Road closures
There are a few things you should know if you plan on driving on New Year’s Eve.
With so many parking restrictions and major roads closed, you can’t drive to vantage points or see the fireworks from your car. Leave your car at home and catch public transport instead with thousands of extra services running throughout the night.
Major roads closed
In the city centre some roads start closing from as early as 4am with major closures from 2pm.
In North Sydney, Milsons Point and Kirribilli major roads start closing from 5pm, with some early morning local road closures. Roads around vantage points at the waterfront close from 7pm on Monday 30 December.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge will be completely closed in both directions from 11pm ahead of the midnight fireworks.
Most roads in North Sydney and Milsons Point will reopen by 3am, and in the city centre by 4am.
For real-time updates on traffic conditions and road closures during New Year’s Eve visit Live Traffic NSW website or app, or follow @LiveTrafficSyd on X and Live Traffic NSW Facebook.
Road closures
City centre and Pyrmont
6am 31 December to 5:30am 1 January: the Cahill Expressway southbound lanes on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and overpass at Circular Quay, including the High Street and Mount Street on-ramps. For travel to and from the east use the Sydney Harbour Bridge deck lanes or the Sydney Harbour tunnel instead. The Sydney Harbour Bridge will close from 11pm to 1:30am for the midnight fireworks.
4am 31 December to 6am 1 January: Macquarie Street north of Bridge Street to the Sydney Opera House, east Circular Quay access road, and roads in the Royal Botanic Garden and The Domain including Art Gallery Road and Mrs Macquaries Road.
6am 31 December to 4am 1 January: roads in Millers Point including Argyle Place, High, Kent and Windmill streets, and in the city centre including sections of Bridge Street, Macquarie Street north of Bent Street and Phillip Lane.
6am 31 December to 10am 1 January: Circular Quay west from George Street at the Overseas Passenger Terminal.
6am 31 December to 2pm 1 January: George Street between Hickson Road and Lower Fort Street in The Rocks.
12pm 31 December to 4am 1 January: Barton Street, Hickson Road between Watermans Quay and Towns Place, Hickson Road northbound from Napoleon Street to Watermans Quay.
2pm 31 December to 4am 1 January: roads in Circular Quay and The Rocks north of Bridge Street will close, including sections of George Street and Hickson Road to Pottinger Street, Grosvenor Street including Sydney Harbour Bridge off-ramp, Bridge, Phillip, Young, Pitt, Loftus, Lower Fort, Cumberland, Harrington and Argyle streets, and other local roads.
4pm 31 December to 1am 1 January: In Haymarket, Railway Colonnade at Central station will close. Iron Wharf Place from Darling Drive (Sofitel access) at Darling Harbour.
5pm 31 December to 4am 1 January: roads in the city centre including sections of Bridge, Pitt, Bent, Hunter, O’Connell, Elizabeth, Phillip, Castlereagh and College streets, St Marys Road and Yurong Parkway. In the Millers Point area, roads including Hickson Road, Kent Street, Dalgety Road, Towns Place and other local roads. In Pyrmont north, sections of Harris Street and Pirrama Road will close.
6pm 31 December to 4am 1 January: Darling Island Road and surrounding local roads in Pyrmont will close.
7pm 31 December to 4am 1 January: more roads in the city centre including Macquarie, Elizabeth, Castlereagh, Pitt, King, Market, Bathurst and Park streets and Hospital Road. In Pyrmont, further sections of Pirrama Road will close. In Darling Harbour sections of Wheat Road and Harbour Street including Harbour Street and Bathurst Street off ramp from Cross City Tunnel westbound will close. From 7pm the only way to travel east or west across the city is via Goulburn Street or the Cross City Tunnel.
From the Sydney Harbour Bridge there will be no access to Harbour Street at Darling Harbour. Use York Street or Glebe off ramps.
8pm 31 December to 1am 1 January: Darling Drive between Murray and Pier streets. Vehicles from car parks permitted to exit southbound only onto Darling Drive.
10pm 31 December to 4am 1 January: roads from Wynyard to Town Hall including York, Clarence and Margaret streets.
11pm 31 December to 1:30am 1 January: Sydney Harbour Bridge closed in both directions and Western Distributor fully closed between Pyrmont and the city. Roads in the area also closed include Sussex and Kent streets, and all roads around King Street Wharf/Barangaroo.
11pm 31 December to 4am 1 January: further closures in city centre south around Hyde Park include sections of Liverpool, Pitt, Castlereagh, Bathurst and Elizabeth streets. At Central, Eddy Avenue will close including surrounding local roads. In Barangaroo, sections of Sussex Street will close.
North Sydney
7pm 30 December to 3am 1 January: roads around vantage points in Milsons Point, Kirribilli and McMahons Point will close including Blues Point Road, Lavender Crescent, Kirribilli Avenue, Olympic Drive, Broughton and Pitt streets, Railway and Henry Lawson avenues.
6am 31 December to 3am 1 January: Fitzroy Street between Alfred Street South and Broughton Street
8am 31 December to 3am 1 January: sections of Blues Point Road, Alfred Street South and local roads surrounding vantage points will close.
3pm 31 December to 3am 1 January: Blue Street at North Sydney station and Ennis Road from Broughton Street at Milsons Point station will close.
5pm 31 December to 3am 1 January: more major roads in North Sydney, McMahons Point, Milsons Point and Waverton including sections of Miller Street, Blues Point Road, Lavender and Union streets, Balls Head Road, Pacific Highway southbound, Alfred Street south, Walker and Denison streets and surrounding local roads.
From 5pm 31 December: access to Kirribilli and Milsons Point is via Military Road only due to the closure of Pacific Highway southbound.
8pm 31 December to 3am 1 January: Pacific Highway northbound off ramp to North Sydney from Sydney Harbour Bridge. Use the Miller Street or Military Road off ramps instead for access to North Sydney.
11pm 31 December to 1.30am 1 January: Sydney Harbour Bridge closed in both directions and Western Distributor fully closed between Pyrmont and the city. Roads in city centre west also closed including Sussex and Kent streets, and all roads around King Street Wharf/Barangaroo.
For traffic on Arthur Street southbound between Berry and Mount streets, turn left on to Warringah Freeway northbound .
Road closure maps
You can also browse through the full list of road closures or download the road closures and special event clearways map for Sydney CBD and Pyrmont and North Sydney.
View Transport for NSW Sydney New Year's Eve 2024 interactive map detailing road closures around Sydney.
Car parks and street parking
No vehicles will be able to enter or exit car parks in the city until the NSW Police Force reopens all roads.
It is an offence to drive on closed roads and penalties apply. NSW Police will monitor roads and car parks to ensure public safety while closures are in place.
Street parking restrictions
Special event clearway parking restrictions will be in effect from 2am 31 December to 4am 1 January on most roads in the city and Pyrmont, and from 1pm to 3am in North Sydney.
Clearways are strict no-parking zones for all vehicle and motorcycle types, and apply to local residents and businesses with parking permits or Transport for NSW mobility scheme parking permits. Vehicles left in clearways will be towed and a fee applies.
Some clearways are apply on Macquarie Street from 2am New Year’s Eve to 6am New Year’s Day and around Central station from 4pm to 4am.
Clearway locations and times from New Year’s Eve until New Year’s Day
City centre and Pyrmont: special event clearways will be in effect on most major roads throughout the city centre and Pyrmont from 2am 31 December until 4am 1 January.
North Sydney and surrounds: special event clearways will be in effect on roads in North Sydney, Milsons Point, Kirribilli, Lavender Bay, Neutral Bay, Cremorne and Mosman from 1pm 31 December to 3am 1 January. Some clearways will be in effect from 6pm 30 December, and also from 6am 31 December on roads along the waterfront. Clearways will be in effect along both sides of Falcon Street and Military Road between Crows Nest and Spit Junction from 3pm 31 December to 3am 1 January.
Local council areas: clearways will also be in place on various roads in the eastern suburbs, Inner West, Northern Beaches, Balmain peninsula and Hunters Hill peninsula.
Look for the bright yellow signs and check them carefully before parking your vehicle on New Year’s Eve. If your vehicle is towed, you can search your vehicle registration at the Find My Car website to find its new location, or alternatively call 132 701.
Cycleways and walkways
As roads close through the day and night, closures will also be in place on shared pathways, walkways and cycleways below. Follow the directions on signs.
Sydney Harbour Bridge cycleway
From 6pm 31 December to 2am 1 January: Sydney Harbour Bridge walkway and cycleway (both directions) between Milsons Point and Observatory Hill Park.
From 8am cyclists traveling south on Sydney Harbour Bridge cycleway will be required to slow down on approach, dismount and walk their bicycles a short distance to safely connect to shared paths, cycleways and open roads.
From 8am Watson Road and Upper Fort Street will be closed. Pedestrians will be walking on the road to Observatory Hill Park throughout the day.
Western Distributor walkway
The Western Distributor walkway above Darling Harbour will be closed twice during the fireworks shows, from 8:30pm to 9:15pm and from 11:30pm to 12:30am.
Cahill Expressway
From 6am to 5.30am
From 6am 31 December to 5:30am 1 January, Cahill Walk on the Cahill Expressway Circular Quay overpass will be closed.
City centre
From 7pm 31 December to 4am 1 January
College Street cycleway between Liverpool Street and Prince Albert Road
King Street cycleway between Pitt and Phillip streets (Queens Square)
King Street cycleway between Sussex and Clarence streets
Pitt Street cycleway between Alfred and King streets
From 11pm 31 December to 1:30am 1 January
Kent Street cycleway between Liverpool and Margaret streets
From 11pm 31 December to 4am 1 January
Liverpool Street cycleway between Castlereagh and Harbour streets
Hickson Road cycleway between Napoleon and Erskine streets
Darling Harbour and Pyrmont
From 6pm 31 December to 2am 1 January: Kent Street cycleway between Margaret Street and Sydney Harbour Bridge on ramp.
From 8pm 31 December to 1:30am 1 January: Darling Drive cycleway between Ultimo Road and Murray Street.
From 8:30pm to 9:30pm 31 December and from 11:30pm to 1:30am 1 January: Western Distributor walkway from Murray and Pyrmont streets to Wheat Road, Cockle Bay Wharf.
Public transport is your best option to and from the celebrations.