The loosest day of the year is upon us! New Year’s Eve is going to bounce us into 2018 and it’s your choice whether you want that to be in style or in shambles. It’s long known that deep in the heart of the CBD is exactly where you do not in any way, shape or form want to be for the party of the year, which makes it all the more appealing that to wine, dine and party at some of the best venues that are close to the action but far away enough to avoid all the bad bits.
We’ve put together a list of six – four close to the city and two far, far away from it – of the best New Year’s Eve events around Melbourne that you can still get tickets for.
QT Melbourne (CBD)
Since it opened last year, the award-winning Rooftop at QT has never been overlooked when it comes to any occasion in Melbourne. It’s become one of the city’s most essential destinations so unsurprisingly NYE here will be one of the biggest tickets in the state. There will be throwing a classic rooftop party from 8pm on NYE with champagne on arrival followed by a beverage offering and a host of delicacies from the QT kitchen.
Tickets are available now and start at $210pp for in-house guests and $265 for visitors.
133 Russell St, Melbourne | from 8pm | tickets from qthotelsandresorts.com
Neptune (Windsor)
Windsor’s popular new wine bar Neptune in High Street will be focusing on quality Mediterranean dining for their New Year’s Eve celebration, allowing guests to sip of spritz, snack on salami, and kick off with a selection of disco beats from 8pm on the night. The restaurant will also be offering free-flowing canapes on the night alongside negronis, spritz’, prosecco and beer.
Tickets are now available for $165pp.
212 High St, Windsor | 8pm-late | tickets via Eventbrite
Mercure Melbourne Treasury Gardens (CBD)
The Mercure over at Treasury Gardens will be hosting a nice little affordable NYE celebration as they make full use of their on-site Hop Sing Bar & Food restaurant. Guests will be offered a five-course Asian fusion menu from $69pp with a glass of sparkling on arrival and kids options available, all from 5pm to 9pm. Alternatively, there’s also a package that includes roving Asian fusion canapes with reserved seating from 9:30pm to midnight for the very affordable price of $30pp. What makes this one of the best options in the area is the fact that Hop Sing is located directly across the road from the Treasury Gardens fireworks live site, so if you’re heading along already it’s a good idea to pair it up with a feast beforehand.
13 Spring St, Melbourne | bookings available at mercuremelbourne.com.au
Pan Pacific Melbourne & Dock 37 Bar & Kitchen (CBD)
The many venues which line South Wharf always present some of the best centrally located parties for Melbourne’s NYE celebrations. This year it’s looking like Pan Pacific Melbourne and their Dock 37 Bar & Kitchen is the place to be, with a whopping five-hour beverage package being offered along with a welcome cocktail, gourmet buffet and live music all throughout the night.
The Pan Pacific Melbourne package, with tickets starting from $299 (adult) and $99 (child), includes the buffet from 8pm-1am, a welcome cocktail, five-hour beverage package (house wines, beers, soft drinks etc), dessert, live entertainment and a photobooth. For an extra $50pp, guests can also head on up to the exclusive Pacific Club Lounge to view the midnight fireworks, or for $100 extra guests can climb even further to the Pan Pacific Melbourne Rooftop (plus they’ll each get a take-home gift and a pair of slippers).
South Wharf, 2 Convention Centre Pl, Melbourne | from 8pm | panpacific.com
Jackalope Hotel (Merricks North)
One of the most awarded boutique hotels this year has been the stunning Jackalope in Mornington Peninsula. If you feel like a bit of a road trip out of Melbourne for New Year’s Eve this year then you’d be wise to give this one a look, replacing urban noise with natural beauty while the sun goes down over the property’s rolling vines, soundtracked by a DJ and live band underneath a 10,000 globe chandelier. Included in each ticket to the party will be house cocktails, seafood stations and roving canapes. Note that the event is a black tie one though, so don’t rock up in a singlet and pluggers.
Tickets are available now for $495pp.
166 Balnarring Rd, Merricks North | 7pm-2am | tickets from jackalopehotels.com
Terindah Estate (Bellarine)
For those who fancy a little road trip out of Melbourne, Terindah Estate have been going from strength to strength this year. The beautiful Bellarine vineyard is right in the thick of those spectacular Port Phillip Bay views so taking it all in while sipping on the estate’s award-winning wines sounds like a great way to farewell 2017. From 8pm the property will be buzzing while guests are greeted with a glass of sparkling before being let loose on the open lawns, where a live DJ will be soundtracking the evening and plenty of canapes will be circulating. All the estate’s wines will be available to purchase from the bar on top of the $100 entry ticket.
The live fireworks display that spans the bay should be spectacular from this perspective so this should definitely be on your radar for a quick NYE escape.
90 McAdams Lane, Bellarine VIC | 8pm-1am | tickets available from (02) 5251 5536 or [email protected]
Feature image: Jackalope by Sharyn Cairns
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