Some things never change! Australia rings in 2021 with one of the most bizarre New Year's Eve celebrations EVER with Melburnians letting their hair (and masks) down while Sydneysiders are forced to watch on from home
Australians have farewelled a year many would rather forget with New Year's Eve celebrations held under circumstances which have never been seen before - and will hopefully never be seen again.
A nation divided by coronavirus and arbitrary border closures was even more split last night as it welcomed 2021 with Melbourne seeing the year in with a bang due to its relaxed coronavirus restrictions while Sydney hummed with millions forced to watch the fireworks from home.
Australians who normally flock to harbours, foreshores, riverbanks and beaches to savour million-dollar fireworks displays were instead watching on TV from their living rooms with only a lucky few getting ring-side seats.
While Sydney's world-famous harbour and bridge exploded with a seven-minute fireworks display at midnight the skies over Melbourne and Brisbane remained darkened but they made up for it in the party stakes with revellers north and south of NSW taking full advantage of relaxed coronavirus restrictions.
The harbour bridge, which was lit up in a constellation of blue, pink, green, purple and yellow lights throughout the night, almost gave the impression of any other New Year's Eve celebration except for the sign 'Help stop the spread' hanging eerily off a pylon.
While in previous years millions of people would have crowded around to watch the spectacle, this year only a few hundred lucky enough to score bookings at waterfront restaurants and pubs and clubs or living nearby were able to see it in the flesh.
Starting 2021 in style: A young couple share an intimate kiss as they welcome in the New Year at Melbourne's Federation Square
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The Sydney Opera House is seen lit up after a series of fireworks erupted behind as Australia welcomes 2021
Residents flocked to Federation Square in Melbourne on New Year's Eve to say goodbye to the year from hell as they made the most of the occasion despite the absence of a fireworks display
While Sydney's world-famous harbour and bridge exploded with a seven-minute fireworks display at midnight the skies over Melbourne and Brisbane remained darkened
One Sydney woman was a little too excited to ring in the new year and was captured with a safety cone over her head
After a horror year the skies of Sydney were lit up with a spectacular display of fireworks at midnight on New Year's Eve
A group of friends are seen ringing in the New Year in style on the Gold Coast as Australia bids farewell to 2020
Two young women in Sydney make a dash along the tiles as the Harbour City was lit by the firework display's kaleidoscope of colours
Friends with prime viewing of the Sydney Harbour Bridge prepare to farewell 2020 and watch the seven minute fireworks display
Bringing in the New Year: A woman in leopard print clothing shows off while enjoying the festivities in Melbourne
Fireworks explode over the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge as New Year celebrations begin in Sydney
Large crowds are seen dancing at St Kilda Beach as Melbournians bring in the New Year in St Kilda
Braving the elements: Two young women shared an umbrella as the rain came down in Sydney on New Year's Eve
A kaleidoscope of colour lights up the night sky as seen from the new harbourside resort Crown Sydney on New Year's morning
One couple entered 2021 sharing a romantic kiss in Sydney as celebrations erupted to mark the end of 2020 across Australia
Another couple welcome the new year with an intimate moment in front of celebrators as wild parties raged on into the night
A couple pose in front of a 2021 sign in Sydney as the clock nears midnight on New Year's Eve
The fireworks display was cut short to just seven minutes this year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic
Two fun-loving revellers in Melbourne dance the night away in a pair of striking black outfits as 2020 came to an end
A group of men are seen dancing during New Year's Eve celebrations in Melbourne after the city spent more than three months of 2020 in lockdown
Two women dressed in electric pink and red dresses walk through Sydney during the New Year celebrations
A large group all dressed in white are seen having a midnight pash and bringing in the New Year at Baxter At Pontoon in St Kilda
The iconic Harbour Bridge is seen lit up in a bright shade of purple as Australians ring in the new year
Sydney-siders didn't let the miserable weather ruin their New Year celebrations as parties carried on into the night
Melbourne residents get ready to shout 'happy new year' as 2021 rolls around the corner
A security guard patrols a near-empty Sydney Opera House forecourt during New Year's Eve celebrations
A couple take a break from celebrating in Melbourne on New Year's Eve as residents take to the streets
Some Victorians braved the cold weather and jumped into the water in St Kilda to celebrate the end of 2020
Federation Square was much livelier on New Year's Eve with Melbourne residents waving goodbye to a year from hell
Two glamorous women are seen strolling the streets in Sydney as New Year celebrations kick off around the country
A large gathering of police patrol near a deserted Circular Quay in the Sydney CBD to watch the annual fireworks display
Start as you mean to go on: Revellers enjoy their COVID-affected New Years Eve at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast
Revellers are seen lending each other a guiding hand in St Kilda on New Years Eve as partygoers hit the tiles for a night of fun
COVID-who? These revellers at the White Rhino in Surfers Paradise were in the mood for letting their hair down on December 31
Give us a kiss! Despite COVID-19 still being a very much present issue going into 2021, revellers wanted their moment in the sun on December 31
Crowds gather at Surfers Paradise to bring in the New Year as Queenslanders enjoyed their celebrations relatively unaffected by the virus-induced lockdowns elsewhere in the world
Australians earlier slowly started arriving in Sydney's CBD for New Year's Eve celebrations despite a surge in coronavirus cases and harsh restrictions - but the lack of revellers is unprecedented
Only residents and those with existing bookings at restaurants and pubs are being let into the no-go zone around Sydney's harbour foreshore - as opposed to the huge crowds of previous years
One well-dressed couple are seen heading out for the night in the Sydney CBD. Celebrations right around Australia have been halted due to the virus
Police are seen patrolling an eerily quiet Circular Quay on New Year's Eve as Sydneysiders are encouraged to watch the midnight fireworks display from home
Sydneysiders hit the town to celebrate the end of a horror year that began with deadly bushfires and a global pandemic that's still wreaking havoc across the country
A group of mates clad in sombreros head into Sydney's city to farewell 2020 - but they won't have much company
If they weren't stuck in quarantine, forced into self isolation or stranded in lockdown then they may as well be on the grimmest of New Year's Eves.
Kissing was banned but it didn't stop those from having a traditional midnight pash. Singing was discouraged but the sound of relief from those saying good riddance to 2020 was palpable. And as for dancing? Only while social distancing.
Perth and Darwin and Hobart stuck to their traditional New Year's Eve program with fireworks exploding from 9:30pm.
Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide cancelled their displays to avoid large gathering and community transmission of the virus major party hotspots such as Surfers Paradise and St Kilda were packed with revellers.
Sydney's world-renowned fireworks spectacle, which last year cost $6.5 million and was under threat from bushfires, was scaled back to just seven minutes.
One Melbourne couple are seen celebrating the end of the year in style while millions around the country celebrate at home
Couples and singles headed out for the night across Australia with many trying to end the horror year on a high
With residents barred from the foreshore around the Sydney Harbour Bridge under government restrictions, the city's festivities paled compared to those enjoyed by Melbournians living under much more relaxed rules.
Large crowds made up of hundreds of revellers partied the night away in Federation Square - punctuated by one loved-up couple enjoying a passionate kiss to see in the New Year.
One woman in leopard print enjoyed the party in style at St Kilda as she treated the pavement like her cat walk, while others ended a year to forget by packing along the foreshore.
At a party event in the bayside suburb, revellers were shoulder to shoulder as they danced the night away - with the pain of lockdowns that have blighted the city this year seemingly miles away.
Police officers march through St Kilda on New Year's Eve as residents take to the streets to welcome 2021
Friends cheers a cocktail ahead of the New Year's Eve celebrations in St Kilda
Earlier, eager Sydneysiders raced in to get the best view with the Opera Bar filling up fast.
Groups of friends still dressed to impress as they headed into Circular Quay with some donning sombreros and 'Happy New Year' headpieces.
Young women were spotted wobbling their way into the harbour in sky-high heels while the men took advantage of the occasion to showcase their best suits.
The CBD on the other hand was eerily quiet compared to earlier years, as countless police officers patrolled the streets ensuring everyone in the city had a permit.
Only residents and those with existing bookings at restaurants and pubs were let into the no-go zone with a relevant permit but venues have been hit with mass cancellations.
Vantage points across the harbour were blocked off from the public with fences and signage turning prospective visitors away for the first time.
Revellers enjoy the end to 2020 as they dance into the new year in St Kilda as Melbourne erupts with New Years celebrations
A couple are seen walking through St Kilda following a wild night of New Year celebrations
Victorians dance the night away after suffering through a horror year burdened by coronavirus lockdowns
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian earlier ordered locals to watch the fireworks at home on their televisions to avoid social mingling amid a new coronavirus outbreak.
Ms Berejiklian urged partygoers to be sensible, avoid large gatherings and locking lips with strangers.
'When the clock ticks over to midnight from December 31 January 1, I know that's normally an emotional time where we like to kiss and hug everybody around us. Can I ask for absolute restraint,' Ms Berejiklian said.
Meanwhile scenes were much livelier in Melbourne with residents filling up nightclubs and spilling into the streets after the clock struck 12.
For many in the Victoria, it was the year from hell after Melbourne was plunged into a strict lockdown for more than 100 days.
While the highly anticipated fireworks display in the city were called off thanks to the ongoing pandemic, Victorians were still desperate to celebrate the end of the year.
Many welcomed the excuse to dress up after having spent months confined to their own homes and strutted their stuff around the city as the night rolled into the new year.
One couple was spotted sharing a kiss in the midst of a giant crowd as others celebrated the clock ticking over into the new year.
NSW Police officers patrol around Circular Quay on Thursday night. NSW recorded ten new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday
Patrons are seen lining up at a venue in Circular Quay on Thursday night. Only those with bookings and a valid permit are allowed into large parts of the CBD
Many braved the cold and wet weather in Melbourne to celebrate the end of 2020
This year's New Year's Eve celebrations will be like no other with police patrolling the CBD to enforce the harsh restrictions
Australians gear up to say goodbye to 2020 as New Year's Day rolls around the corner
Some revellers get a headstart on the New Year celebrations and enjoy a glass of champagne before the sun goes down
Police officers will be out in full force on Thursday night to ensure those celebrating in the CBD have valid permits
Diners are seen enjoying a meal at the sun begins to set in Sydney while Australians right across the country gear up for a New Year's Eve like no other
Road closures are seen in Melbourne on New Year's Eve with residents only allowed into the CBD if they have restaurant bookings
Some Victorians were seen celebrating the end of the year on boats as they sipped on champagne and other alcohol
Many Melbourne residents were glad to have an excuse to dress up after spending more than three months confined to their homes during lockdown
Unfortunately for those in Melbourne, the fireworks display was cancelled for this year's end of year celebrations
The Opera Bar in Sydney was filled with eager revellers ready to welcome the new year in style
A man and his child pose in front of a 2021 sign with families and friends across Australia celebrating the end to a shocking year
A street performer busts out some tunes for residents in Melbourne on New Year's Eve
An eruption of celebrations were also spotted in the Gold Coast with Queenslanders spilling out onto the streets of Surfers Paradise.
Queenslanders were allowed to throw house parties with up to 50 people a home and can gather together with 100 others in public spaces.
Families and friends gathered together along the glitter strip as police patrolled the streets to ensure Queenslanders were ringing in the new year safely.
Brisbane's South Bank, normally packed with up to 100,000 people for New Year's Eve, was kept open but the fireworks on the river were sadly cancelled.
The new year couldn't come sooner for Australians who spent 2020 trying to recover from the devastating bushfires before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
While cases are still popping up across the country, the promise of a better year is enough to get struggling citizens by.
Two friends celebrate the end of 2020 with a few drinks in Melbourne. A new cluster of cases have popped up in the city
Melbourne was much more lively than Sydney on New Year's Eve with many dressing up to visit nightclubs and other venues
Huge lines to get into nightclubs in Melbourne were seen on Thursday night as many try to forget the horrific 2020
Friends snap photos of each other in Melbourne on Thursday night after getting dolled up to celebrate the new year
Other residents took a more relaxed approach to the new year as a Melbourne couple is seen lying on the artificial grass in Federation Square
Two young women laugh together as the evening rolls on in Melbourne. Melbourne is one of many cities that has been forced to cancel fireworks displays
Other groups of friends in Melbourne were seen celebrating the end of the year on boats
Victorians were excited to let their hair down for a night of celebrations on New Year's Eve
Patrons attend a small function at the Opera Bar during New Year's Eve celebrations
People line up to get inside the Billboard nightclub in Melbourne on the evening of New Year's Eve
Young men and women donning face masks line up outside restaurants in Melbourne on Thursday night
A group of friends clad in face masks head out to farewell the end of 2020 in Melbourne on Thursday
Only a handful of boats were seen spread across Sydney's Harbour on Thursday night to celebrate New Year's Eve
Household parties have been limited to just five people in Greater Sydney - including Wollongong, Central Coast and the Blue Mountains - while outdoor gatherings have been cut from 50 people down to 30
Two women are seen showing their passes to a security official to celebrate the end of the year in Sydney's CBD