Whether you live in Sydney or you’re a first-time visitor, you can’t witness the majestic Sydney Harbour without feeling a soulful longing to be out on the water. And when there are one million people lining the harbor to see the world’s biggest fireworks display on New Year’s Eve, the only way to escape the crowds is setting sail. The Tall Ship New Year’s Eve Dinner Cruise is the perfect tour for anyone searching for a unique New Year’s Eve celebration of a lifetime.

The booking process was simple. We received a phone call and email the day before with directions to the departure wharf and meeting time. It was only a short walk from our hotel and we arrived promptly at 7:45pm for an 8pm boarding.

Having walked around the city that morning and witnessed the multitudes that spent the entire day waiting for this moment, I could not have been more thankful to be leaving solid ground and boarding the tall ship — a replica of those commonly seen during the 19th century — named the Southern Swan.

The Southern Swan was built in 1922 and holds only 90 guests. There was plenty of room to move around and it didn’t feel crowded. When it sailed into the port to collect us, I literally swooned. Crafted from Danish oak, the Southern Swan first sailed to Australia in 1988 to be part of the Australian Bicentennial First Fleet Re-enactment and has lived at The Rocks ever since. It’s beauty and majesty was a sight to behold. Long firm lines, tall sails, wooden decks. Straightaway I knew this was going to be a night to remember.

When we boarded I realized my brand new high heels were not going to make moving around easy so I ditched them for a pair of trusty flip flops. The authentic rustic wooden planks set the stage nicely. Makeshift seating was available everywhere on the boat from railings, to benches, to boxes.

We gathered at the front of the ship for a quick safety briefing and then the drinks flowed. The entire 6-hour cruise included an open bar of soft drink, juice, beer and wine. And soon we detected the delightful scent of food wafting from the gallery kitchen.

Staff made their way around the ship throughout the night delivering finger food to guests. Choices included prawns, mini pies, meatballs, sushi and more. Desserts of brownies and fresh fruit followed.

During the first part of the evening we sailed under the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge and past the Sydney Opera House before stopping to view the 9 PM Family Fireworks. After these finished the boat turned on its sparkling fairy lights to join the Harbour of Light Parade and our boat was off again on a tour of the harbor.

Under the twinkling lights, the mystic moon, and the most iconic Sydney landmarks, the magical evening flew by. Hours were filled with live music and good laughs with other guests.

It seemed far too soon that we were dropping anchor in our nominated spot to witness the stunning midnight fireworks display that welcomed in 2017 with a big bang. Over 30,000 pyrotechnic effects lasting twelve minutes were set off from the Sydney Harbour Bridge in front of us and could also be seen from many of the barges behind us. I didn’t know which direction to look, it was all so enchanting. Without a doubt, we had the best vantage point in the harbor.

After the fireworks finished we started cruising the harbor again, slowly making our way back to the dock just after 1:30am. We hugged fellow guests and stepped onto land in a brand new year. Nothing could have been more delightful than this special night.

Want a New Year’s Eve to remember? Then Sydney, Australia is it. But don’t join the landlubbers for a glimpse of the fireworks behind someone else’s head. Get aboard a tall ship and party the night away like it’s 1849.

For more tours like this and more, visit us at Viator!

Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Sydney by Erin Bender from Viator Travel Blog