As the final sunset of 2025 cast a golden glow over the Hunter River, thousands of Novocastrians and visitors descended on the city's Foreshore to bid farewell to the old year and welcome 2026 with hope and celebration.
Families and Future Dreams on the Grass
Among the early crowds was the Coombes family from Mayfield, enjoying a relaxed evening picnic. For parents Nikita and her husband, the night was a moment of reflection on their daughter Charlie's rapid growth and their aspirations for the year ahead. Charlie, just 18 months old, watched the world with bright, blue eyes, a symbol of the fresh start the new year represents.
"I think you can get comfortable being in one place," Mrs Coombes shared, outlining her desire to travel to Greece with her young family. "I feel like you need to get out and get uncomfortable with things; go and see new things and new places." This sentiment of exploration was echoed by others in the crowd, including Sydney visitors Bella Amoroso and Julia Judge, who sought a more relaxed alternative to the chaos of their home city.
A City Buzzing with Festive Energy
The atmosphere built steadily throughout the warm, sticky afternoon. The Stockton ferry shuttled packed loads of passengers, while restaurants on Darby Street reported full bookings. The Queen's Wharf Hotel pulsed with music, its dance floor packed shoulder-to-shoulder with revellers like Rowan Rigby and Nixie McGregor, recent HSC graduates ready to see where the new year would take them.
As dusk fell, the lawns and walkways of the Foreshore filled with people eagerly awaiting the traditional fireworks display, the air thick with anticipation and the promise of a new beginning.
Safety First: Police and Health Warnings for Revellers
While the mood was overwhelmingly festive, a significant safety operation was underway. NSW Police launched a high-visibility enforcement operation across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and Port Stephens, involving general duties officers, highway patrol, water police, PolAir, and mounted units.
"NSW Police want people to welcome in the New Year and have a safe night," stated NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lyons. The operation was underscored by a serious public health warning from NSW Health about high-dose MDMA tablets detected initially at the Lost Paradise festival on the Central Coast.
Acting Medical Director of the NSW Poisons Information Centre, Angela Chiew, urged extreme caution. "MDMA can cause severe agitation, raised body temperature, seizures or fits, irregular heart rhythm and death," Dr Chiew warned, noting risks increase in hot environments and when mixed with other stimulants. Revellers were urged to seek immediate medical help by calling Triple Zero (000) if anyone felt unwell.
Despite the warnings and heavy traffic leading into the closed party precinct, emergency services on the ground reported a peaceful start to the evening's festivities, with no early incidents as the city collectively turned its gaze to the midnight sky.
