Hidden problem with New Year’s Eve celebrations as millions stuck trying to get home

Videos posted to social media in the hours following midnight show a hidden problem with one state’s New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Sydney was hit with crazy scenes in the early hours of the morning as thousands of revellers attempted to get home, filling the streets of the CBD after the spectacular fireworks display.

Thousands crammed into iconic vantage points along Sydney’s harbour from as early as 5am on Sunday, with police warning that all viewing spots in the city and North Sydney filled up by early evening.

More than one million people were expected to flood the city.

Thousands of people were stuck in Sydney's CBD following the fireworks. Picture: TikTok

The crowds were going nowhere. Picture TikTok

Authorities scheduled an additional 1000 trains and 1258 bus services, also ramping up the frequency of light rail and metro services in preparation for the inundation of the CBD and harbour foreshore.

But the preparation didn’t stop thousands of people from becoming stuck in the CBD for hours following the fireworks.

Videos posted to social media show the crowds standing still waiting to leave the city.

Many were stuck outside train stations for hours, trying to enter but being bottlenecked at the entrance.

The glamour was stripped back in the videos. Picture TikTok

Once the fireworks were over, many struggled to get home. Picture: TikTok

@vic_whitehouse Just wanna go home 😭😭😂 #sydney#NewYearsEve#livinginsydney#newyearsinsydney#sydneynewyear2023♬ Oh No - Kreepa

Other videos showed that attending the fireworks was not all it was cracked up to be, with one TikTok video showing rats running into the trees in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens.

Another video shows revellers missing out on the fireworks because a train goes through Circular Quay train station.

NSW Police remained throughout the CBD and surrounding suburbs as crowds attempted to leave the celebrations and make their way home.

@sumi21_ 🤣🥲 #sydneyfireworks2023#happynewyear♬ Firework - Katy Perry

@gabzandchaz_travel Rats, bats and Sydney NYE fireworks #rats#sydneyfireworks#sydneynewyearseve#sydneynye#sydneyoperahouse#newyears#harbourbridge♬ original sound - Gabby & Charlie Backpacking🌏

Thousands of people counted down until the fireworks went off at midnight. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

The crowds gathered early on Sunday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Thousands of people gathered as early as 5am around the city in the hope of getting a front-row seat.

One group of men lined up for three days at the Domain. The line began moving just before 8am to allow people into the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Some also were lining up since midnight at the Opera House, with footage on Sunday showing the crowds running towards the fence at the harbour for a good view.

Some were there early to grab a good spot. Picture NCA NewsWire

Meanwhile, others set up tents on Cockatoo Island and camped overnight to ensure prime positions.

The Sydney Harbour attendance was the biggest in years, with 38 of the 49 vantage points free on a first-in, first-served basis.

The government promised, when elected, to stop ticketing New Year’s Eve vantage points around the harbour.

A packed crowd counted down from 10 to one as pink lights lit up the Harbour Bridge before the night blasted off with explosions of sparkle and dazzling light.