Sydney Harbour was a blaze of colour as Australia's largest city saw in the new year with a spectacular fireworks display.
Under explosive bursts of crimson, purple and blue, more than one million New Year revellers bade farewell to the tough year that was 2009 and welcomed a new decade.
Onlookers thronged harbourside parks and public places for the 12-minute extravaganza over the landmark Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
Sydney's New Year's eve fireworks are the centrepiece of Australia's celebrations that generates some of the most striking images from a night of revelry across the globe.
Smaller fireworks displays and partying were planned across Australia and the South Pacific, the first region to greet the new year because of its proximity to the International Date Line. AP
