A Guide to New Year’s Eve 2011/12

Let's all be honest with ourselves for a minute. New Year's Eve can traditionally be a bit of a disappointment. There's always plenty of commotion surrounding grand plans to be with all of your friends and share the magical moment when we are welcomed by a new year and a fresh start. You make a few resolutions about how you're going to finally sort your life out, and promise yourself that the coming year will be nothing like the last. However, New Year's Eve plans have a tendency to dissolve at the last minute, and before midnight strikes you're starting to wish you spent the evening drinking alone on your dilapidated couch, watching the fireworks on television.

Here we have compiled a handful of events that will help you escape your yearly routine of New Year's Eve letdowns. Kickstart 2012 with a bang and head to one of these venues for a momentous start to the new year.

Peats Ridge Festival

Just a short drive from Sydney City, Peats Ridge Festival is located in the harmonious wilderness of the Glenworth Valley. Escape the urban rush with a four-day eco-friendly festival featuring the world's leading indie artists. These include the socially-aware singer Xavier Rudd, ambient electronic sounds from rising Sydney sensation Oliver Tank, and the acoustic stylings of Jim Ward, former guitarist of the legendary post-hardcore outfit At The Drive-In. Aside from the music there are organic food stalls, an Indigenous festival and a Masquerade ball on New Year's Eve. Unlike many festivals, Peats Ridge Festival is all ages, so feel free to bring your little siblings along. Read more

11.12

You Only Live Once is a premium collective bringing together some of the main figures and minds behind electro group Sneaky Sound System, fashion icons Ksubi and world-renowned restaurant Icebergs. To welcome in 2012 they have presented 11.12 — a New Year's Eve event with the goal of bringing "the best house party at the best house in the world." They've done this by choosing a location which can't be beaten: the Sydney Opera House. They've also enlisted help from the godfathers of house music, Frankie Knuckles and Jamie Principle. In support will be Riton, Beni and Dangerous Dan. Read more

GoodGod NYE: The Last Resort

The fact that GoodGod is located in Chinatown only adds to the wonderful irony of their "trailer trash" themed New Year's Eve party. They promise to transform the club into a "pig huntin', tobacco chewin', knee slappin' resort." Tunes will be provided by garage-punk outfit Royal headache, as well as DJ King Opp. Tickets to this event are only $18, which means you can spend more money on rounds of straight Kentucky bourbon. Grab your oldest flannelette shirt and start styling that mullet for what is set to be a rowdy and rambunctious night. Read more

Camping on Cockatoo Island

Grab your own 4x4 metre slice of paradise with the opportunity to camp on Cockatoo Island. This family-friendly event gives you the best possible view of the world-famous fireworks, and all without the hassle of the intense crowds that horde the CBD. Catch an early ferry to grab yourself a good spot, and perfect your own tent to make yourself feel right at home. This camping experience gives you an escape without the need to travel outside the city. Babies under 1 year of age score with free entry, so they're the real winners here. Read more

Summer Opener NYE: Sun Studios

This year's Summer Opener takes place at Sun Studios, a recently renovated warehouse in Alexandria. With walls stretching up to 25 feet high and equipped with superb sound and lighting features, this is the perfect venue to host one huge New Year's Eve party. The line-up is fronted by Emerson Todd, a Berlin-based DJ who has also found considerable success in Australia. His popularity has been reflected in his work with the likes of Pnau and The Sleepy Jackson, as well as appearances on the festival circuit at We Love Sounds and Future Music Festival. He will be supported by Ft Mode, Eoin Brosnan and The Amateur DJs. Read more

Rhythm and Vines Festival, New Zealand

If you're feeling a little more adventurous this New Year's Eve, hop over the Tasman to our close neighbours in New Zealand for the Rhythm and Vines festival. Stretching over the last three days of December, Rhythm and Vines helps you welcome the new year with one of the biggest line-ups to grace the festival circuit in 2011. This installment is headlined by Australia's biggest drum and bass export, Pendulum, whilst Calvin Harris brings his incredibly infectious sound to eager audiences. Others acts include Grandmaster Flash, Skream and Benga, and Erick Morillo. And courtesy of our friends at Stolen Rum, Concrete Playground has a double-pass three-day Club Stolen VIP Package up for grabs. Read more

Guillaume at Bennelong

If you're feeling especially expensive and swanky this New Year's Eve, then Guillaume may have a suitable option for you and that special someone. This restaurant is run by the esteemed Guillaume Brahimi, who offers Australian cuisine with a twist from our friends in France. On New Year's Eve, canapes and drinks are only the beginning, as guests will then be treated to a seven course degustation menu with wines. Furthermore, located at the Opera House, this restaurant experience will be coupled with an equally memorable view of the fireworks. Read more

Field Day 2012

From hosting the massive Shore Thing on New Year's Eve, festival promoters Fuzzy get straight back to business on New Year's Day with Field Day. Fuzzy will bring Sydney the biggest and best party to kickstart the mainstream festival circuit in 2012. This line-up sees the return of French electro giants Justice, who will bring a live show on the back of their new album, Audio Video, Disco. Other acts include quirky indie-pop singer Gotye, experimental electronic act Crystal Castles and rising star Example. Also performing is Young MC. Remember that guy? Throw on a retro neon windbreaker and a chunky gold chain for his set. Read more