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While New Zealand may be considered a culturally "Western" country, it is geographically further east than Japan as it is close to the International Date Line. In fact, New Zealand is one of the easternmost countries in the world and is almost the first country in the world to celebrate the New Year.
New Zealand is one of the world's most beautiful places, with some of the most Instagrammable locations. Celebrate the New Year in Auckland - voted the 'Best City to Visit' by Lonely Planet in 2022. Some may think of Sydney as leading the New Year's Eve countdown, but by that time, New Zealand has already done it two hours before.
New Zealand: (Almost) The First To Welcome The New Year
The first country in the world to celebrate the New Year is the tiny and ultra-remote Pacific island nation of Kiribati. The country covers a vast amount of ocean but only has a population of around 120,000 on the various scattered atolls. It is a novel place to celebrate New Year but lacks any large celebrations.
- First Country: Kiribati
15 minutes later, the remote Chatham Islands of New Zealand celebrate New Year (they are on a strange 45-minute offset to mainland New Zealand). 45 minutes later, New Zealand counts down the New Year.
By the time the United States and later Hawaii count in the New Year, it's already old news in New Zealand.
Enjoy New Year's Eve In The Height Of Summer
New Zealanders love to celebrate the New Year, but they do so very differently from what most people in the Northern Hemisphere are used to. In New Zealand, being the Southern Hemisphere, it is summer and the holiday period. So this is the time for going to holiday homes, camping, BBQs, swimming, sunbathing, and other outdoor pursuits.
Camping, partying, and on the beach, New Zealanders welcome the New Year before (almost) everyone else in the world. In New Zealand, not only the 1st of January but also the 2nd of January is a public holiday.
This is a place where one can go and celebrate the festivals and fireworks in New Zealand's major cities or go camping in some of the most pristine and meditative landscapes in the world, gazing up at the stars as one counts the New Year in. What better place to make New Year's resolutions? Alternatively, attend one of New Zealand's music festivals.
Where To Celebrate New Year's Eve In New Zealand
It's hard to celebrate New Year's Eve without fireworks. While fireworks are only sold in New Zealand for a couple of days every year for Guy Fawkes (November 2nd to 5th), the main cities do put on a fireworks show. According to NZ Pocket Guide, the places to see the government-organized celebrations are:
- Auckland – Fireworks from the Auckland Harbour Bridge and Sky Tower
- Wellington – Whairepo Lagoon
- Christchurch – North Hagley Park
- Dunedin New Year’s Eve Concert – The Octagon
- Napier’s New Year’s Eve Party – Marine Parade
- Queenstown – Lakefront
All of these attractions are free.
The Three Top Cities In New Zealand To Spend New Year's Eve
Auckland
By far, the largest city in New Zealand is Auckland. This is where visitors are almost guaranteed to enjoy a vibrant atmosphere. The fireworks are traditionally held on Auckland's Harbour Bridge and the Sky Tower (the highest skyscraper in the city).
The best place in the city to see the fireworks is across the water from Devonport or over on Mt Eden.
Wellington
Wellington is the capital of the nation and is the first large capital city in the world to welcome the New Year (for better or for worse). It has a family-friendly New Year's Eve festival at Whairepo Lagoon, and the fireworks normally start at 9.00 pm and then light up again at midnight. From 10.00 pm, the atmosphere is that of an artsy city style with local movies to the soundtrack of Wellington Orchestra during the countdown to the fireworks.
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island and perhaps the best place to enjoy New Year's Eve if one is in the South Island. The festivities start at 6.00 pm at Christchurch's large North Hagley Park. The celebrations take the form of live music, fireworks, food stalls, and, confusingly, the "Arch Wizard of Canterbury," who casts a spell of the New Year.