Sydney Harbour spectacular

This Australia Day, Sydney Harbour will be the nation's centrepiece of celebrations and the showcase for sailing, swimming, aerial displays, tall ships, dressed vessels, indigenous ceremonies and live music performances.

Tens of thousands of people are tipped to flock to Sydney Harbour to enjoy more than 14 hours of Australian entertainment, either as participants or foreshore spectators.

Highlights of the 2014 program include the inaugural Tinnie Muster, Tug and Yacht Ballet, Australia Day Harbour Parade, Salute to Australia – a tri-service dedication from the Australian Navy, Army and Air Force – and live music performances by some of Australia’s best young music artists.

Angelos Frangopoulos, Chairman of the Australia Day Council of NSW said: "You simply can’t beat Sydney Harbour for Australia Day celebrations.

"With so much happening for everyone, on and around the harbour, it’s little wonder it’s the drawcard for thousands of people from across Sydney, NSW and the nation to soak up the Australia Day atmosphere.”

The Australia Day Harbour Progra will feature 14 major events on and around the harbour:
 >> WugulOra – Indigenous Ceremony
In a symbolic moment to acknowledge our traditional landowners, a fire will be lit at the Sydney Opera House with offerings from cultures around the world and carried aboard the Tribal Warrior. Bark canoes travelling from the four compass points will meet the Tribal Warrior under the Harbour Bridge to perform a traditional smoking ceremony, commemorating our past and celebrating our future. The national anthem will be performed in Eora language and English as the Aboriginal and Australian flags are raised atop the Harbour Bridge by two major Australian identities.
Time: Approx 7.30am               
Spectator Location: Anywhere with a good view of Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge

>> The Body Science Great Australian Swim Series Final
Hundreds of participants and sport stars will take the plunge in the P&O Cruises 2.2km swim starting at the Opera House and around Farm Cove.  For less experienced swimmers, there’s the Ky Hurst 750m course or the 300m junior kids’ swim. Every participant will receive a race pack and great prizes will be offered for all age group categories. Online registration closes on 25 January – on the day registration is available from 6.30am. 
Time: 8.30am–10.30am
Location: Farm Cove

>> Picnics on the Point
Grab the family and a picnic and head to one of the many Sydney Harbour foreshore vantage points to enjoy the day’s spectacle on the greatest stage in Australia!
Time: 11.00am–2.00pm
Location: Sydney Harbour Foreshore

>> NRMA’s BBQ by the Bridge (NEW)
For a dress-circle view of the harbour activities including the Ferrython, Harbour Parade, aerial displays, Salute to Australia and the Tall Ships race, head to Dawes Point Park, Hickson Road and enjoy a great Australian BBQ and entertainment hosted by NRMA Motoring and Services.
Time: 11.00am–3.00pm
Location: Hickson Road Reserve, Dawes Point

>> Ferrython
A sight to behold as Sydney’s beloved ferries don the finest in Australiana decorations to race on Sydney Harbour. Cheer on your favourite as they compete for honours in the race from Circular Quay, around Shark Island and back to the finish line under the Harbour Bridge. 
Time: 11.00–11.45am
Location: Sydney Harbour

>> Salute to Australia (NEW)
The Australian Army will fire a 21 gun salute at Bradfield Park, under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, in the presence of the Governor of NSW, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir aboard the Royal Australian Navy’s largest vessel, HMAS Choules. The climax of the tri-service salute will be an aerial display by three Royal Australian Air Force Hawks.
Time: 12 noon
Location: Sydney Harbour

>> Tug and Yacht Ballet  (NEW)
A new addition to the Australia Day program, the Tug and Yacht Ballet will be a dazzling, choreographed display, using the central and eastern Harbour as the stage. Two agile and powerful tug boats will dance with a flotilla of 10 yachts, dressed in colour, ribbons and smoke, to the operatic masterpiece The Flower Song, recorded by Dame Joan Sutherland. Don’t miss this precision sailing display as the stunning vessels manoeuvre in unison in an amazing show of colour and movement.
Two performances:  12:15pm and 1:30pm
Location: Central and Eastern Sydney Harbour

>> Australia Day Harbour Parade (NEW)
The Australia Day Harbour Parade will showcase Sydney’s most iconic vessels dressed in colour, flags and bunting as they make their way in a 90-minute lap of the Harbour in a bid to take out the prize for Best Dressed Vessel. Vessels of all shapes and sizes are welcome to join the flotilla and everyone is encouraged to join in the spirit of the day by dressing their vessels with colour and flags. Be as creative as you like! Vessels that register before 5.00pm on Friday 24 January will also go into the running to win a share of $2000 cash prizes. Vessels can register at www.australiaday.com.au.
Sydney Harbour
12.30pm – 2.00pm

>> Australia Day Sydney Harbour Concert Series
A highlight of the Australia Day program, the Harbour Concert Series, is a tribute to Australian music featuring some of the country’s most popular, young musicians.

The Harbour Concert Series, presented by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW and directed by John Foreman, will kick-off at 1.00pm at Blues Point featuring a 90-minute set of live performances by Dami Im, Nathaniel Willemse, Samantha Jade, Taylor Henderson, Jessica Mauboy and Justice Crew. Taylor Henderson will perform an additional gig at Athol Bay at 3.30pm as part of the inaugural Tinnie Muster.

The Harbour Concert Series floating stage will then move to Cockle Bay for a live performance brought to you by P&O Cruises featuring Mahalia Barnes and Prinnie Stevens. The concert, from 6.00pm-6.45pm will feature as part of the renowned Darling Harbour Australia Day Spectacular.
Time: 1.00pm, 3.30pm and 6.00pm
Location: Blues Point, Athol Bay and Darling Harbour

>>Tall Ships
Sydney’s majestic Tall Ships will battle for line honours in a race from Bradley’s Head to the Harbour Bridge.  A convoy of historic and charter vessels will follow the five tall ships Southern Swan, Soren Larsen, Bark Endeavour, James Craig and the Young Endeavour.
Time:  1.00pm
Location: Sydney Harbour

 >>The 178th Australia Day Regatta
The Regatta is the longest continuously-conducted sailing event in the world, held each year on Sydney Harbour since 1837. It is regarded as one of the most spectacular aquatic events in the country with up to 90 vessels taking part, including traditional and classic yachts.
Time:  From 1.30pm
Location: Eastern part of Sydney Harbour

 >> Red Berets: Australian Army Parachute Display
The Red Berets will drop in to say “g’day” with streamers and smoke trailing whilst flying the Army flag and a large Australian flag.
Time: 2.00pm
Location: Over Circular Quay

>> Tinnie Muster (NEW)
Dozens of vessels of all shapes and sizes are expected to attend the inaugural ‘Tinnie Muster’. Celebrating our national day and our harbour, ‘Tinnie Muster’ encourages boaties to join in the celebrations at Athol Bay from 2.00pm. There will be games for the kids, a BBQ barge, a Twilight Fireworks Finale and live music from a diverse line-up, including X Factor runner-up Taylor Henderson performing some Aussie classics. Bring your tinnie, tender or dinghy to the stage to enjoy the tunes!

For the keen and skilful, there will be the Tinnie Challenge. To succeed, contestants will need a team of two, a little bit of luck and a have-a-go attitude. The course will test not only manoeuvring skills but rope handling, sausage eating and joke telling abilities, plus a couple of surprise stations on the day.
Time: 2.00pm              
Location: Athol Bay

>> P&O Cruises ships
P&O Cruises will bring two of Australia’s favourite cruise ships to Sydney Harbour to join the celebrations on Australia Day. Approximately 4,000 visitors will be on board the ships that will stand magnificent in the midst of the Harbour activities. The Pacific Jewel will berth at Athol Bay and Pacific Dawn will berth at Point Piper. There will be a fireworks display at 9.15pm from a barge between the two ships for passengers on board, nearby vessels and foreshore spectators.
Time: All day. Fireworks at 9.15pm.
Location: Sydney Harbour

For more information go to: www.australiaday.com.au