For the first time in memory, all fireworks displays in the Hunter marking this New Year’s Eve will kick off before midnight.
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Nelson Bay will join the rest of the Hunter’s main population spots this year in doing away with the traditional midnight light show.
Instead, the Port Stephens celebration held at d’Albora Marinas Nelson Bay, which is free, will join other free family-friendly events, being held at 9pm.
d’Albora Marinas will have police and security guards patrolling all night, monitoring the crowds and ensuring laws relating to the alcohol-free zone are enforced.
Alcohol-free zones will stretch across most beaches, parks and the Nelson Bay foreshore.
This follows previous decisions by Maitland, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie councils to do away with traditional midnight celebrations.
The celebrations at Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin, also begin this year at 9pm.
The fireworks display is free, but this will be part of the Christmas Lights Spectacular, with tickets at $25 for adults, $20 for children, and a family pass for two adults and two children costing $77.
Newcastle City Council tourism and economic development manager Jan Ross said the focus of this New Year’s Eve was shifting west to the Honeysuckle Precinct and the new Worth Place Park.
With the heavy rail line already truncated at Wickham, this will be the first time trains will not be used to manage the thousands of people who lock to the foreshore to see the fireworks.
Ms Ross said revellers were encouraged to use a free bus service, with buses running from Broadmeadow Station down into the Honeysuckle area.
