Looking for spectacular Christmas party venues in Sydney?

If you’re in search of a vibrant Christmas party cruise, the Sydney Harbour is the place to be. There is a huge range of Christmas party cruises available in Sydney, from budget cruises to premium glass boat cruise. One of the crowd favourites is the nautically designed catamaran with its 5-star onboard amenities. In addition to all the luxury vessel features the freshly prepared buffet menu and selection of beverages are the main highlights. Guests can enjoy the mesmerising harbour precincts and click spectacular images of the world heritage edifices like the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The availability of spectacular Christmas party cruises offering a selection of dinner & beverage packages is the reason why most of the corporate Christmas parties are organised in the Sydney Harbour.

Sydney is one of the major coastal cities in the world where you can throw a summer beach party and Christmas party at once and that’s something to boast about! Sydney is not short of party venues and you can find several good ones within the city which makes it a hideous task to choose the right venue which serves your purpose. In Sydney, there is something for everyone, from fancy restaurants, 5-star rooftop bars and terraces, beach party spots and other outdoor venues that are just perfect for Christmas BBQs. As the Christmas season is closing by, it’s time to organise your work Christmas party. The most important decision you’ll have to make is choosing the right venue.

There are plenty of great venues in Sydney, from themed bars to unique locations, so you’re guaranteed to get some fabulous office Christmas party ideas for your team and valued clients.

The custom-designed catamaran offering an amazing Christmas Party with a delicious dinner menu and unlimited beverages are sure to create a memorable and unique experience for all. Offering three large outer decks the multi-million dollar catamaran ensures the best Sydney Harbour views.

There are other cruises in Sydney Harbour, Australia’s authentic paddle wheeler offering 3-hour entertainment and Sydney’s newest glass boat offering premium cruising experience.

Choose your Christmas party venue early as the most in-demand venues in Sydney get booked out weeks in advance. Fridays and weekends in December are the most sought after days during the Christmas season and it would be recommended to have a couple of different dates in mind in order to widen your choice.

If you are in search of a unique venue that offers a casual yet sophisticated atmosphere in order to captivate your guests, then the Christmas Party cruises on Sydney Harbour is definitely for you!

New Year’s Eve in Sydney

The world is watching

The New Year’s Eve capital of the world awaits! While other parts of the world are still stuck in the past, Sydney is one of those very few major cities that gets to celebrate first! All eyes are on Sydney- and it never disappoints. With benchmarks high and over a million eyes transfixed, Sydney New Year’s Fireworks is quite the spectacle. Sydney sure knows how to party- especially when it’s a party of this scale and the entire planet’s invited!

Where can I see it from?

With visitors from all around Australia and from around the world, finding a spot to  relax and enjoy the fireworks isn’t a particularly easy task; you’d be lucky even if you’re able to find a comfortable spot to stand. If you don’t mind spending the last day of the year camping out at one of the vantage points, you can guarantee yourself a good spot. And we’re talking about camping out from noon on 31st of December, just to be clear. I’m definitely not up for that.

However, there is one other way- a New Year’s Eve Cruise in Sydney! Choose from tempting all-inclusive New Year’s Eve Cruise packages in Sydney and try to bag them at reduced prices while they’re at their early-bird rates! NYE cruises guarantee front-row access to the Sydney New Year fireworks and there are plenty of vessels you could choose from. Crowd favourites include Magistic New Year’s Eve cruise and the Sydney Showboat NYE cruise which offer delectable dining menus and a pretty comprehensive drinks packages to get that blood alcohol level spiking along with other exciting inclusions that ensure you’ll ring in 2020 in sophistication and style!

Humble Beginnings

Since its inception back in 1996, the Sydney New Year’s fireworks has, without a doubt, levelled up every single year. Designed by Syd Howard Fireworks, a ten-second pyrotechnic countdown with a comet shot off from buildings all the way from North Sydney upto AMP tower every second, ushered in 1997! While it was quite the spectacle at the time, its spectacular the rate to which it has evolved.

And Now..

The multi-tiered event, staged by the Sydney City Council, centred at the heart of the harbour now draws an audience of over 1.5 million eager participants from around the world and 1.1 billion reportedly watching the televised version.

A smaller firework display that happens at 9pm is ideal for families with kids. However, the pyrotechnic display that commences at the stroke of midnight is undoubtedly a true treat to the senses! The kaleidoscope of colours that brighten up the summer night skies reflecting off the cascading Sydney harbour waters. Mesmerising, to say the least. Starting the year off with a bang indeed- a firework display worth watching!

Stray away from the usual in ‘Straya this New Year’s Eve onboard a cruise! Don’t miss out celebrating in the harbour from your front-row seats that feels like the dress circle, to ring in 2020 in ultimate sophistication.

The World’s Top 3 New Year’s Firework Displays

No matter where in the world you are to ring in the New Year, the midnight fireworks display seems to transcend borders- it’s universal and has become the ultimate end-of-the-year party norm. It’s a global phenomenon and every year the stakes get higher! The three cities listed below have consistently exceeded expectations to create a New Year’s fireworks show to remember. 

Let’s see the three most iconic cities offering a vibrant and colourful start to 2020! 

 

 

• Sydney

 

One word sums up the Sydney NYE Fireworks: Spectacular!

While the rest of the world is still figuring out their party outfits or napping before their 24-hour long New Year party debauchery that commences a little before the clocks chime midnight in their city, Sydney gets a headstart on the celebrations with their incredible New Year fireworks display! 

The multi-tiered Sydney New Year Fireworks event is centred on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and needless to say, people are packed along the harbour foreshores since noon in anticipation of the show! 

A word to the wise, plan ahead and book a New Year’s Eve cruise , avoid the crowds and enjoy all-inclusive NYE cruise packages. One of the other things you must keep in mind though is to book with a reputed cruise operator that runs regular dinner cruises along the Sydney Harbour. A very popular must-do Sydney Harbour dinner cruise that runs regularly which has special NYE cruises too is Sydney Showboats. On their special New Year’s Eve cruise,  you get front-row access to the firework displays- both at 9 pm for the family fireworks and at 12 am to ring in 2020 in style! The authentic paddlewheeler setting along with the delicious seated-and-served dinner and drinks make this a memorable way to spend New Years! To top it all off, you’re entertained throughout with the 1-hour scintillating cabaret show and DJ and dancing! 

Celebrate your New Year’s Eve in Sydney with some old-world charm!

 

 

• Dubai 

 

One word sums up the Dubai New Year’s Eve celebrations:Legendary! 

Heading west of Sydney, we move on to a city with a stellar reputation to match; with the high-rise record breaking buildings and the spectacular pyrotechnic display along with the glitz and glamour of the ‘City of Gold’ all come together to make this a happening year-end destination popular among tourists worldwide. Downtown Dubai is the most popular spot for crowds to gather and watch the futuristic fireworks that encompass the Burj Khalifa! 

But that’s not the only display that happens- there are separate displays at Burj Dubai, Festival City, Global Village and Atlantis too. 

 

 

• New York

 

One word sums up the New York fireworks on New Year’s Eve:Iconic! 

With not just one but TWO supreme highlights that have people glued to their television screens worldwide, New York is a class apart. Times Square on New Year’s is all the more crowded than it usually is on a regular day (which is already pretty packed). Watch the fireworks display and the iconic ball drop for an unforgettable start to the year! 

 

Come December, these cities welcome hordes of tourists hoping to feel part of a celebration of a lifetime and crossing one more thing off their bucket list! Get planning early on for an eventful New Year’s!

Get Over-whale-med: The Best Whale Watching Cruises In Sydney

Ah! The Sydney Harbour – home to the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, the first spot on every tourist’s travel itineraries and every Australian’s source of pride. The Harbour is sprawling with activity at every juncture – with the not-so-occasional sightseeing tourist sporting an ‘I ❤️ Sydney’ tee and a camera around their neck, the restaurants buzzing with conversation, wait-staff beelining their way through the hungry diners and the Insta-famous food blogger hovering over the table crouching and contorting awkwardly all for getting that perfect flat-lay for their feed (#followforfollow)! 

 

A well-informed lot of tourists make their way onto one of the many Sydney Harbour cruises for dining and sightseeing, smartly distancing themselves from the crowds. The views that one encounters on these cruises are truly spectacular – soothing stretches of coastal walks punctuated by silica sand beaches, all framed by endless expanses of the Pacific Ocean. Ah! The Sydney Harbour! 

 

Come late May to early November, a very special bunch of tourists, much too big to find ‘I ❤️ Sydney’ tees to span their 50 tonne heavy bodies (#bodyshaming?), arrive in Sydney. Eager to escape the biting cold of their Antarctic homes, traversing 5000 odd kilometres, these lovesick cetaceans are here to celebrate a truly epic babymoon (#babymoongoals!) or annual vacation in the warmer Australian waters. This trend validates us peeping Toms world over to indulge in our voyeuristic tendencies and book a whale watching cruise in Sydney! If you didn’t already guess that I was talking about whales so far, whale then, now you know. 

 

Breach, please! As you’ll soon find out after your whale watching tour along Sydney Harbour, Humpbacks are Antarctica’s top contenders for the acrobatics segment of the Olympics! They’re willing to always put on quite the show for all those watching. Humpback whale breaches are quite the dramatic sight, so keep your cameras (literally and figuratively) on deck.  You can fathom how difficult it may be to haul a 40-tonne body out of the water. I, myself, sometimes struggle to gracefully hoist myself out of a bathtub following a long bath that has rendered me wrinkled from head to toe! 

Heads Up For Tails! Amorously-inclined flirty female whales need their fair share of attention and sure know how to demand for it; an impactful pec or tail slap almost always gets the job done. 

Underwater & Undercover! Aquatic Sherlock Holmes reporting for duty – a particularly cute surfacing behaviour that Humpback whales exhibit is spyhopping, wherein their heads shyly break the surface of the water just to have a look around as you enjoy your whale watching tour in Sydney. Oddly enough though, this trait is quite reminiscent of my (not-so-cute) nosy neighbour. 

 

Be a part of and witness the beauty of the longest mammalian migration on the planet. Book your whale watching cruise in Sydney and scourge the best deals of the season. It’s Whale Watching Season In Sydney This Winter! 

Fooling A La Carte – A World of Buffets & Tasting Menus

A La Carte is off the menu!

 

With the world’s best restaurants switching to a more sustainable tasting or sample menu option and the smaller restaurants opting for buffets, it’s definitely a switch to something better. From Michelin star restaurants globally to dinner cruises in Sydney, there’s been a palpable paradigm shift!

Both of these approaches allow for a more efficient management of time and kitchen waste, improves work predictability, saves money to an extent; ensuring smiles all around – kitchen staff, servers & diners – everyone’s happy. A la carte is now officially cancelled!

 

Buffet Boom

 

A popular option for catering for larger groups, buffets are infiltrating chain restaurants, budget establishments and novelty dining spots. Buffets have also consistently proven to be better for get-togethers for groups as everyone gets to pick how much and what they’d like to eat.

Novelty dining establishments like Magistic Sydney Harbour dinner cruise, for instance, offer budget-friendly buffet dining options. The extensive spread caters to those who love seafood (and those who don’t), those who are on a strict diet (and those who aren’t) and vegetarians too! All of this while enjoying stunning views of the harbour on a luxury catamaran!

The pros of buffets definitely outweigh the cons, especially for larger groups of people looking to dine together. It’s more often than not the more economical and value-for-money option. There’s an extensive array of dishes to suit a varied palate – whether you’re looking to experiment or play it safe.

 

Degustation Drama

 

Inspired by the French, as most things in the culinary field are, degustation/sampling menus are becoming increasingly popular. Michelin-starred restaurants started doing it, most mid-range restaurants have followed suit.

A tasting menu allows chefs to showcase their very best and exposes the diners to the creme de la creme of speciality cuisine. It is a great option to reserve a table for a gastronomical experience of this sort for a special occasion or for an intimate romantic dinner. It doesn’t necessarily make too much sense for larger groups. That being said, it depends on where you plan on dining and what their policies are regarding the same.

Not too long ago, a dinner cruise in Sydney, one on Clearview Cruises, owned by Australia’s premier cruise operator, introduced an 8-course degustation menu on their premium cruises! The seafood-inspired delicacies paired with premium beverages and 360° harbour views are a winning combination unlike any other.

 

Au revoir to a la carte culture

 

Millennials are the most critiqued generation of all time, without a doubt. But they’re definitely not just all about avocados – there’s been an apparent shift towards splurging on experiences over materialistic things. This is where we can finally bid goodbye to a la carte culture. Minimal social interaction by opting for a quick drive-thru stop for routine meals and splurging on a degustation experience. Life’s all about balance, isn’t it?

New Year’s Eve Cruises & So Much More

Have you seen the magnificent Sydney Harbour being illuminated with a million lights and pyrotechnics. With a ton of fireworks lighting the entire harbour can you imagine the view you’ll get? LIT ain’t it! All set to see everything that makes the harbour city and its NYE celebrations special? When you have numerous options for the same, why not go for a stunning New Year’s Eve cruise on Sydney Harbour, which is undoubtedly the best! Looking forward to learn the how’s and why’s of the same? Read on:

Take a stroll along the harbour

The most simplest way to view the fireworks is to take a stroll along Sydney Harbour. Plan ahead and hold a spot in one of the viewing areas well ahead of time, get a picnic bag and you’ll be set for the whole night. Viewing spots vary from non-alcoholic venues to places where even BYO drinks are permitted. To top it off, there are areas where you have a licensed bar to buy drinks! Choosing the latter can be slightly heavy on the waller, but when you relate it with the free from crowds experience, it’s worth every penny!

Premium Sydney New Year’s Eve cruises

There’s no doubt as to what is the best way to view the NYE fireworks – a stunning glass boat fireworks Sydney NYE cruise. Add a premium degustation menu and drinks to the lot and it’s more than worth raving about. With uninterrupted fireworks views lighting up your night, it’s worth every single dime you’ll spend! With an elegant glass boat as your venue for the night, all you have to do is to book your seats well in advance and get your camera ready to go! With no overcrowding, 360° views and a dining experience that tops the charts, you’ll have your social media pages smoking with the Oh! So hot! happenings! The menu is also to die for and worth many clicks even if you’re not a food blogger! A word to the uninitiated, book months ahead or you’ll end up spending a lot more or net getting any tickets at all!

Al fresco catering venue

If you want to have a night with the wind in you hair, go for a table at an outdoor catering venue! With numerous options in and around the harbour, we’ll recommend Barangaroo, Taronga Zoo and Opera House for the best combo of views and seats! Schedule your night a li’l early and you’ll definitely bag a great deal on any of these! With choices available without catering to already set multi-course menus, choose from your pick of the lo! The only fault you’ll find with it are you’ll enjoy views from only a given spot for the entire night!

With such great choices, you’ll definitely find one that suits your taste and fits your budget. Go for one that works best and kickstart the year with some remarkable memories!

The most celebrated day in Sydney

It’s that time of the year where you decide to leave behind all your problems and indulge in the excitement of celebrating the New Year. When it comes to deciding the perfect ambience for it, the dilemma strikes. But if you are in Sydney, there will not be a better place to celebrate New Year other than Sydney New Year’s Eve cruises. 

Sydney Harbour just makes New Year’s Eve more special. People from all over the world and across the country gather at Sydney Harbour to welcome the New Year. There are plenty of reasons why you should celebrate the upcoming New Year on a Sydney Harbour NYE cruise. Some of them are:

The star-studded sky over the harbour is the perfect canvas to depict the art of vivid hues. The Sydney Harbour fireworks are world-famous and have been a symbol of celebrating the welcoming of the New Year not only for Australia but for the whole world. With the Harbour Bridge in the backdrop, a fully-choreographed fireworks display up and down Parramatta River is sure to entice each and every soul with its shimmering kaleidoscope of colours. Celebrate New Year amidst thousands of vessels and millions of onlookers who’re counting down the seconds.

NYE Sydney Harbour cruises offer tempting packages which have to be grabbed at the earliest, as most of the cruise operators give out early bird tickets for a lower price compared to the more expensive ones at the end of the year. Summer creates an ideal ambience to pump up your New Year celebration. See the illuminated edifices studded along the pristine harbour of Sydney from the expansive outer decks of the your harbour cruise and enjoy the dazzling harbour lights with a glass of classic Aussie wine. The expansive decks, breathtaking decor and cordial staff that come with your cruise make New Year’s Eve, a night to remember.

The Heritage Listed steel bridge becomes a key focal point and source of attention during New Year’s Eve and to watch the fireworks projected on to the ambient Sydney skyline from the bustling waters on New Year’s Eve is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Party the night away on board one with an array of food and premium drinks. The music, cabaret shows and more entertaining events never fail to bring out the party animal in you. Having a great time with your friends and family amidst the amazing backdrop of Sydney skyline is something to cherish.

You’re lucky if you ever get to celebrate New Year’s Eve on Sydney Harbour. And you’re even luckier if you get to celebrate it on a Sydney Harbour cruise. Don’t wait till the last moment to plan your biggest celebration of the year. It’s always better to book your NYE cruise way ahead as it turns out to be the busiest night on the harbour.

SydNYE: Sydney New Year’s Eve & Fireworks

Sydney is one of those few countries that gets to ring in the New Year before the rest of the world. With a promising pulsating pyrotechnic display guaranteed to outdo expectations from previous years, over a billion people watch the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks display in person from the harbour and over one billion individuals watch it from the comfort of their homes on their screens. With the theme for Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks changing every year, the forthcoming display always delivers! Being one of the most popular spots and a New Year bucket list destination, closely competing with the likes of New York’s Time Square Ball Drop, London’s South Bank Display and Dubai’s Burj Khalifa show, crowds are imminent and unavoidable. Securing the best vantage spot early on in such a popular location guarantees a place to catch unobstructed views of the display.

Narrowing down on the best place to watch the Sydney’s New Year Fireworks isn’t as straightforward as it seems. It depends on a multitude of factors like your budget, expectations and if you’re willing to camp out to secure the spot that offers unimpeded views of the harbour and the fireworks display. Procuring a good spot for free may require you to get there early on, camping out all day and packing a picnic for your meals, but if you want to spend time with your family and friends to celebrate the last day of the year and watch the displays at midnight, this may be ideal. Places offering free vantage points include the Opera House forecourt, Dawes Point Park, Campbells Cove (free but ticketed) and Mrs Macquaries Point. The challenge with these spots is that once the maximum capacity is reached, they close for visitors. If eager to secure a good spot in one of these locations, prepare well ahead of time and reach there as soon as the gates open.

For those who are looking to splurge and get uninterrupted harbour views of the Sydney New Year Fireworks, a reservation for a  Sydney Harbour New Year’s Eve Dinner Cruise would be perfect. Keep in mind that most of the cruises get sold out closer to December so book early on! With reservations early on, you’re promised an all-inclusive package offering 360° harbour views, delicious dining options, drinks and entertainment on board a luxury glassboat. On board the vessel, you will be able to view the Family fireworks happening at 9pm as well as the main New Year’s Eve fireworks display. Restaurants around the harbour hike prices for tables reserved to view the Midnight Fireworks display. Reserving a table for New Year’s Eve dinner in advance in your favourite harbour-front restaurant will ensure great food and views.

No matter what your budget is and who you plan on spending New Year with, there’s something for you in Sydney. Make the most of 2019, secure your favourite spots in the city and appreciate the magnificent pyrotechnics display along the harbour to ring in 2020!

Marvel at the electrifying sights on the harbour with a Vivid Lights cruise

For the 11th edition of the celebration of Vivid Sydney- the culmination of creative pursuits in the fields of lights, music and ideas, a Vivid Sydney dinner cruise is a novel experience you must book! Vivid Sydney 2019 is promised to surpass all expectations so gear up to witness the metamorphosis of Sydney Harbour into the best possible version of itself. To surround yourself with this marvel, jump right into the heart of the festival by opting for a Sydney Harbour Vivid Light dinner cruise. Tantamount to the definition of luxury, choose a glamorous all-inclusive glass boat to gain front-row access to the Vivid Sydney revelry.

 

With the crowds thronging the harbour onshore, you’re more often than not expected to push through the swarming pools of people to get a decent view of the lights. Large-scale projections onto the gems of Sydney Harbour, Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, are most often way too far to appreciate. The premium vantage point offered by a Vivid Sydney light cruise is certainly one of the highlights of the experience.

 

Take in the visual spectacle as you enjoy roving views of the illuminated harbour against the autumnal Australian skies. This experience makes for a camera’s true delight as this elegant glass boat skims through the azure waters below with a blanket of twinkling stars overhead towards the twinkling skyscrapers that create the spectacular Sydney skyline. Take an album’s worth of photographs to cherish the moment. Photo-ops are plentiful on board a Vivid harbour cruise! The Sky Deck enveloping the roof of the glass boat serves as the perfect location to capture these beautiful moments and vistas on board. Entrees are served on the Sky Deck for you to munch on as you enjoy the view. Also, 360° harbour views are sure to impress!

 

Over the course of this 3-hour long glass boat cruise, your senses will be pampered to their limits. Aside from the visual delight that the panoramic and festively illuminated harbour view provides, there is an endless gustatory appeal. The carefully curated seated menus are made of the freshest ingredients on board this glass boat by professional chefs. The 3-course seated and served menu to your tables following a roving canape service are sure to satisfy all your cravings! Beverages like beer, wine and soft drinks are served throughout the duration of the cruise. Only guests above 18 years of age are permitted on board to maintain the decorum of the glass boat cruise.

 

When surrounded by loved ones, dining and merrymaking as you watch the best of Vivid Sydney lights, this makes for an experience like no other. The cutting-edge nautical design of this glassboat, elevates it to a new standard of luxury dining on the Sydney Harbour. The lighting of the Sydney Opera House sails and the imposing metallic frame of the Harbour Bridge are sights that you will be able to appreciate the intricacies of on board the Vivid Sydney cruise. This one-of-a-kind Vivid dinner cruise is one of the best experiences to partake in during the 3-week long festival to ring in the pleasant Sydney winters.

Make your Valentine’s Day story a special one!

 

 

About Valentine’s Day 

 
Over the centuries, Valentine’s Day has changed from one form to another. Initially an ancient custom of honouring the Roman God of Fertility, this festival has had many connotations, and has ended up as the festival of romance as we know it today. It was once believed that this day was when birds propose to each other. Another belief is that it was the day of St: Valentines’ martyrdom. And even though these stories have changed over the years, the essence of Valentine’s Day’s festivities has remained the same.

The History of Valentine’s Day

 
Lupercalia was an ancient Roman festival of fertility that involved some very bizarre rituals such as animal sacrifices and blood rites. Around 494 CE, the Christian Church appropriated this as the Feast of Purification. This is the earliest record of any festivals occurring on the day. Later on, honouring one or two early saints named Valentinus, 14th February was celebrated as the feast of St. Valentine. The day was first associated with romantic love in the 14th century, when a certain tradition of courtly love had started to flourish among the crème-de-la-crème of the society. It had evolved into an occasion for lovers to present flowers, confectionary and greeting cards later on in the 18th century. And since the celebration saw a boom subsequently, mass produced greeting cards stepped in to the scene. Today, Valentine’s day is celebrated across the globe with gifts of chocolates, flowers, jewellery and romantic dinners, and is a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance.

The best gift for your loved one

 
For all of you with a significant other in your life, a day to commemorate them is probably the most important day of your lives. Any doubts about that might end up in trouble! Make sure that on this day you gift the other person something good! Most people say that any gift that is personal is a good gift and that it doesn’t matter what it is. You can keep telling yourself that. The truth is that no gift is good if not impressive. When it comes to an impressive Valentine’s Day gift, nothing comes close to celebrating the occasion than a Valentine’s Day cruise on Sydney Harbour! There might be better material gifts that are suited for the occasion, but there are very few things that can replace an original experience. Talk about a personal gift that is also impressive! Let yourself off of your busy schedule and let go on this cruise. It doesn’t matter what you are celebrating, a meeting of someone new, or to keep up the freshness of your relationship, a Valentine’s Day cruise is sure to keep you both entertained throughout the evening.

On board a Sydney Harbour Valentine’s Day cruise, you will get to enjoy one of the best views of Sydney Harbour along with your loved one! Enjoy a tasty meal, indulge in some quality wines and you are set for the night! Experience the best of what Sydney has to offer on your special day! Make your Valentine’s Day a truly one-of-a-kind experience!