New Year’s Eve on the Gold Coast: How glitter strip is ringing in 2025
Partygoers packed Gold Coast party hub Surfers Paradise with one veteran operator declaring it “one of the busier New Years”. See photos and video of the good, the bad and the ugly.
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As the sun rose over Australia’s east coast for the first time in 2025, bustling party hub Surfers Paradise was still alive from the night before.
Famed Cavill Mall was teeming with revellers at 5.30am and the nearby beachfront was proving a magnet for those clinging to the last vestiges of the year-end celebrations.
Under the iconic Surfers Paradise sign, “Debbie” and “Emmanuel” pashed. Her silver sequined dress sprinkled shards of light across the boardwalk path that some determined runners - starting their 2025 with a fitness burst - were already treading.
“Emmanuel” and “Debbie” said they had met the night before, both living on the Gold Coast now, but from Spain and New Zealand respectively.
“I’m a bit drunk still,” Debbie admitted.
Further down the mall, a group of young women enjoyed breakfast (or was that dinner?) at Hungry Jacks.
“Emily”, whose tired eyes were framed by blue mascara, said what she was most looking forward to in the new year was “going to bed.”
Some, on the other hand, were determined to keep the party going, blasting music and dancing in the mall in the daylight.
The physical mall itself was also experiencing some form of hangover, every bin stuffed to overloading with litter lining the pavement, mostly remnants of thousands of late-night snacks, and the pungent smell of vomit radiating from bushes.
INSIDE THE CLUB ZONE
Partygoers piled into nightclubs as the doors opened at 7pm down party strip Orchid Avenue, as revellers aimed to get the best spot on the dance floor to welcome in the New Year.
Retros Cocktail Lounge was packed by 8.30pm and one elderly man, who started a dance circle under disco balls, said he was happy he could “still back it up”.
“I’m just happy I can keep up with the young ones,” he said.
One partygoer said he was excited about the new year and what it would bring but wasn’t sure about the girl he’d agreed to kiss when the clock struck midnight.
“We’re going to kiss at midnight but I think she likes girls more than guys hey,” he said.
One woman, who left with her husband before midnight, said she was getting “too old” to stay out so late.
“We wanted to come out to have some fun before midnight but we’re getting too old to say out so late. We’re going to go out and get into bed, welcome the new year with some sleep,” she said.
When the midnight countdown finally drew to a close the party turned it up a notch as more revellers piled into the clubs, coming from the fireworks show on the Surfers Paradise foreshore.
One young man said he raced back to the clubs as soon as the fireworks were over.
“I had to go down to the beach you know, it’s tradition to watch the fireworks but now I’m back and better and ready to party.
“I might do a bit of club hopping, see where is best and then I’ll party until 5am,” he said.
Another young woman said she opted to stay in the clubs for the countdown, rather than head to the beach for the fireworks.
“I saw fireworks every year when I was little but it’s such a good vibe in the club with all the confetti and the music playing and all the people dancing.
“It just makes you so happy, I got to dance the way into the new year with all my friends,” she said.
New Year’s Eve
By late afternoon, the New Year celebrations were well underway on the Gold Coast on December 31 with crowds lining the sand across the city, soaking up the last sunset for 2024.
Hundreds had packed out the Broadwater Parklands in Southport for the Boots, Bling and Country Things party.
The Thakur family made the trip down from Ormeau nice and early to secure their spot.
“It was definitely worth the long drive in the traffic,” mum Pooja Thakur said.
“There’s so much for the kids to do and that’s why we thought we would bring them here. We’re planning to stay here and watch the fireworks.”
Lulu Kennedy and her family also arrived early to snag their spot ahead of a big night celebrating with relatives.
“We’re having a big family BBQ with the cousins, grandparents, aunties,” Mrs Kennedy said.
“Live music, good food – what more could you ask for on New Year’s Eve?”
NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS - ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pubs, bars and restaurants across the Glitter Strip were already overflowing with revellers by early afternoon. Among them, local John Kirby and his mates, were deep into the socialising at Surfers Paradise Surf Lifesaving Club.
“We got here about 2.30pm and still going,” Mr Kirby said, sipping from a schooner at 6pm.
“Honestly, my New years resolution right now is make it past midnight - I’m doing well so far, easy does it.
“You don’t know which New Years could be your last so I reckon you celebrate while you can with good company.”
Thousands of families had also crowded along the sand at Surfers Beach - taking a quick dip in the final light of the day and listening to a DJ. Space was getting tight ahead of the fireworks display at 8pm.
“We’re grateful we could get here to do this,” Angela Sharples said after travelling from Brisbane yesterday.
“The hotels are all completely booked out. We got accommodation for last night but thought we would be heading back today because there was nothing and I kept looking.”
Mrs Sharples and her friends managed find a room last minute following a cancellation.
“I love being here on the Coast and celebrating - you can’t beat it.
“Yeah you spend a bit of money but friends and family make it worth it.”
Early fireworks lit up the night sky as Gold Coasters settled in to ring in 2025.
‘ONE OF THE BUSIER ONES’
Reflecting on it all on New Year’s Day, Cocktails nightclub owner Lino Gerardi, a veteran of the party scene, said New Year’seve crowds were a “shot in the arm for everybody”.
“Everywhere was busy. I saw queues everywhere when I came in. The weather was perfect.
“A customer said they went to look at the fireworks down by the beach - they couldn’t get anywhere near - it was that busy on the beach. It was a shot in the arm for everybody.
“We were at capacity pretty much most of the night. We had a countdown that was great even though quite a few went to see the fireworks, it was still busy in the club, and thenthey poured back in. It goes for everyone - queues at every club in Orchid Ave.
“It was one of the busier ones. It was good. I hope that’s a good sign for 2025.”
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Originally published as New Year’s Eve on the Gold Coast: How glitter strip is ringing in 2025
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