Skylines across Australia have lit up as tonnes of fireworks exploded and the nation ushered in the new year.
Sydney yet again wowed an estimated one million bedazzled revellers around the harbour with a 12-minute display from midnight that featured new firework effects, a brighter bridge display and 500kg more explosives than the previous year.
Lime and peach were new additions to the pyrotechnic colour wheel while a new "wave effect" design gave gold palms coloured tips.
The Sydney spectacular.
Getty
The famous coathanger was adorned with an extra 1000 lighting effects and lit until 1am while the Opera House had more than 800 fireworks shot from its sails.
Revellers had endured an early thunderstorm and late scattered showers before the stunning midnight show.
More than 350,00 revellers poured into Melbourne to see 14 tonnes of fireworks burst into the sky across a 10-minute display from the stroke of midnight to welcome in the new year.
Dazzling circles of fireworks to Saturn ring-shaped displays were among the crackling roar of effects to fire from 22 CBD buildings, which could be seen from all angles of the city.
It was synchronised to a soundtrack by Aboriginal Australian hip-hop artist Adam Briggs.
AAP
It cost $3.4 million for the displays, despite just $235,000 of that being spent on fireworks product, with the majority for operational, safety and security costs.
In Brisbane, tens of thousands packed into South Bank to mark the start of 2019 with the city's biggest New Year's Eve fireworks display and a soundtrack of the past year's biggest music hits.
Adelaide ensured its status as a UNESCO City of Music was promoted with live music the highlight of the festivities ahead of two fireworks displays.
Midnight and family-friendly firework shows were held across the eastern seaboard from Hobart to Queensland's Cape York to celebrate.
AAP
Crowds leave Sydney police smiling
NSW police have praised the behaviour of hundreds of thousands of revellers at New Year's Eve celebrations across Sydney, with just 35 people arrested and charged with 43 offences.
Rain during the evening and delays across the public transport network, with police controlling access to train platforms to prevent overcrowding did not dampen the mood.
The majority of charges, 21, were drug-related. However, six people were charged with affray, while another six were charged with offensive behaviour. Four people were charged with assaulting police and resisting arrest, while two were charged with common assault.
The remaining four charges were for a traffic offence, stealing offence, possessing a prohibited weapon, and unlawfully deploying fireworks.
"New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney are widely regarded as some of the best in the world, so it was great to see Sydneysiders living up to that reputation and acting responsibly," Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Walton said.
"There were minimal reports of alcohol-related violence, which is a true reflection of how well-behaved the crowds were."
AAP
Looking ahead to 2019
As the world parties, many will also look forward to 2019 and wonder whether the turmoil witnessed during the previous year will spill over into the next.
The political wrangling in Westminster over Brexit was one of the key stories of this year, with a resolution yet to be reached ahead of the scheduled March 29 departure.
US President Donald Trump dominated headlines in 2018 as he ramped up his trade war with China, quit the Iran nuclear deal, moved the American embassy to Jerusalem and met his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong Un in Singapore for a historic summit.
North Korea's commitment to denuclearisation will remain a major political and security issue into next year, as will Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's reassertion of control after Trump's shock military withdrawal announcement.
The war in Yemen, which started in 2014 and has already killed about 10,000 people and left some 20 million at risk of starvation, could take a crucial turn after a ceasefire went into effect in mid-December.
Numerous countries go to the polls in 2019, with key elections in India, Afghanistan, Indonesia, South Africa, Argentina and Australia.
Major sporting events on the calendar include the Rugby World Cup in Japan, the cricket one-day international World Cup in England and the athletics World Championships in Qatar.
- Additional reporting: AAP
