Sydneysiders began gathering at prime vantage points across the city in the very early hours of the morning in the hopes of scoring the best views of tonight's New Year's Eve fireworks.
For the first time in several years, 38 locations across Sydney Harbour are free and no longer ticketed, with authorities expecting this year's event to be bigger than ever.
Early morning rain didn't deter people from queueing at Mrs Macquaries Point and the Royal Botanic Garden surrounds with lines that snaked as far back to the Domain Park just after 6.30am today.
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One group of men took shifts and brought each other food and supplies to mind their position at the Botanic Garden over three days.
"We are landscape photographers," they told Weekend Today.
"This is one of our biggest dreams to capture the best photo of this location."
Others said they had been gathered by the Sydney Opera House since midnight.
At Dawes Point dozens were camped out under the Sydney Harbour Bridge about 7am, almost two hours before the viewpoint even opened to the public.
On the Lower North Shore, people donned raincoats and brought along sleeping bags to scoop up the best spot on the fenceline at Cremorne Point, while some resorted to placing sticks on blankets to reserve their place.
In the heart of Sydney Harbour, campers on Cockatoo Island set up their tents yesterday afternoon to avoid any disappointment.
Authorities are expecting almost one million revellers to flock to the city tonight to welcome in the New Year.
Transport for NSW Coordinator General Howard Collins has urged everyone to use public transport, with dozens of road closures already in place.
"Time to leave at home, ditch the car, come into Sydney's New Year's Eve, the most spectacular fireworks in the world by public transport," Collins said.
There will be 1000 extra trains and 1200 extra bus services running.
The government has also doubled the timetable of Metro and Ferry services.
Public transport will be running through the night, particularly trains which will be the only way to get over the Harbour Bridge for a period of time.
More than 13,500 aerial fireworks in an array of colours are set for 9pm and midnight.
The main fireworks display will launch Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, barges and city buildings in the ten seconds to 11.59pm.
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