Australia Day: How to Celebrate in Sydney, NSW

Australia Day is a special day for Australians as it is their official national day and the second national holiday of the year. It is a day celebrated to mark the arrival of the first fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788 and honours the achievements and contributions made by the natives towards the nation's growth and status. The day is marked by festive energy and all the states and territories join hands to enjoy the day with parades, patriotic songs, fireworks, concerts and so on. It is the perfect opportunity for families to get together, for a barbecue, catch up with friends or even hit the road to make the most of the long summer. Sydney Harbour is ardent about this special occasion and people from around the world flock here during this time to witness the lively events and celebrations. Here are a couple of tips to own an Australia Day in Sydney.

Harbour Cruises, Sydney

The harbour gets busy hosting numerous events and parades and thousands of festive enthusiasts can be seen rushing into several spots to witness these events from the best possible angles. You can view them from several vantages throughout the harbour but the best way to catch all the action is to board an Australia Day cruise. Savour a delicious lunch prepared freshly by the onboard chefs and witness events including the Tall Ships Parade, RAAF Flyover, Australia Day Harbour Parade, Tug and Yacht Ballet and many more. Choose from the luxury glass boat, an authentic paddlewheeler or a multi-million dollar catamaran and enjoy a classy dining experience coupled with amazing harbour views. Spend your time on the cruise with a drink in your hand and embrace the festive spirits by raising a toast with your companions. These Australia day cruises in Sydney Harbour take you on a voyage past the iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House, offering awesome photo ops as well. The operators ensure you a comfortable cruise and dine experience with only limited seating made available, so book your seats now!

Wonderdome, Sydney

Wonderdome is Sydney’s latest 360° pop-up theatre that will make its debut at the Entertainment Quarter this December and January. What is a wonderdome? Simplest way to put it is virtual reality without the goggles. A great alternative to spending gitme at the cinemas, visit here for Australia Day and enjoy a memorable family time. Everyone is invited here for a fully immersive visual and auditory experience that will create an extraordinary atmosphere and will leave you speechless. From epic art journeys to nature-based cinematics, the dome will present you with a variety of programs that will appeal to both the young and old.

Ride it out a Luna Park

This heritage-listed amusement park is the best way to enjoy family time on a special occasion like Australia Day. You may have already seen the moon face of the park at the entrance if you‘ve boarded a harbour cruise, but that's not the only thing that amazes you in this venue. The park has been entertaining its visitors for more than eight decades so you will surely stumble upon many old-timey rides, but the park is under renovation and is soon bringing you some major upgrades. Get on the popular multi-coloured ferris wheel and see the awesome skyline of Sydney from 40 metres above the ground. Kick it up a notch on the Sledgehammer, where you swing and spin at the same time as the hammer whacks you back and forth with full throbble! This one is packed with exhilaration and makes you feel like things you didn't know existed before!

I am a traveller, an artist who love to explore various places, art and food.