We got up early and made the last few bits for the picnic before having some breakfast and i gave Nick his birthday present. He really wants a maori tattoo a real one so for his birthday i've said i'll pay for him to have one done whilst we're in NZ.

We got the bus straight to Hyde Park and walked to Art gallery road. We got there at 9.30am and the queue was already huge. We finally got to the entrance gate 4 and a half hours later!!! There were so many English people in the queue, it was all quite good fun, lots of mexican waves etc. But it was so hot, we're sure it was the hottest day we've had in Oz so far and we were queing through fields so there was absolutely no shade - everyone was sweltering and dripping with sweat - nice!

Once we'd had our bags checked and wetre through the gates we were on the hunt for a good spot, ideally with some shade! When we've been into the city we went to this area and it really has great views. For NYE you had the choice of being over the bridge in Manly, at the Opera House or where we were. We didn't want to be at the Opera House as we wanted to be able to see it and the bridge clearly. All the websites had said all of Mrs Macqueries point would be open to the public so we were really annoyed once we were in to find that all the best areas had been roped off and you needed tickets to get in! If we'd have known we would've looked into prices and getting those tickets as those really are the best areas, with entirly clear views - so very annoyed!

Everywhere we could go there was something int he view, mainly huge palm trees! We found the best spot possible, we could see bits of the Opera House and bridge through the trees but had a clear view above us so we would be able to see the fireworks. It was absolutely packed and we could see that the Opera House was just as bad.

We enjoyed our picnic throughout the day, it was so hot that we were just constantly drinking water. Later int he day Nick wasn't feeling too good, he was wearing a long sleeve top, hat, suncream, the works even had a towel over him at one point to keep the sun off but still ended up with some sunstroke. Just before the family fireworks at 9pm he went down to the medical tent and they gave him some tablets to cool his temperature as well as an ice pack to keep on his neck.

Midnight was drawing closer, we were beginning to wonder if it had all been worth it! They did a count down for the last 10secs of 2008 projected onto the Opera House, by the time everyone realised we had around 7secs to go! Count down was quick but amazing, at Mrs Macqueries there were 22000 people and we were all counting down then boom . . . . Happy New Year!! It was insane and such a rush! Fireworks were everywhere, even off the roofs of some of the city skyscrapers! It was absolutely immense and all reflected in the water too! What a way to welcome in 2009! It was incredible and worth every minute of queing and waiting around!