New Year's Eve chaos kicks off as huge crowds swarm to snag spots for Sydney's iconic fireworks - with some queuing since 4am for a front row seat
Thousands have already staked out their spots to watch Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks, after a wild stampede erupted the moment gates swung open this morning.
- Thousands already in Sydney Harbour
- Revellers had been queuing since Tuesday
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By NICHOLAS COMINO, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA
Published: 02:19 GMT, 31 December 2025 | Updated: 02:19 GMT, 31 December 2025
Thousands of people have joined massive queues around Sydney Harbour ahead of the world-famous New Year's Eve fireworks - with some setting up camp at 4am.
The gates to Mrs Macquarie's Chair, the city's most sought-after vantage point, opened at 9.30am, sparking a frantic stampede.
By dawn, more than 2,000 people were queuing, some having camped overnight to secure front-row seats for the midnight show.
Once the gates opened, the foreshore became a kilometre-long racetrack with people dragging picnic rugs and eskies in the scramble for territory.
International visitors were also swept up in the excitement.
'I live in Germany, I've never experienced anything like this,' one tourist told the ABC.
Sydney Harbour is set to host over a million spectators tonight, with tens of thousands already packed into viewing areas long before sunset.
Mrs Macquarie's Chair remains Sydney's 'crown jewel' for New Year's Eve, offering iconic views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
People have been queuing since 4am to get a front row seat for Sydney's firework display
Revellers were seen running with chairs and blankets once gates opened at 9:30am
People were seen queuing up outside Mrs Macquarie's Chair since Thursday
Extra security measures are in place across the Sydney CBD following the Bondi Beach attack
'We're expecting big crowds in the city tonight - more than a million people coming to join in the celebrations,' NSW Transport Minister John Graham said.
To manage the influx, Graham announced a huge transport operation.
'More than 1,000 extra services are going to be in place, that's a 40 per cent uplift on a normal day,' he said.
He confirmed public transport will run continuously for 46 hours, with Metro trains expected to clear crowds 'in about half the time it would usually take'.
Premier Chris Minns urged families to enjoy the festivities despite the lingering impact of the Bondi Beach terror attack, which left 15 people dead on December 14.