3‑Day Reveillon Photography Itinerary — Sydney (December, Summer)
A crisp, vantage‑obsessed 3‑day plan for photographers focused on Sydney's harbour Reveillon (New Year) moments: golden hours, skyline panoramas and NYE vantage scouting. Balances iconic spots with local viewpoints, built for flexibility and long‑lens shooting.
Highlights
- Sunrise panorama at Bradleys Head
- Golden hour at Mrs Macquarie's Chair
- Hidden harbour vantage: Blues Point & Cremorne Point
- Scouting and setup for Sydney NYE fireworks from North Shore viewpoints
- Harbour ferry rides for moving vantage points
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival, quick scouting in The Rocks & Bennelong area, golden hour at Mrs Macquarie's Chair and evening skyline frames.
Hotel check-in — Harbour‑view base
Settle in and inventory gear. Pier One has harbour views ideal for evening & late‑night shooting; use concierge for early bag drop if you arrive before check‑in.
Tips from local experts:
- Book a harbour‑facing room in advance (request a room facing Sydney Harbour) for late‑night cityscape checks and quick blue‑hour access.
- Ask the concierge about a secure luggage/gear drop and a small dry space for batteries and chargers; lifts can be small — bring a compact tripod bag.
- Check-in times: aim for a 14:00 slot but request early drop; rooftop/foyer staff can recommend nearby low‑crowd vantage points for last‑minute golden hour pivots.
Walk & scout: The Rocks — laneways and harbour frames
Cobblestone lanes, sandstone textures and early evening cityscapes. Great for architectural detail, street portraits and scouting backup vantage points near Circular Quay.
Tips from local experts:
- Low angles on the cobbles bring out texture; bring a 24–70mm and a 35mm prime for intimate lane shots.
- Scout rooftop edges (public hotel terraces like The Glenmore) early to identify unobstructed skyline compositions before golden hour.
- Avoid busiest tourist loops (Argyle St at peak) — slip into Harrington or Kendall Lane for cleaner foregrounds and less crowd interference.
Golden hour & blue hour: Mrs Macquarie's Chair vantage
Iconic curved view of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Arrive early to stake a tripod spot and compose foregrounds on the seawall or carved chair.
Tips from local experts:
- Set up at least 60–90 minutes before sunset for the preferred bench or seawall angles; bring a small travel tripod (tripods are allowed but can be restricted during events).
- Focal length cheat sheet: 24–70mm for combined Opera House + bridge; 70–200mm for compressed bridge plates with illuminated sails at blue hour.
- Check City of Sydney event notices—on NYE and some summer weekends access may be restricted; if restrictions apply, use the east seawall approach for similar lines.
Dinner with skyline: Opera Bar (early evening seating)
Casual seafood and skyline dining right on the waterfront — convenient for quick night frames between courses.
Tips from local experts:
- Reserve an outdoor table facing the Opera House well in advance; outdoor light is best for shooting table and skyline scenes without long exposure blur.
- Use a fast prime (50mm f/1.8) for low‑light dinner portraits and to isolate foreground subjects against the lit sails.
- If you need to step out for a quick exposure sequence, ask staff for permission to re‑enter with camera gear — they know photographers and are usually accommodating.
Late‑night blue hour frames — Sydney Opera House forecourt
Short walk to get alternative angles of illuminated sails and reflections. Quick, flexible shoot to finish the night.
Tips from local experts:
- Be ready to switch ISO and shutter speed quickly: blue hour light falls fast; bracket exposures for HDR if shooting handheld.
- Forecourt surfaces can reflect lights — use a polarizer earlier in the evening and remove it for long exposures to keep reflections vivid.
- Opera House forecourt can close late for events—check signage on arrival; if closed, move to the eastern edge of the Botanic Gardens for a quieter alternative.
Day 2
Harbour sunrise, Manly coastal vistas, modern skyline at Barangaroo and an alternative sunset from Blues Point. Ferry rides create moving vantage opportunities.
Pre‑dawn setup: Sunrise at Bradleys Head
Classic harbour sunrise with the Harbour Bridge in profile and native headland foregrounds — ideal for long lenses and wide panoramas.
Tips from local experts:
- Arrive 45–60 minutes before sunrise to capture first light on the bridge; use a wide tripod stance on rock platforms for stability in sea breezes.
- Pack a 16–35mm for sweeping harbour panoramas and a 70–200mm for compressed sunrise pier details.
- Bradleys Head can be damp and slippery at dawn — bring waterproof footwear and a microfibre cloth for lens protection from sea spray.
Breakfast and quick edit: The Boathouse Balmoral
Harbourfront breakfast to review dawn frames and recharge — great for natural‑light food shots and quick card backups.
Tips from local experts:
- Choose outdoor seating to continue shooting harbour slices while eating; natural light is excellent for quick editorial food imagery.
- Use breakfast downtime to bulk‑copy cards to a laptop or portable SSD and swap batteries; the venue has easy table space for small setups.
- If battery charging is needed, ask staff for a plug near the front window — many locals know photographers will ask politely.
Transfer by ferry: Circular Quay → Manly (scenic moving vantage)
Short ferry ride offering moving compositions of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and shoreline for dynamic frames.
Tips from local experts:
- Stand on the top deck starboard side for the best sweeping bridge to sail compositions; secure camera strap against wind while shooting.
- Ferry schedule: check the Transport for NSW timetable; buy an Opal card or use contactless for faster boarding to not miss golden moments.
- Bring a small rain sleeve — sea spray and wind are common on midday crossings and can fog front elements of lenses.
Coastal cliffs & sentinel views: North Head Sanctuary, Manly
Clifftop panoramas with dramatic rock foregrounds, lighthouse features and expansive ocean exposures — excellent for telephoto compression and coastal landscapes.
Tips from local experts:
- Use a polariser midday to cut glare from the surf and intensify coastal blues; carry an ND filter for long‑exposure smoothing of waves.
- Scout the lighthouse path for sheltered foreground rocks — low tide often reveals healthier compositional foregrounds.
- Paths can be steep; bring a lightweight monopod for quick repositioning across scrub and small ledges rather than a heavy tripod.
Casual harbour lunch & market feel at Manly Wharf
Grab local fish & chips or a seafood plate and use wharf textures and ferry activity for environmental portraits.
Tips from local experts:
- Use a 35mm or 50mm for candid documentary frames of ferry queues and vendors; natural window light along the wharf is excellent.
- If changing lenses, step into a sheltered stall to limit wind‑blown dust; store unused lenses in padded camera cubes at your seat.
- Try to sit with a clear view of the wharf entrance to capture arrival/departure motion sequences with panning techniques.
Return ferry: Manly → Circular Quay
Short transfer back to the CBD with different midday light; great chance for tighter bridge and Opera House studies from different angles.
Tips from local experts:
- Capture motion blur of wake with a 1/30–1/60s shutter while panning the bridge for a dynamic feel.
- Top deck left side offers a cleaner silhouette of the Opera House sails as you approach Circular Quay.
- Keep a rain sleeve & lens cloth handy — afternoon winds can pick up spray that affects wide glass surfaces.
Afternoon urban‑landscapes: Barangaroo Reserve
Modern harbour edge with sweeping grasses, minimalist seawall lines and skyline reflections — excellent for architectural frames and reflection studies.
Tips from local experts:
- Use leading‑line compositions along the boardwalk to connect foreground grasses to the modern skyline; a 24–70mm is ideal.
- Golden hour can be earlier here due to western light on the tower facades — scout south ends for cleaner reflections.
- Look for small puddles and polished stone surfaces post‑spray as natural reflectors for low‑angle foregrounds.
Alternative sunset vantage: Blues Point Reserve, North Sydney
North Shore viewpoint with strong Opera House + Harbour Bridge silhouettes and generally fewer evening crowds than Mrs Macquarie's Chair.
Tips from local experts:
- Blues Point gives a compressed telephoto bridge‑over‑sails look; bring 85–200mm for strong layered silhouettes at sunset.
- Arrive 45 minutes before golden hour to set compositions along the low stone walls—local photographers stake bench corners early.
- Public toilets and buses nearby (Milsons Point) help you travel light and recompose quickly as light changes.
Rooftop dinner & night frames: The Glenmore (Rocks rooftop)
Rooftop bar with wide views back to the harbour — great for scouting glass reflections and composing skyline bokeh after sunset.
Tips from local experts:
- Book rooftop seating and time your arrival for blue hour; handheld low‑light shots with a 35mm f/1.8 work well for atmospheric portraits.
- If you need an elevated reference shot, step to the corner of the rooftop for a clean line of the central business district against the harbour.
- Keep an eye on staff closing times on busy nights; ask permission to stay for an extra 15 minutes to capture closing light sequences.
Day 3
Reveillon day: scouting, final daylight frames and NYE fireworks setup from a North Shore vantage — emphasis on arrival times, tripod rules and battery planning.
Late start & gear check — hotel lounge
Slow morning to review cards, charge batteries, format spares and prepare NZ/RAW backup workflow; final lens selection for the night.
Tips from local experts:
- Do one final full‑card copy and battery swap; label cards by day to avoid confusion after a long NYE shoot.
- Decide your lens kit (one wide, one mid, one tele) and cache lenses in easy‑access pouches — NYE crowds make equipment swaps awkward.
- Check the City of Sydney NYE info page for any area closures or temporary restrictions and identify at least two backup vantage points.
Harbour walk & village feel: Cremorne Point Reserve (morning scouting)
Quiet harbor curve with elegant houses, jetties and a different angle on the bridge — an excellent low‑crowd morning option for detail shots.
Tips from local experts:
- Cremorne Point's jetties give intimate foregrounds; use an ultra‑wide for near‑dock leading lines or 85mm for architectural details.
- Check tide times — low tide reveals more rocky foregrounds perfect for layered compositions with the bridge in the back.
- Parking is limited; consider taking the 247 bus or a short ferry from Circular Quay to arrive without carrying heavy gear long distances.
Midday break & final equipment prep at hotel
Rest, charge, and assemble camera bag(s) for the evening. Reformat a spare card, pack rain protection and snacks.
Tips from local experts:
- Pack two camera bodies if available: one with wide, one with tele to avoid lens swaps in the crowd.
- Prepare small essentials (lens cloths, portable charger, headlamp with red light) in an outer pocket for quick access after sunset.
- Print or screenshot your backup plan maps and transit options — mobile networks can be congested on NYE in hotspots.
Scouting & early stakeout: Kirribilli Point Reserve (afternoon reconnaissance)
North Shore vantage for Opera House + bridge with room for telephoto compression; use the quiet afternoon to test angles and mark tripod locations.
Tips from local experts:
- Photograph test exposures at multiple focal lengths in late afternoon light so you know exactly where to stand for midnight compression shots.
- Kirribilli offers decent shade and spots to store backpacks — identify these ahead of the evening to reduce gear theft risk.
- Check for local signage about NYE foreshore ticketing; some foreshore sections may be closed, so mark alternate lines that give similar sightlines.
NYE primary vantage: Blues Point Reserve — setup for fireworks
Pre‑arranged vantage on the North Shore for framed fireworks across the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Arrive very early to secure a tripod spot; plan exact focal lengths and framing.
Tips from local experts:
- Arrive 4–6 hours before midnight on NYE to secure a good tripod position; popular benches and low walls are taken early. Bring a portable chair and small anchor weight for your tripod.
- Tripod & fireworks settings: shoot at ISO 100–200, f/8–f/16, and 4–10s exposures for burst shapes; use a remote release or intervalometer to limit shake.
- Permits & access: check City of Sydney NYE foreshore ticketing — some prime foreshore areas are ticketed or closed for safety; have two backup positions (Kirribilli, Cremorne) and confirm local police signage on arrival.
Post‑fireworks return transfer: Milsons Point station / short walk
Head back to the hotel. Use the early post‑midnight window to move quickly before larger crowds form; factor in extended train services on NYE.
Tips from local experts:
- Expect heavy pedestrian flows; keep cameras packed in padded straps and use cross‑body carry to avoid jostling damage.
- Milsons Point Station typically runs extra services after midnight; check Transport NSW NYE schedules and have an Opal card ready for quick tap.
- If walking back to the hotel, avoid main crowd bottlenecks by using quieter side streets (e.g., Lavender St via North Sydney CBD) and keep a small headlamp for safety.
