New Year creeps in around the World like its own Mexican Wave. Starting with Samoa, Tonga and Kiribati, and ending in American Samoa and Baker Island in the United States of America, different cities celebrate in their own individual ways. Check out how the following cities will be celebrating the dawn of a new year.
Did you know it takes 26 hours for the New Year to encompass all time zones? Here’s a few cities in chronological order.
Apia, Samoa
The strange thing about New Years Eve is that you can take an hour’s flight to American Samoa on the other side of the dateline, and celebrate New Year’s twelve hours later, twice! Visitors come from across the globe to specifically be the first to see in the New Year. 300,000 people or so line the streets for one giant block party. And technically, Samoans get the longest party, and possibly the longest hangover.
Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right – Oprah Winfrey
Kowloon, Hong Kong
This city knows how to celebrate! Even though the Chinese New Year isn’t celebrated until later in February, Hong Kong isn’t about to let a worldwide celebration pass by and it’s practically in party mode from Christmas to February. And it’s all about the fireworks, fireworks, fireworks! Stake your claim out early as most public places will be packed. Victoria Harbour comes alight with a dramatic fireworks display including synchronised music, laser and LEDs displays coming from building tops and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Hong Kong enters the New Year with the biggest bang yet! 3, 2, 1!
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
It’s all about the Burj Khalifa, and standing at 2716.5 feet, the Burj holds the record for the World’s tallest building. Crowds gather for a spectacular fireworks show from the building itself. If fireworks aren’t your thing, other options include the Dubai Opera or a desert safari where you can spend a night under a starlit sky. Not too shabby at all!
Cape Town, South Africa
This city has options! And the weather is similar to Sydney at this time of year. Whether it’s going big at a party, setting sail from the harbour to Granger Bay, staying chilled at a park concert, or an intimate dinner in the winelands, Cape Town has you covered. There’s the Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset New Year’s Eve Concert with a blanket and a picnic, or Grand Provence is about as lavish as it gets with a New Year’s package including live entertainment, fire performers and DJs at this amazing vineyard. Let the countdown begin!
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Copacabana Beach is where it’s at, and here you’ll be celebrating a warm New Years Eve with about 2 other million people. Locals suggest heading to local Rio institution Jobi Bar, for the best place to knock back a chopp or draught beer. Jobi opened in the 1950s, and is a lively spot guaranteeing a memorable night. Empanadas are mandatory!
TripAdeal travels to around the world here.
Image: New Years in Rio de Janeiro
