Fireworks will be let off from the Sky Tower, Auckland, at midnight and will last for five and a half minutes. Photo / Getty Images
Traditional party hotspots - and tens of thousands of homes around the country - will be crammed tonight as Kiwis see in the New Year.
Despite having 364 days to plan seeing in 2016 in style, if you're still at a loss on what to do tonight, here is a guide to what is hot around the country.
• Britomart Beach Party, Auckland, featuring the Freestylers, Sola Rosa, DJ Tamenpi and Jupiter Project, starts 2pm.
• Rhythm and Vines, Waiohika Estate, Gisborne, December 29-31. More than 70 acts, including Angus and Julia Stone, Dave Dobbyn, David Dallas, Peking Duk, Scribe and RL Grime.
• Highlife New Year's Eve, Stonyridge Vineyard, Waiheke Island, featuring dance music, fireworks and gourmet food.
• Northern Bass, Mangawhai, December 29-31, featuring Shapeshifter, Andy C, Skeptical, Home Brew and Tiki Taane.
• Rhythm and Alps, Cardrona Valley, December 30-31, featuring Carl Cox, Shihad, Sticky Fingers and Katchafire.
• Rotorua GLO Festival -- a three-day event starting December 29, on New Year's Eve there will be fireworks at 9.15pm and midnight. Free entry and alcohol-free.
• Queenstown New Year's Eve celebrations on the lakefront. Fireworks at midnight. Free entry and alcohol-free.
• New Years Eve -- Summer City at Frank Kitts Park, Wellington, with music, fireworks and a midnight countdown. Free entry and alcohol-free.
Fireworks will be let off from the Sky Tower, Auckland, at midnight and will last for five and a half minutes.
This year, lasers fired from the tops of buildings on to the Sky Tower will also add a new dimension to New Year's celebrations in central Auckland.
The laser light show is planned to complement the annual fireworks display. It will feature laser animations and different patterns for four hours leading up to the midnight countdown.
There are a number of prime spots to watch the fireworks from around the city. Mt Eden, the Domain, Devonport or around Silo Park and Wynyard Quarter are some of the best viewing points.
Otherwise, opt for inner-city destinations such as the roof of the Heritage CityLife Hotel. Its restaurant, Zest, is offering a set-menu dinner for $95 per person. Vue Restaurant on Customs St is offering a five-course degustation for those wanting to see in 2016 -- and watch the fireworks -- including champagne and canapes on arrival for $220.
Sky City offers The Grand View at the Grand Hotel, including a seafood buffet, drinks and live entertainment and an exclusive view of the Sky Tower from the conservatory of the hotel. Tickets are $155 and include food and drinks.
A number of cruises are on offer for those wanting to watch the fireworks from the harbour. The New Year's Eve Bollywood cruise departs at 9pm and is $100 for entertainment and finger food. The Amada Cruises New Year's Sunset Groove Cruise is $300, is from 8pm-1am and includes a glass of bubbly on arrival and a late, light supper.
The Graham Norton Show New Year's Eve Special, 8.30pm, TV3
The Big Wedding, 8.40pm, TV One, movie
Yellowstone, 7.30pm, Prime, documentary series
Gnomeo & Juliet, 7pm, TV2, movie
The Last Days On Mars, 8.30pm, Four, movie
Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1, 8.35pm, Prime, movie
The Love Boat, 5.30pm, Jones
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2015, 8.30pm, UKTV
From Yvette Stoupe, Party by Design
• Disposable partyware such as plates and glasses are a must-have.
• Choose a colour theme and base your food and decorations around it. Guests can also add to the atmosphere by wearing clothes in your party colour.
• Don't starve your guests, why not create a dessert table for a popular visual and edible party feature.
• Design your own invitations using pictures cut from old comics, newspapers, magazines or junk mail.
• Capture the moments, set up a photo booth with costumes and props.
• Hold a regifting party -- a great way to get rid of those ugly socks Aunty Daphne gave you for Christmas.
• Don't stress -- if you don't have time to organise and plan the party, call in the professionals. That's what they are there for.
• Don't forget to have fun! Party hosts are often so busy making sure guests are enjoying themselves they forget to stop and enjoy it too.
• Invite guests back for breakfast the next morning and rope them into cleaning up last night's mess -- a little sneaky huh?
Kiwi cocktail king Cameron Attfield has conjured up some fun drinks named after some of our best-known celebrities.
The Auckland bartender recently took out the title of NZ Champion at the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge.
Here are four of his celebrity summer cocktails to try on the big night.
Art Green -- A Paleo-friendly, fresh light sour cocktail
60ml angostura
30ml lemon juice
20ml egg white
10ml maple syrup
10ml orgeat
2 dashes angostura orange bitters
No garnish and serve in a classic coupette
Anika Moa -- soft, pink but packs a punch
45ml tequila blanco
15ml aperol
45ml grapefruit
20ml lemon juice
1ml casis
Garnish with grapefruit zest and serve over hand-cut rocks
Colin Mathura-Jeffree -- bright, elegant and vibrant with a hint of sass
40ml strawberry and rhubarb tea syrup with fresh coriander
15ml vodka
60ml champagne
A pinch of malic acid
1 dash of angostura orange bitters
Garnish with dehydrated strawberry rim
Dominic Bowden -- a classy, bold, classic cocktail
40ml angostura 1824
20ml cocchi torino
10ml heering coffee liqueur
1 dash of angostura orange bitters
1 dash of angostura aromatic
Garnish with orange zest and serve over a large single piece of hand cut ice
Tips from designer Andrea Moore
Be bold without saying anything:
Think dramatic but understated, think bold but elegant, and think unique prints paired with simple tones. The Fortune Dress, a soft, V-neck, elegantly free-flowing silk dress is what comes to mind. The Fortune Dress is the ultimate statement dress this summer and is about showing off the ankle and the shoulder.
Black and gold:
There is something about black paired with gold that just sets the scene. The black keeps it classic but the gold brings it to life. The Long Wanderer Dress is the epitome of mixing playfulness with an elegant shape, perfect for bringing in 2016!
Relax and let the silhouette do the work:
It is all about silhouette! Find the dress that creates a shape, a waist and all you have to do is slip it on. It's a cheeky way of deceiving the eye and does wonders for women. The dress that comes to mind is the Swing Fantastic Dress. Pair it with a belt or a light-weight jacket to emphasise your waist further. Simple and easy.
• Join a gym.
You'll pay the exorbitant fee for several months' membership, go once or twice then forget about it. Go running instead and if you're still jogging in February, then join a gym.
• Stop smoking/drinking.
A great idea but a terrible time to do it. You probably failed this resolution last year...and every other previous New Year.
• Get a new job.
This demands research, time, effort and possible retraining. This isn't much fun at the beach on January 2.
If you fancy bling-ing in New Year in real style, The Langham Hotel in Auckland is the place to be.
Live like a king and queen for a few days with The Royal Treatment package, priced at $30,000 for two people.
For that you get two nights in the regal Royal Suite and a bottle of Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Champagne, chocolates, fresh flowers, fruit and cheese on arrival.
As well as a range of luxury spa treatments there is also a romantic degustation dinner, champagne breakfasts, a return helicopter trip to Waiheke Island for a gourmet lunch and wine tasting, plus a sumptuous dinner at the hotel for you and up to six guests.
"There has been a lot of interest in the package since it launched and it is currently still available for New Year," a spokeswoman for The Langham said.
"There has been an especially high level of inquiries from Houston, in particular, on the back of the new Air New Zealand flights introduced between Houston and Auckland."
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