Gold Coast celebrates heading into 2019 with cheers, beers and fireworks

The Gold Coast has welcomed in the New Year with cheers, beers and celebrations as more than 25,000 people turned out to watch the spectacular fireworks along the water’s edge.

THE Gold Coast has welcomed in the New Year with cheers, beers and celebrations as more than 25,000 turned out to watch the 8pm fireworks in Surfers Paradise.

Beaches around the city were packed throughout the day and into the evening as warm weather kept temperatures and spirits high.

Many among them had come from out of state and overseas to see the fireworks at Surfers Paradise.

Pictured in Surfers Paradise for New Year’s Eve 2019 during the 8pm Fireworks: L-R Bethany Simpson, 13 Melbourne, Brianna Cauchley 11 of Labrador and Evie Nay 12 of Labrador. Picture: Michael Batterham

Parents Karina Jableka and Paul Florat brought their two-year-old daughter Aurelia from Brisbane to see the show on the beach, and said the memory alone made it their best year.

“Just to have the experience of being on the beach and having the music in the background, putting your feet in the sand and the water has been incredible,” Ms Jableka said.

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“She’s having a blast, she’s dancing and being such a beach baby. To be able to have a picnic on the beach is really something special for a family to enjoy together.

Revellers gather for the fireworks displays at Surfers Paradise. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Mr Florat said they had been looking to spice things up to see in 2019.

“We’ve seen a lot of Sydney fireworks from all sides but we were really looking for something beachy in Queensland,” he said.

“We’ve done so many Sydney ones, we’ve done them in Paris for the national day but we’re really looking forward to tonight to make 2019 a special one.”

Surfers Paradise Alliance CEO Mike Winlaw said the clear skies had more people than previous years heading into the precinct and onto the sand.

New Year’s Eve fireworks at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

“It’s a big night for Surfers Paradise and traders and businesses are doing extremely well,” he said.

“There’s lots of action in the precinct at the moment. Because of the weather, we’re anticipating this will be a big year, it’s just a beautiful night down here and large crowds have come in already.”

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It was bustling at Surfers Paradise beach. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Skylighter FireworX CEO Max Brunner, who prepared last night’s fireworks, previously told the Bulletin how much he loved sharing the experience of fireworks.

“It is a stressful job, but at 10 minutes past midnight, when you are painting the sky you feel like kings. It makes it so worth it,” he said.

Visiting from New South Wales and starting celebrations early in the evening, 18-year-old Zac Starkey said he had decided to stay on for a family holiday.

“It’s been awesome, it’s been the best trip of my life, I love it up here,” he said, adding he didn’t have any big plans for the new year.

“We’re up here until about the 23rd and that’s about it, just drinking up here until then.

“There’ll be a bit of a sleep in (tomorrow) for sure but no time to recover, we’re just getting straight back on it. New Year’s Day, you’ve got to get straight back on it.”