On January 1, Australia celebrates New Years Day as a national public holiday. All states across the nation enjoy time off from school and work on this day, and many different events are held in the major cities to celebrate.
* New Year’s Eve is a part-day public holiday in SA from 7pm to 12 midnight. Award wages may apply, check with your employer for more details.
New Years Day Public Holiday 2019 & 2020
Each year, the public holiday for New Years day may be a little different. If January 1 falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, then the public holiday is celebrated on the following Monday (which is either 2 or 3 January).
If the date of January 1 is during the week, then it will be that same day as this date that will be considered the public holiday.
Is Anything Open on New Years Day?
For the general population nation-wide, this is a day off from school and work, with many industries and businesses closed for the day. Though most industries will be closed to give most of the population their holidays, some select businesses in hospitality – like accommodations, cafes and restaurants – will take advantage of the public celebrating the first day of the year.
Establishments may even plan for months their New Year’s Day events, as they know that there will be many people coming through their doors and a lot of trading will take place on this day, so it can be a wise decision to stay open, if possible.
Businesses not only close to allow people time off to celebrate the holiday, but also because there are trading restrictions in place in the states of Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales.
Trading restrictions mean that some businesses that employee over a certain number of people, or who work in a certain industry, will not be permitted to open.
Penalty Rates for Workers on New Years Day
Penalty rates for workers across full time, part time and casual working apply to all states of Australia on New Years Day. Many businesses will have the run the figures to decide if staying open is in their best interests, as the requirements for penalty rates may mean that wages will be far more than the expected takings on a day where it’s hard to know how many people will come through the doors.
For retail businesses, there will often be less people shopping for goods then there are people visiting cafes and restaurants, so hospitality seems to be the main industry to stay open on New Years Day.
As expressed by the Fair Work Commission, Australia, there are specific awards that need to be met in different industries and employment conditions when it comes to public holidays. Employers are asked to ensure that they deliver between 225% and 250% of their worker’s base wages to meet the requirements.
Other conditions for workers can be met, depending on the employer’s choice of entitlements that they offer their workers. These include things like minimum shift lengths on public holidays, or perhaps giving an extra day off or extra leave if they agree to work on a public holiday.
It’s also expressed that an employer can ask an employee to work on a public holiday, and an employee may refuse the request to work if the grounds are reasonable.
Reasonable grounds include considerations of how much that employee has already worked, the amount of notice that’s given to the employee, and other conditions.
To check to see the penalty rates that you ma be entitled to receive, or give, if you’re a business owner, check out this fairwork article.
Things To Do on New Years Day
The first celebrations that occur on this day worldwide – not just in Australia – are the fireworks displays that are let off at the stroke of midnight as part of the New Years Eve parties and events.
Beyond that, Australia wide, people partake in many different activities to commemorate the day as a fun holiday to welcome in a fresh new year. Often, people will go to the beaches for a day in the sun, as it is summertime during New Years celebrations in Australia.
People generally like to spend time with friend and family, take holidays, go away camping, hiking, visiting family, watching sports, or even take their time off to go on a trip overseas.
Though as Australian summer is always a much-anticipated time of year, many Australians like to stay in their home country for this time of year. Each of the major cities will have their own events on this day offered to the public.
Depending on where you are, you’ll get to experience a range of events like live music performances and public BBQs, or there will be plenty of opportunity to explore the outdoors with hikes, picnics and visits to many of Australia’s beautiful beaches.
Major City Events for New Years Day
Sydney
Sydney is already a bustling busy area of excitement during the New Years Eve celebrations, with the annual world-famous fireworks show that lights up the entire Harbour Bridge in a spectacular display of color and creativity.
As people tend to be relaxing after a big night out, many people often flock to the beaches in Sydney in Bondi, Clovelly, Cronulla, Coogee, to name a few. Tourists and locals will be bathing and playing in the sand, soaking up the sun and listening to music.
Field Day is a well-known annual event which is an outdoor music festival at the Domain – a city center park new the Royal Botanic Garden and Art Gallery of NSW.
International and local Australian artist showcase their talents in electronic, hip-hop, indie and house music on multiple stages. Tickets need to be purchased months in advance, as it is a popular event, sold out each year.
For families and other visitors, the Taronga Zoo, Sea Life Aquarium and Wild Life Sydney Zoo are all open for people to observe the wonders of Australian wildlife.
There are also a range of Museums and Galleries open on this day where people can see the different showcases of modern, historic and contemporary art, such as the Art Gallery of NSW, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Australian Museum.
For more information on what’s on in Sydney on New Years Day, check out sydney.com.
Brisbane
This major city hosts cocktail brunches, perhaps with many of the evening events from New Years Eve continuing to roll over to the daytime. Live music events and day parties are popular events happening around the city at different venues.
Brunches are also other common events, which Brisbane is known to offer, with packages tailored to different budgets, again, at many different local cafes and restaurants.
Similar to the Australia Day annual Triple J’s Hottest 100 Countdown is Brisbane’s 4ZZZ Countdown, which is an anticipated musical observance, which also has venues creating their own events from this. Most of these day events also allow kids through the doors with play areas and games.
It’s not all brunches and cocktail parties however, with the Gallery of Modern Art at South Bank open for curious visitors to stroll and take in the exhibitions and displays.
Getting outdoors and exploring national parks or taking a packed lunch is also a favourite if the weather is nice (which it usually always is, being summer time in Australia at this time of year).
A favourite outdoor location to go to is Brisbane’s best lookout points, the Kangaroo Point Cliff’s. It’s the perfect area to take a picnic and use the BBQ spots overlooking the Brisbane River.
For more ideas for New Years Day in Brisbane, check out this helpful guide.
Adelaide
For families with young kids (or the young at heart), the Adelaide Aquatic center is always open on New Years Day, offering spas, saunas, splash pools and even outdoor BBQ facilities.
There’s also an annual event called the New Years Day Parkrun happening at Largs Bay and West Beach, for those who have a little more energy to go out and be active in the morning.
The Semaphore Summer Carnival is also a beachside event that’ll showcase sandcastles, kites, amusement rides and other fun in the sand. For more info on the carnival and the events of that day, check out this guide.
Beyond the city, getting out in the Adelaide Hills is also a favourite pastime for New Years Day, with plenty of BBQ and picnic sports in the Morialta Conservation Park.
With different play areas for kids, local flora and fauna to observe and the natural creek for cooling off in the water, it’s a nice way to relax in nature on New Years Day and enjoy the Australian summertime vibes.
For more ideas for events in Adelaide on New Years Day, check out eventbrite.
Melbourne
As another big metropolitan area, much like Sydney, New Years Day in Melbourne is often spent as a more relaxing day to recover from the big evening of New Years Eve.
There are many cafes and restaurants serving brunch packages and all-day breakfasts, as well as some day parties and cocktail events still happening around the city for those that still have the energy.
If you’re looking to get out of the city, then it’s also a popular choice to head out to the Yarra river for some good food and drinks with a nice view and sea breeze, at one of the few eateries along the river.
Many people also like to head to the beaches on New Years Day, with the popular locations being Brighton, Williamstown and St Kilda Beach. Attractions around Melbourne like the Eureka Skydeck, the Melbourne Star Wheel and the Melbourne Aquarium are all open on this day as well.
More info, check out this guide.
Perth
One of the popular locations for people to visit in Perth is Rottnest Island. Just requiring a short ferry ride from the city, it’s easy to get to and visitors can enjoy walking, biking, swimming and relaxing on the island, with the ferry open every year on this day.
Perth is also known for it’s famous wine regions, and another favourite thing to do is to sample some quality wines in different resorts and winery on New Years Day. Regional locations will see most wineries still open, though best to check with the place of business first.
Locals of Perth will know that the Perth Cup horse race is always held on this day at the Ascot Race Course, tickets are open to the public, and it’s a family friendly event.
There’s also live open music in the afternoon held at the Fremantle Arts Centre most years. For the partygoers, there’s an annual New Years Day party held by the South Perth Yacht Club, which usually goes well into the evening as a cocktail event overlooking the Swan River.
For more info on Perth New Years Day events, check out more Perth events.
Hobart
Hobart has had much of the nation’s attention on the days leading up to New Years Day, as it is New Years Eve when the annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht race ends.
This means that most of the boats are in dock along the Derwent River, and people can go and take a look at the impressive boats that they may have watched on television during the race.
New Years Day not only attracts much of the public to see the famous boats along the shore, but the grassy areas around the Derwent river are perfect for those looking to take a picnic and spend some time in the outdoors.
The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania often holds an annual New Year’s Day BBQ in Sandy Bay, with tickets selling out fast leading up to the event.
For other food and beverage lovers, the Food and Wine Festival of Tasmania is still in full swing, as it’s held from 28th December to 3rd January each year. Not only are there food stalls featured fine local produce and culinary skills, but also live entertainment and other events spread out around the docks and waterfront venues in a carnival-style atmosphere.
For more events in Hobart around this time, see discoverhobart.
Canberra
It’s recommended to get outdoors for New Years Day in Canberra with a walk around Lake Burley Griffin, or going for a tour at the National Arboretum for the annual New Year’s Day Outing.
Generally, the nation’s capital has some late-night parties the evening before, so Canberra is more of a ‘sleep late then go out and brunch’ kind of city when it comes to New Years Day.
You’ll find a range of cafes and eateries open to quench your thirst and fill you tummies. To check which places are generally open, read here.
Darwin
Two of the main places people will frequent on New Years Day are the Darwin Hotel for the ‘refresher’ event of food and drinks to soothe your system after a big night out, or the Darwin Harbour.
The harbour often has some things happening during the day with most cafes open, and sometimes extra markets and entertainment as well. This area of cafes and restaurants which overlook the Darwin wharf is great for the seafood lover, or those looking to enjoy some fresh sea air to cleanse after the New Years Eve celebrations.
The waterfront often has live music events for the whole family during the day and evening also. For more info, check out this guide.
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