News Service from House Harris

NSW: Crowds queue for hours for prime fireworks viewing spots

SYDNEY, Dec 31 AAP - Thousands of people have queued for hours to grab a prime spot to view the New Year's Eve fireworks display on Sydney Harbour.

Umbrellas and sunscreen were the order of the day at Mrs Macquaries Chair, where the entrance queue was well over a kilometre long by midday (AEDT) on Wednesday.

Peter, 25, and Carly, 22, staying at a hostel in Manly, had queued for four hours, but were still hundreds of metres from the front of the line.

"We thought we'd be in by 10am, to be honest," Peter said.

Carly said people who had pushed in had managed to avoid longer waits.

"But we were here early and we're still not in so where's the justice?" she said.

"Nice guys finish last."

However, the long lines had failed to dampen the crowd's spirit.

"We're still up for a party," Carly said.

"We might have to power nap for a few hours, when we get in, but then we'll be ready to get on the beer."

There were calmer scenes at Dawes Point, near the southern pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, where around 40 people were enjoying the fine weather.

Two of them, Matthew, 27, and Sally, 25, both from Leeds in the UK, were having a picnic under a shady tree.

"It seems like the best place to be, to sit and have a picnic." Matthew said.

"Everyone has told us that last year's was amazing, so we're really looking forward to the show," Sally said.

Sydney New Year's Eve Creative Director Rhoda Roberts said the swarms of people would not be disappointed.

"The fact is, we've got the most amazing harbour, we've got this iconic bridge which is our backdrop, so we certainly can't go wrong at all," Ms Roberts told reporters in Sydney.

She remained tight-lipped about specific details of the event, but said people would be blown away.

"All I can say is that it will be stunning ... you will be amazed".

The event, with the theme of creation, has been in planning for 15 months and will include a 36m x 36m Bridge Effect in the shape of a star as its centrepiece.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the event was worth its $5 million price tag.

"I'd say that I think that we need New Year's Eve more than ever now," she told reporters in Sydney.

"I think that's Rhoda's theme of creation, a new beginning, is something that we really urgently need."

She said the event was worth around $40 million to the NSW economy.