Queensland New Year's Eve

As 2025 draws to a close, why not plan a unique New Year's Eve celebration to reward yourself for a year of hard work and ignite your hopes and vitality for the new life ahead. Gold Coast: Lay down your beach towel and encounter the romance of fireworks and ocean waves Looking forward to a New Year's Eve that blends fashion trends with Gold Coast charm? Then lay down your beach towel or picnic mat, relax on the beach, and wait for the free community fireworks shows along the Gold Coast. • Surfers Paradise Beach: 8 PM and midnight • Currumbin Park on Broadbeach: 8 PM and midnight • Coolangatta Beach: 9 PM and midnight • Paradise Point Park: 9 PM (entertainment starts at 5 PM) • Robina Town Centre Walk: 8:30 PM (entertainment and food trucks start at 5:30 PM) For a more distinctive ceremonial experience, we recommend the following exclusive Gold Coast New Year's Eve events: • The Star Gold Coast hotel hosts a "New Year's Masquerade Ball" with black and gold dress elements, allowing you to enjoy a luxurious and elegant party atmosphere. • Nineteen at The Star restaurant, inspired by the Gold Coast's golden beaches and sea-sky horizon, offers an exquisite four-course dinner with sunset or moonlight seating, paired with fine wine to toast the new year. • Pearls Bar at Sheraton Mirage Resort celebrates with lively live music and signature cocktails, raising a glass to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. • Burleigh Pavilion outdoor restaurant, set against the backdrop of the coastline, lets you enjoy shimmering skies and stunning sea views. • The "Floating Oasis" Yot Club, popular among trendsetters, offers themed New Year's cuisine and spectacular entertainment aboard a yacht with ever-changing scenery. Brisbane: Modern city vibes and riverside fireworks Celebrators from near and far gather at Brisbane city center, South Bank cultural precinct, and Kangaroo Point riverside to watch the sky light up with dazzling colors, with the Story Bridge brilliantly illuminated. Families can enjoy a family-friendly fireworks party at 8 PM at these locations or wait until midnight for the official New Year's fireworks show. To avoid crowds, head to Howard Smith Wharves, Queen's Wharf, or Riverland for riverside viewing spots. Brisbane New Year's Eve recommendations: • Enjoy international cuisine with panoramic views of the riverside fireworks at Stilts Dining, Queensland's first iconic restaurant built on a bridge. Two fireworks viewing sessions are available on New Year's Eve 2025: a family session at 5:45 PM and an adult session at 9:00 PM. • Lina Rooftop, a stylish rooftop bar, takes the celebration to a "new height," offering a full view of the city's fireworks skyline under the stars, with great food and drinks to the rhythm of the music. • Babylon restaurant, featuring front-row views of the Story Bridge, offers a themed New Year's dinner with four hours of unlimited food and drinks, live electronic music, and more than four hours of fun. • "My Fort" New Year Folk Arts Festival is a uniquely Queensland New Year's event and one of Australia's largest performer gatherings, running from December 27 to January 1, showcasing a rich and impressive musical and cultural New Year's celebration. • The Star Brisbane hotel, located at the landmark Queen's Wharf, thoughtfully prepares for New Year's Eve. Whether it's the exquisite feast at the popular Italian restaurant Cucina Regina or the rooftop bars LiveWire and Cicada Blu "floating" on the Sky Deck, you can enjoy both the Brisbane River fireworks and lively live performances. Cairns: Embrace the New Year amid World Heritage wonders Cairns Esplanade New Year's Eve fireworks Celebrate New Year's Eve in Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, enjoying tropical summer breezes and the chance to admire two World Heritage sites—the Great Barrier Reef and the tropical rainforest. Join the following free community celebrations: • Cairns Esplanade in downtown Cairns: free concerts and entertainment from 5 PM, family fireworks at 9 PM, and the official New Year's fireworks at midnight. • Edmonton: dazzling fireworks at Walker Road Sports Precinct at 8:30 PM. • Palm Cove: grand fireworks show at Palm Cove Jetty at 8:30 PM. Other special New Year's venues in Cairns: • The luxurious Crystalbrook hotel on the Esplanade features the acclaimed Rocco rooftop bar, where you can dance to live DJ sets and enjoy spectacular fireworks over the Cairns skyline. • Dine at Flynn's Italian, one of the best fireworks viewing spots, to toast a wonderful year; then continue the celebration at the free-entry Boardwalk Social on New Year's Eve. • Stay at the Pullman Cairns International hotel and enjoy a sumptuous seafood buffet paired with fine wine in a festive atmosphere welcoming 2026. • At the award-winning trendy Salt House restaurant, relax with live music, pop-up bars, and specialty barbecues to start the new year. • Head to the iconic tropical island resort, Emerald Island Resort, to start island time, barefoot on the sand celebrating the New Year. Look forward to a garden cocktail party and a refined four-course themed dinner at Zephyr’s restaurant, toasting at midnight with your loved one. Sunshine Coast: Family fun and coastal splendor On New Year's Eve, the Sunshine Coast transforms from its usual calm and quiet into a symbol of vibrant energy. The romantic Mooloolaba Esplanade will welcome 30,000 visitors from around the world, with a beach fireworks show at 8:30 PM and entertainment continuing until 10 PM. In the southern Sunshine Coast, Caloundra's celebration with its white sandy beaches starts at noon and runs until 10 PM, featuring face painting, live music, carnival rides, and street food—an ideal choice for family outings. The locals' hidden gem, Noosa Beach, will light up fireworks at 10 PM; you can arrive early with your family at the Gympie lookout by the Noosa River to await this unforgettable ceremony. Noosa River, Sunshine Coast Sunshine Coast New Year's Eve recommendations: • Book riverside restaurants at Noosa Beach in advance, such as Rickys and Noosa Boathouse, to toast with friends and family while waiting for the fireworks. • Pier 33 restaurant at Mooloolaba Wharf is famous for local seafood, signature cocktails, and excellent views. • For Asian fusion cuisine, try The Tamarind restaurant in Maleny, where live music and great food and drinks make a perfect New Year's Eve pairing. It's time to plan a Queensland New Year's ritual as a gift to yourself for the new year.