Spotter’s guide to Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks

Become a fireworks aficionado with help from Elena Foti from Foti Fireworks.

Half/half shells

In 2018, the fireworks displays at 9pm and midnight will include never-before-seen effects, with more fireworks than ever before. More than 8.5 tonnes of fireworks will be used to create dramatic displays across Sydney Harbour.

There’ll also be classics like half/half shells.

“These are the the ying and yang of fireworks with a spherical break split in 2 halves of different tones,” Elena Foti said.
Palm shells

Capturing the summer vibes on the night are the palm shells fireworks.

“This is what we like to call our ‘holiday in the sky’ as it resembles a palm tree with its fronds reaching out from the trunk,” Elena said.
Horsetail shells

There will be 35,000 shooting comets, 5,000 more than last year, and 13,000 shells lighting up the night.

Look closely to spot horsetail shells. These compact fireworks feature a soft shell that breaks and pours a horse’s tail into the night sky.

“They look amazing in abundance,” Elena said.
Midnight snow shells with pistol

See more than 100,000 individual pyrotechnic effects.

Midnight snow shells with pistol feature a gentle flickering golden tail that breaks in a sphere with a brightly coloured centre.

“They look magical in the midnight sky as the midnight snow falls around the colour,” Elena said.
Waterfall

Enjoy 1,000 more effects shooting from the Harbour Bridge this year.

There are certain fireworks around the bridge that are favourites including the waterfall.

“This is definitely a Foti favourite as well as a crowd favourite and why wouldn’t it be when you have over 1000 individual sticks of cascading silver sparks all falling from underneath the bridge at the same time?” Elena said.
Nautical mines

The display features a huge range of pyrotechnic effects launched from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House and barges in the harbour. Nautical mines are specifically designed to take place on the water’s surface.

“They are launched onto the water and the fireworks float showing a strobe effect,” Elena said. “We love these as it looks like the fireworks are dancing on the water from above.”
Letter mines

Spelling ‘Sydney’ across the Harbour Bridge. Need we say more?

Interesting fact: The Sydney New Year's Eve event is included in the scope of greenhouse gas emissions measured and offset by the City as part of its annual assessment. Sydney New Year's Eve fireworks are manufactured from biodegradable paper and compounds that dissipate after use to minimise the environmental impact. We also draw on improved technology, energy saving LED and low wattage lighting.

Head to our Sydney New Year’s Eve website to plan your night. You can also watch a live stream of the fireworks. Tune in to the synchronised simulcast on KIIS 1065.

Published 18 December 2018