Planning Your Night

Boating on the Harbour

Make the most of your boating experience this New Year's Eve by being prepared and safe. If you're on the water, please help ensure the success of the event by following these basic safety tips from NSW Maritime:

  • Exclusion Zone - marked by lit yellow buoys - will extend from Cockatoo Island in the west to Clark Island in the east. It will be activated from 8pm on 31 December 2008 until 12:30am on 1 January 2009. Between 8pm and 12:30am no unauthorised traffic will be allowed in site the exclusion zone.
  • No traffic under the Harbour Bridge between 8pm on 31 December 2008 and 12.30am on 1 January 2009.
  • Thousands of boats traditionally anchor in the designated viewing zones every year. Get into position early as popular spots such as Farm Cove fill quickly.
  • Use Farm Cove only if your vessel is less than 15 metres in length.
  • Allow small craft to position themselves at the Exclusion Zone boundary.
  • Rafting up will be permitted, but securing to shore will not.
  • Anchor clear of the Exclusion Zone buoys. Dragging anchor will not be tolerated. Do not allow your vessel to lie over the boundary line. Do not arrive late an try to push in between anchored vessels and the buoy line. You will be moved.
  • When anchoring, keep 200 metres clear of a submarine cable or pipeline.
  • Do not anchor your vessel within the designated exclusion zone between 8am and 8pm on 31 December 2008.
  • From 3pm on 31 December 2008 to 2am on 1 January 2009 a maximum of 6-knot, no-wash speed limit between Cockatoo Island and Steele Point will be in force.
  • Do not set off flares for fun. It is dangerous and illegal.
  • Keep under the alcohol limit if you are the master of the vessel. Permissable concentration of alcohol limits are: less than 0.05 for recreational vessel operators over 18 years, 0.00 for recreational vessel operators under 18 years, and less than 0.02 for commercial vessel operators.
  • The use of Man 'o' War Steps and Farm Cove is subject to approval from NSW Maritime.
  • Boater's guests joining from the Man 'o' War Steps can expect approaches to the Sydney Opera House to be controlled (necessitating approach on foot) from 8am on 31 January and will close when capacity is reached. There will be no access from this time until 6am on 1 January 2009. Commercial vessels are not permitted to use Man 'o' War Steps between 3pm on 31 December 2008 and 6am on 1 January 2009.
  • The foreshore area of Farm Cove and Bennelong Point is alcohol free between 8am on 31 December 2008 and 6am on 1 January 2009. The transfer or loading of alcohol and glass to boats in the precinct of Farm Cove is not permitted.
  • General public note: Anyone boarding commercial vessels on New Year's Eve at Farm Cove, Circular Quay, Bennelong, The Rocks, Darling Harbour and King Street Wharf should be aware these areas are declared 'managed access zones' where no alcohol or glass is permitted. Police will monitor.
  • Please note that you will not be able to travel through the exclusion zone between the 9pm and Midnight Fireworks except by special arrangement with NSW Maritime.
  • Be bright - think safety at night! Have appropriate navigation lights.
  • Check your boat's safety gear.
  • Ensure a life jacket is available for each person on board.
  • Be patient at the end of the Midnight Fireworks. Event organisers need to check all fireworks have exploded before traffic can be allowed under the bridge. Navigate slowly and with caution.
  • Follow instructions from NSW Maritime, Water Police, Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol or Australian Volunteer Coast Guard at all times.

For more information visit the NSW Maritime Web site.