SYDNEY and Melbourne have kicked off the party that starts the world’s new year by painting the night sky.
A kaleidoscope of colourful fireworks were launched into the skies of both cities before an estimated 1.5 million revellers on Tuesday.
Exploding fireworks sprayed from Sydney‘s iconic opera house and harbour bridge at midnight as the world began ushering in a new year.
More than 1 million people crammed the Sydney Harbour foreshore on a warm summer night to watch Sydney’s renowned annual pyrotechnics show. Fireworks launched from four sails of the Sydney Opera House for the first time in more than a decade.
The show marked the third pyrotechnic spectacular on Sydney Harbour this New Year’s Eve, with city skies also lighting up at for eight minutes 9pm (AEST) and a one-off 60 second show at 10pm.
In the 12-minute midnight show of red, gold, blue, and green fireworks morphed into swirls, wheels and comets as they launched off the the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Great view…New Year’s Eve fireworks erupt over Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge. Picture: AFP
Sydney announced 2014 with a synchronised explosion across the harbour, including 1000 fireworks shot from the Opera House sails, as well as glittering waterfalls of fire that cascaded over the harbour.
For a moment the seven tonnes of coloured fireworks seemed to turn the city’s cloudy night into bright day.
Swedish tourist Malin Schumacher, 19, said the midnight display was worth the 10-hour wait.
Celebration…Fireworks light up the sky from The Sydney Harbour Bridge at midnight. Picture: Getty
“You think I’m joking, but I did start to cry. I was overwhelmed.
“You have fireworks in Sweden, but there’s nothing compared to this – the view, the energy, the people.”
Boliver Warner, 21, said the fireworks got better every year.
Source: News Ltd.