Australia Day on Sydney Harbour

A raft of exciting events and activities including a new Athol Bay playground

The 2015 Australia Day Harbour Program will see some of the day’s most symbolic and historic events returning to the water as well as some new and exciting activities perfect for?boaters.

This is your chance to celebrate the nation – go to: www.australiaday.com.au for all the information on all the fun on the water.

Here is a brief rundown of what's going on:

7.00am P&O Cruises’ Pacific Pearl, Pacific Dawn and

Pacific Jewel

Three of the world’s most impressive cruise ships, the Pacific Pearl, the Pacific Dawn and Pacific Jewel, arrive in Sydney Harbour to join the celebrations on Australia Day. Approximately 6000?guests will be on board during the festivities.

Note: A 30 metre exclusion zone applies.

8.30am The Great Australian Swim Series?Final

More than 1000 participants are expected to take part in this final event of the swim series along Australia’s east coast. Members of the public are encouraged to join in the P&O Cruises 2.2km swim around Farm Cove, commencing at the Sydney Opera House.

For more information or to register, go to: www.swimseries.com.au

Note: Farm Cove will be closed to vessels during the swim and will re-open at 10.30am.

11.00am Ferrython

Dressed and decorated to the nines, Sydney’s beloved First Fleet ferries line up for one of Australia’s most popular and iconic free events. Come and cheer on your favourite ferry as they carve up the harbour and make their final dash to the finish line under the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Note: There is a 50 metre exclusion zone around each competing ferry.

Best vantage points: Between the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Shark Island, Milsons Point off Jeffrey St Wharf (best location), Lavender Bay.

11.00am–4.00pm Cruising Concert

A custom-built floating stage hosted by entertainer Darren Percival, will tour the harbour from 11.00am onwards, dropping in on the most popular locations. The Cruising Concert will give Darren and his band the opportunity to reach out to exclusive audiences on the harbour foreshores.

The first stop is Bradfield Park at 11.00am, before moving onto Blues Point Reserve, Dawes Point, the Sydney Opera House, Farm Cove, Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, Kurraba Point and Cremorne Point.

Best vantage point: The Cruising Concert will be at Athol Bay from 2.30pm.

12.00noon Salute to Australia

The Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force will combine their efforts in a grand ceremonial display of respect, Salute to?Australia.

A 21-gun salute will be fired at Bradfield Park, under the north side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The Salute will be received by dignitaries on the RAN flagship HMAS Canberra, positioned between the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

After the 21-gun salute, everyone on the water and land will be encouraged to sing the national anthem, before an aerial flyover of RAAF fast jets completes the Salute to Australia.

Note: The water between the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge will be closed to all traffic from 11.45am till 12.15pm. See central harbour inset map.

Best vantage points: East of the Opera House or west of the Harbour Bridge.

12.05pm Tug and Yacht Ballet

The Tug and Yacht Ballet is a spectacular display of nautical precision, as a fleet of 10 yachts and two powerful tugboats tack in unison to music provided by an audio barge equipped with a concert PA system powerful enough to be heard right across the inner harbour area.

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Note: Following the ballet, HMAS Canberra will come out of Circular Quay at 12.15pm and sail east to the Point Piper buoy.

Best vantage points: East of the Opera House or west of the Harbour Bridge.

12.30pm Australia Day Harbour Parade

The Australia Day Harbour Parade will celebrate some of Sydney’s most iconic vessels parading around the harbour in a dazzling display of national spirit. Vessels of all shapes and sizes are encouraged to register and dress their decks for a chance to win. Join the flotilla and get creative, showing off your themed, wacky, patriotic, fancy dressed or elegantly decorated boat.

Register before January 22 at www.australiaday.com.au to be in the running to win a share of $2000 in cash prizes for the best-dressed?vessels.

The Parade will marshal west of Blues Point at midday, using VHF 15 as the marshalling channel, and depart at 12.30pm. It will do a loop of the harbour, finishing at Athol Bay at 2pm where the prizegiving ceremony will?be held.

1.00pm Tall Ships Race

An impressive fleet of historic and charter vessels will capture attention slicing their way through the harbour in the Tall Ships Race, starting from Bradley’s Head and travelling on the northern side of Fort Denison to finish under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. All public and private vessels are invited to join?in.

Note: There is a 50 metre exclusion zone around each?tall ship.

Best vantage point: Bradley’s Head to the Harbour Bridge on the northern side of Sydney Harbour.

1.30pm 179th Australia Day Regatta

The Australia Day Regatta is the world’s oldest continuously conducted annual sailing event and will take place throughout the afternoon, with events for all classes of yachts and 18ft skiffs.

Up to 700 vessels, including traditional and classic yachts from around the nation, take part in Regatta events around NSW, with 100+ vessels racing in Sydney Harbour.

Best vantage point: Eastern Sydney Harbour.

2.00–6.00pm Athol Bay Playground

This exciting event is the place to be this Australia Day.

Enjoy a wide range of free entertainment for all the family. Have a blast on the water playground, climb the wall, flip out on the trampoline and splash off the slides as you navigate your way through a maze of fantastic inflatables.

Treat yourself to an icecream, relax and enjoy jazz tunes from Darren Percival on the Cruising Concert stage and folk/soul songstress Ngaiire performing atop an audio tower in the middle of the bay.

A great day out for smaller recreational vessels, with activities and entertainment for the whole family.

Best vantage point: Athol Bay.

8.30pm P&O Cruises Fireworks

Enjoy a fireworks display from a barge between the three P&O cruise ships, a treat for passengers, nearby vessels and foreshore?spectators.

Best vantage point: Athol Bay.

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Australia Day on Sydney Harbour

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