A city of five million people turns its eyes to one harbour, all chasing the same twelve minutes of sky. Some will grab a patch of grass and make a day of it. Others will do it properly with a great view, a drink in hand, and a spot that turns the countdown into the whole night’s event, not just its final act.
While the rest of Sydney’s venues are still keeping their cards close to their chest, The Oriana has already made its move… and it’s a strong one.
Perched right on Circular Quay, across four sprawling levels, The Oriana doesn’t just have a view of the harbour, it sits inside it. The Bridge, the Opera House, the ferries cutting white lines across the water — it’s all there, laid out like the venue was built for exactly this night. And this year, there’s a way to celebrate it on every level.
Ground Floor & Level 1 — the standing party. Roaming canapés, a beverage package from 6pm–9pm, and the run of the Beer Garden, the Pub, the Harbour View Deck and the Bridge View Deck to find your spot before the sky lights up.
Level 2, The Restaurant — dinner as the main event. A six-course New Year’s Eve menu with matched beverages and champagne from the first toast to the last.
Level 3, The Moët Room — champagne all night long. Moët & Chandon on arrival, three hours of flowing champagne and premium canapés, a seafood and crudo bar, magnum pours, a champagne tower, and a midnight toast to close it out.
It’s an 18+ night, and with four ways to celebrate it, The Oriana has built something for every kind of New Year’s Eve, whether that’s a beer in hand watching the fireworks from the deck, or champagne in the Moët Room as the clock strikes twelve. For anyone who’s decided a harbourside NYE is non-negotiable, this is the one to lock in first.
And The Oriana is just the beginning. Some of Sydney’s most loved rooftops and harbourside pubs are gearing up for their own NYE moments, with more announcements set to land on The Pass in the lead-up to December.
Over in Barangaroo, Untied brings a rooftop with a tropical, easy-going energy and a genuine claim on the skyline — the kind of place that turns a countdown into a proper occasion. Right alongside it, Barangaroo House and The Rook are two of the most searched-for rooftops in the city for good reason, and both are shaping up to be serious contenders once their NYE plans go live. In the heart of the CBD, Babylon Sydney is one to watch too, ideally placed for anyone keen to move between vantage points as the night builds toward midnight.
For a different kind of celebration, Bungalow 8 on King Street Wharf is a beautiful pick — a sun-drenched, beachside-villa vibe on the water by day that turns into a lively dance floor after dark, with uninterrupted views across Darling Harbour. Right next door, Henley’s Kitchen & Bar offers two levels overlooking the same stretch of water, a laid-back spot to settle in with a drink and watch the harbour come alive as midnight approaches.. And down on the Finger Wharf, Kingsleys Woolloomooloo pairs harbour views with a menu built for celebrating in style.
These NYE line-ups haven’t dropped just yet, but when they do, you can expect exactly what these venues are known for: great views, great energy, and nights worth planning around. Keep this one on your radar.
If you want it locked in, book it in — Circular Quay doesn’t wait for latecomers, and right now The Oriana is the only venue on The Pass with tickets live across every level. Everything else is still to come. Keep the app open over the next few weeks; when the rest of Sydney makes its move, you’ll want to be first in line.
