Head to Sydney for your New Year's Eve celebrations
If you are planning to be in Sydney during New Year's Eve, you've got a great programme of events to look forward to.
The city always puts on a wonderful show for the end-of-year celebrations and 2013 is set to be no different. With plenty of special displays and the always spectacular fireworks on show, you'll definitely want to be in town for one of the biggest events in Sydney.
What's on for NYE
The schedule for this year is jam-packed with event sure to please all the family, so you'll never be left wondering what to do in Sydney in the lead-up to the big fireworks display.
Aerial acrobatics, a fire tug water display and a traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smoking ceremony will launch the evening's festivities from 6pm.
At 8.40pm, the Acknowledgement of Country ceremony will be performed to recognise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders' traditional role as custodians of the land and pay respect to elders both past and present.
"With plenty of special displays and the always spectacular fireworks on show, you'll definitely want to be in town for one of the biggest events in Sydney.
At 9pm, the Family Fireworks display will provide a thrilling spectacle for the families with young kids who may not want to battle the crowds later on, with rockets, fireworks and music combining to spectacular effect.
The Harbour of Light Parade is one of the most popular parts of Sydney's NYE celebrations and kicks off at 9.15pm, with a flotilla of over 50 vessels lit up in different colours.
At midnight the main fireworks display will take to the skies in style for twelve exhilarating minutes. There are some brand new effects planned for this year, so you'll definitely want to snag a good vantage point well ahead of time.
Where to catch it all live
Sydney Harbour is the hub of NYE celebrations each year, so you'll want to secure a good spot here before the festivities start.
Luckily, Mantra has plenty of holiday accommodation nearby so you can get to the harbour easily.
Mantra 2 Bond Street is right in the heart of the city and just a short walk away from the Opera House, giving you the perfect base to plan your NYE night around.