetable on New Year’s Day.
Brisbane and the Gold Coast
More than 100,000 people are expected to line the Brisbane River in the CBD to watch the city’s fireworks display.
There will be an 8:30pm early show for kids as well as the midnight extravaganza.
Public transport is free in Brisbane and the Gold Coast from 8:00pm until 5:30am, excluding Airtrain, DRT and long-distance services.
Train, bus and ferry services in Brisbane will run to a normal weekday timetable on New Year’s Eve, with some exceptions.
Translink recommends people taking the train use South Brisbane station after the foreshore celebrations.
PHOTO More than 100,000 people are expected to attend the Brisbane festivities.
There will be large fireworks shows on the Gold Coast at 8:00pm and midnight.
Bus services on the Gold Coast on New Year’s Eve will run to a normal weekday timetable, with extra services running through the night to cater for crowds.
Trams will run every seven-and-a-half minutes between 7:00pm and 2:00am.
Commuters are urged to plan ahead and check public transport arrangements in their local area.
Adelaide
PHOTO The city council has boosted the budget on fireworks this year.
About 30,000 people are expected to attend the fireworks at 9:00pm and midnight at Elder Park in the city.
A larger crowd of 50,000 will be watching pyrotechnics at Brighton and Glenelg foreshore at the family-friendly time of 9:30pm (Glenelg also has a midnight display).
A free shuttle bus is available at Glenelg, and will run every 20 minutes between 5:00pm and 1:00am between Harbour Town and Wigley Reserve.
The Adelaide Strikers will take on the Sydney Thunder at Adelaide Oval from 6:45pm on Monday.
Public transport will be free from 5:00pm to between 6:00am and 8:00am on New Year’s Day.
The free New Year’s Eve services will operate to special timetables.
Darwin
The Top End is awaiting a monsoon, which the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast to kick in from New Year’s Day.
But first, on Monday night, those who venture out into afternoon showers and thunderstorms can make their way to the waterfront for fireworks displays at 9:00pm and midnight.
Conditions are prime for a monsoon to hit Darwin on New Year’s Day, 2019
An afternoon of kids’ entertainment is planned, while for older partygoers Justice Crew and the Australian Ultimate Kylie Minogue Tribute show will perform.
Perth
PHOTO Public transport will be free in Perth after midnight.
Fireworks are set to start at the city’s own event in Northbridge at 9:00pm with a short display, while a second spectacular round will take place at midnight after the official countdown.
The city has organised free and frequent public transport after midnight for the first time since 2004.
Revellers will have access to the free public transport after midnight and until 6am the next day, with Transperth scheduling 113 extra train rides, 117 more bus trips and additional ferry services to run after midnight.
Trains and buses will operate on a weekday timetable, with additional services operating on all lines before or after midnight.
However, revellers are being encouraged to check the Transperth website for details.
If you don’t get your fill of fireworks on New Year’s Eve, a family-friendly New Year’s Day event will be held on the Shelley Foreshore between 3:30pm and 8:30pm — the sparks will start to fly at 7:55pm.
