Newcastle's waterfront came alive on the final evening of 2025 as thousands gathered to celebrate New Year's Eve, sharing personal hopes for travel and new experiences in the year ahead.
Families and Revellers Share Hopes for 2026
Among the crowds on the grassy foreshore was the Coombes family from Mayfield. With their 18-month-old daughter Charlie enjoying a chicken nugget, parents Nikita and her husband reflected on their future. Mrs Coombes expressed a strong desire to travel as a family, specifically to Greece, believing it important to "get out and get uncomfortable" by seeing new places.
Not far away, Bella Amoroso and Julia Judge had made an impromptu trip from Sydney's Northern Beaches to avoid the city's chaos. They shared similar aspirations for the coming year, with Julia considering a European summer and Bella dreaming of exploring Australia's less-travelled roads in a caravan.
As the afternoon faded into a bright sunset, the precinct buzzed with activity. Ferries shuttled across the harbour, and long queues formed for popular food stalls like the Banh Mi and German kransky stands. The Queen's Wharf Hotel pulsed with music, its queue wrapping around the building.
Major Police Presence for Safety
Emergency services were a visible part of the celebrations, with officers preparing for the thousands attending events across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and Port Stephens. NSW Police staged a high-visibility operation involving uniformed officers, highway patrol, water police, PolAir, and specialist units like the public order and riot squad.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lyons stated the force wanted people to have a safe night while welcoming the New Year. The large-scale policing effort was complemented by road closures on Hunter Street, with authorities urging the public to use public transport.
Health Warning Amid Celebrations
The festivities occurred alongside a serious public health warning from NSW Health. Authorities alerted the community about high-dose MDMA tablets detected at the Lost Paradise music festival on the Central Coast earlier in the week.
Acting medical director of the NSW Poisons Information Centre, Angela Chiew, warned the substances could be circulating anywhere in the state. She outlined the severe risks, which include agitation, raised body temperature, seizures, irregular heart rhythm, and death, especially if combined with other stimulants or used in hot environments.
Dr Chiew emphasised the varying potency of tablets, even within the same batch, and urged anyone feeling unwell to seek immediate help by calling Triple Zero (000). Despite the warning, emergency services on the ground in Newcastle reported no major incidents as the celebrations began.
As midnight approached, the collective spirit on the Foreshore was one of optimism. For young attendees like Rowan Rigby, who had just finished her HSC, the night was about seeing "where it takes us" and celebrating the promise of a new beginning for 2026.
