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Published: January 4th 2010
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Ohmygod we are still coming down from the euphoria of being on Sydney harbour to welcome in 2010. It was one of those moments that we will never forget. I think it's ruined all future new year celebrations for us though because nothing will ever come close...
We had been looking forward to our new year boat trip for so long (not least because it would be a chance to dress up) so when it finally came around we were beyond excited. Millions of people descend on Sydney every new year to be among the first to welcome in the next year and watch the best fireworks display on the planet and we would have front row seats! To a new decade no less!
Our boat picked us up from King Street Wharf at 7.30pm and as we walked through Darling Harbour there were hundreds of people already getting their spots in that harbour for the fireworks and hundreds more boarding other boats. We were passengers on Commissioner II which is a classy-looking 80ft motoryacht. We had watched people herded onto other boats and crammed on decks like cattle so we were relieved to find there was loads of
space on our boat because they (Flagship Cruises) restricted the number of tickets sold to around 90 when it can hold just over 100 so it wasn't at full capacity. We were greeted with a glass of champagne as we boarded and headed out on to the front deck where we stayed for the entire duration. Although the inside of the boat was lovely with proper candles and everything, new year was all about being outside to soak up the atmosphere.
Commissioner II was the lead boat in the northern group of vessels in the Parade of Light procession through the harbour which meant we were one of the boats allowed closest to the action. It was such a thrill heading out into the harbour and sailing under the bridge. All the guests were on deck snapping away at the Opera House and the bridge and the thousands of people that were lining every available bit of space along the shore. Apparently there were 1.5m people in Sydney for the celebrations and many of those who didn't have tickets to an event had been out since early morning to hold a prime spot along the harbour. We were so
lucky not to have had to camp out all day - I had time for a manicure and we got dressed at around 5pm before strolling down to the wharf.
At 9pm there was a fireworks display for the children. This was the best fireworks display we had ever seen (until the midnight fireworks of course!) there were three sets of synchronised fireworks going off from barges on the harbour along with a display at Darling Harbour and fireworks coming off some of the city buildings. We didn't know where to look! By this stage we had enjoyed many glasses of champagne - which we didn't even have to get ourselves as staff kept coming round topping up our glasses. We were also served with canapes that were so delicious and fresh it was hard to believe they had just been whipped up in the boat kitchen. We enjoyed tempura salt and pepper king prawns, crab salad served in a spoon, chicken satay skewers, mini burgers, mini chicken and leek pies, oysters served on the shell with a tiny fork (we didn't really enjoy this one but it just had to be done) and loads of other fancy finger
food that put my Christmas eve buffets to shame. It was perfect.
Then the lights on our boat and the other boats who were in the parade went on and we began the procession west along the harbour to Cockatoo Island then east to Point Piper before we took up our position near Fort Denison for the midnight fireworks. (Can you tell I just copied that down from the programme - I had no idea where we were going!) But I do know that we were parked up (do boats park up?!) in a prime spot with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge in front of us.
The light procession was pretty cool. The boats in the parade all had lights on their sides with a sealife theme. There were a couple of octopusses, a few whales (or were they sharks) and a dolphin or two. Our boat had white seahorses on the side. As we came back towards the harbour and under the bridge everyone along the shore began cheering and waving at us which was amazing and it felt so good to be a part of something so magical.
The bridge was lit up either
side with projected images onto both towers and before we knew it we were only minutes away from the big countdown. Then the explosions started. It is so hard to describe just how amazing the fireworks were. I have seen the Sydney new year celebrations on TV for many years and there are always pictures in the papers back in the UK so to actually be there in that moment knowing how many people all over the world would be watching was just spine-tingling. It is something I have wanted to do for such a long time and to actually be there was just such a high and just a touch surreal. The fireworks went on for ages and were completely and utterly spectacular. They were coming from the bridge, barges on the river, buildings, the entire sky was a mass of glitter and sparkle and the sound was deafening. The smoke from the fireworks blacked out the Opera House at one stage. I think it cost about $1.5m which is a phenomenal amount but Sydney definitely leads the world in its new year festivities.
We were dropped back at the wharf at 1am and said farewell to the
couple from Wollongong we had spent the night chatting to and walked back through the packed streets to the hostel. Yes back to reality, the champagne, canapes and fancy frocks are done with now.
We hope you all had a lovely new year and wish you all the best for 2010.
I should just mention that we have been having a lot of fun in Sydney this week and have caught up with friends, been to the cinema, out to dinner and even saw a show at the Opera House. The show was fantastic. It was the Australian Philharmonic Orchestra doing songs from musicals and operas with special guest singers. The end involved streamers and the entire audience singing along to When The Saints Go Marching In. We have been kind of living it up this week and don't sound too much like backpackers with NYE boat trips and shows at the Opera House (there was champagne involved there too!) not to mention staying in double rooms, but honestly we are going back to pasta and boxes of wine from today not to mention sharing rooms with strangers.
PS The pictures on the first page aren't that
great because our cameras don't perform well in the dark but if you click on to the extra photos there are some better ones of the Opera House show and a possum!
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