Have a city skyline view close to home?
Did you know that wherever you can see the city skyline you’ll be able to see the midnight fireworks? Know a friend with a balcony view? Or a park close to home overlooking the city? Now’s the time to start planning how you’ll ring in 2019.
Travel by public transport
If you decide to come into the city this New Year’s Eve, it is important to decide which of the four official live sites you will attend before making your way in. Due to large crowds, long delays should be anticipated, especially in the central CBD area.
The best way to travel is by public transport, however, patrons are advised to avoid Flinders Street Station, utilising City Loop stations to access live sites. To plan your journey, visit the PTV website or call 1800 800 007 (open all night on New Year’s Eve). All services will run to a normal weekday timetable with special services.
All services will run to a normal weekday timetable with additional special services. See the PTV website for details.
Southern Cross and Flinders Street stations will be open all night.
All other City Loop stations will close at 11.45pm. After the midnight fireworks, patrons are advised to walk to Southern Cross Station or Flinders Street Station.
From 7pm access Flinders Station between platforms is via Degraves and Elizabeth underpass.
Post 11pm exiting the station is via Elizabeth St and Degraves underpass only.
All Official Midnight Live Sites are located near major transport hubs in the city. Please see the Midnight page for details if travelling into the CBD.
Trams will run to a standard weekday timetable with additional services on some routes.
Services operating along St Kilda Road, Swanston Street and Flinders Street will be disrupted between 5.30pm and 2am.
No trams operating on St Kilda Road between Melbourne Central and Park Street.
The Arts Centre Tram stop will be closed between 6pm and 2am.
There are multiple changes to tram services on NYE. Check the PTV website for more information.
V/Line train and road coach services will run to a special timetable on New Year’s Eve. Call 1800 800 007 or check the PTV website for more information.
Metropolitan bus services will run to a normal weekday timetable.
After 6pm, changes will apply to some central city bus routes.
Additional Night Network bus services will be available.
Check the PTV website for more information.
On New Year’s Eve, people attending the celebrations are strongly encouraged to use the public transport services, which run all night. If you are planning to catch a taxi, please note that it is very difficult for vehicles to get in and out of the city due to road closures.
Taxi ranks are recommended as a safer option as they are staffed by a security officer in a distinct uniform and monitored by security cameras.
A Safe City taxi rank will be located at 131 Queen Street, with another in Bourke Street, between Swanston and Russell streets.
'Tow Away' Zones are in place at the following locations from 8am Monday 31 December 2018 to 3am Tuesday 1 January 2019 inclusive.
| Location | Between | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
Flinders Street |
Spring Street and William Street |
8am |
3am |
Flinders Lane |
Russell Street and Elizabeth Street |
8am |
3am |
Collins Street |
Russell Street and Elizabeth Street |
8am |
3am |
Little Collins Street |
Russell Street and Elizabeth Street |
8am |
3am |
Swanston Street |
Collins Street and Princes Bridge |
8am |
3am |
Princes Bridge |
All |
8am |
3am |
St Kilda Road |
Princes Bridge and Linlithgow Avenue |
8am |
3am |
St Kilda Road |
Dorcas Street and Park Street |
8am |
3am |
High Street |
St Kilda Road and Punt Road |
8am |
3am |
Market Street |
Collins Street and Flinders Street |
8am |
3am |
Whiteman Street |
Clarendon Street and Queensbridge Street |
8am |
3am |
Boathouse Drive |
All |
8am |
3am |
Alexandra Avenue |
Princes Bridge and Swan Street Bridge |
8am |
3am |
Batman Avenue |
Flinders Street and Swan Street |
8am |
3am |
Wellington Parade |
Simpson Street and Spring Street |
8am |
3am |
Habour Esplanade |
La Trobe Street and Bourke Street |
8am |
3am |
Please take note of changes to parking restrictions and traffic access at city locations on Monday 31 December.
| Location | Between | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
Swanston Street / St Kilda Road |
Lonsdale Street and Linlithgow Avenue |
6pm |
3am |
Flinders Street |
William Street and Exhibition Street |
6pm |
3am |
Collins Street |
Russell Street and Elizabeth Street |
6pm |
3am |
Exhibition Street |
Collins Street and Flinders Street |
6pm |
3am |
Southbank Boulevard |
Sturt Street and St Kilda Road |
6pm |
3am |
Flinders Lane |
Russell Street and Elizabeth Street |
6pm |
3am |
Little Collins Street |
Russell Street and Elizabeth Street |
6pm |
3am |
Flinders Street (Westbound) |
Exhibition Street and Spring Street |
6pm |
1am |
Batman Ave Extension (Tollway) |
Flinders Street and Swan Street |
6pm |
1am |
Flinders Street (Eastbound) |
Exhibition Street and Spring Street |
6pm |
1am |
Queensbridge Street |
Flinders Street and Power Street |
9.30pm |
2am |
Boathouse Drive |
All |
12noon |
2am |
Brunton Ave / Jolimont Road |
Punt Road and Wellington Parade |
5pm |
1am |
Harbour Esplanade |
Bourke Street and La Trobe Street |
7pm |
2am |
Wellington Parade South |
Wellington Parade and Flinders Street |
6pm |
1am |
Wellington Parade (Eastbound and Westbound) |
Punt Road and Flinders Street |
6pm |
1am |
Lansdowne Street and Treasury Place |
St Andrews Place and Wellington Parade |
6pm |
1am |
Spring Street |
Flinders Street and Collins Street |
6pm |
1am |
Please note that traffic disruptions may also occur at Yarra River crossover points, such as Swan Street Bridge, during the evening.
