The New Year dawns first in New Zealand and Australia and travels through time zones around the world. And there are few places that can compare to Sydney, which hosts one of the world's biggest parties. The action is centred around the Harbour Bridge, with a fireworks display which lights up the port. How you view it is up to you - you can party on the water, on the quayside, in a restaurant or bar, even on the bridge itself. The fireworks display ends at 12.15 but the celebration runs until dawn.

One of the best places to be is on one of Sydney harbour's tiny islands. Pinchgut (Fort Denison ) is closest to the bridge and the best spot. If you can't get a ticket for the party there, you can book a seat on one of the ferries or boats in the harbour. Most cruise companies offer private and shared charters on the night. A pricey option is to fly over the action for an eagle's eye view of the celebrations. It's an unforgettable experience, but it does come with a risk; you pay upfront and there's no refund if weather prevents the aircraft from flying.

You could opt for a spot on the quayside, but you need to get there pretty early to get the best locations. The city winds down from around midday to prepare for the party and roads through the city centre and the harbour foreshore are closed until after the event. A good choice is to book a table at one of the high-rise restaurants. The revolving restaurant on Centrepoint on Pitt Street has a fabulous 360-degree view of the city, but our favourite spot is Unkai, the lavish gourmet Japanese restaurant on top of the Shangri-La Hotel in The Rocks. When choosing a hotel, the best area is The Rocks, where many of the rooms will have great views of the action.

Our next big party spot is the island of Bali in Indonesia. Here the main action takes place along the beachfront at Kuta and Legian. Thousands of people spill out of the bars and clubs, roads are clogged with revellers and the New Year is greeted with firework displays. A good place to be is the Hard Rock Hotel in Kuta or one of the nightclubs and bars in Seminyak. The luxury resorts in Nusa Dua and Jimbaran Bay have lavish New Year's gala parties. Many revellers end up on the beach at dawn.

The hectic partying is in stark contrast to the Balinese New Year, which is called Nyepi and takes place at the end of March or early April. This is marked by 24 hours of darkness and silence. Islanders spend the day praying for the year ahead - all offices, restaurants and shops are closed and there are no flights, ferries or cars on the roads; even the traffic lights are switched off!

The city of Kuala Lumpur hosts Malaysia 's biggest party on December 31. The best place to be is within the "Golden Triangle", along Bukit Bintang and around the Petronas Towers. Luckily for visitors, this area is home to many of the city's finest hotels, such as the Mandarin Oriental, the Shangri-La, the JW Marriott and the Ritz-Carlton. Restaurants and bars hold special parties, but the young crowd seems happy to throng the streets. Resorts on the islands of Penang and Langkawi also hold special New Year's parties, with lavish buffet spreads and firework displays at midnight.

Singapore and Hong Kong are better-known for their Chinese New Year celebrations - on February 9 next year - but they still hold festive parties on December 31. In Hong Kong, people throng bars and hotels along the harbourfront or the official Countdown Carnival in Sha Tin Park in the New Territories. In Singapore, the places to be are Sentosa Island, where revellers dance the night away on the beach, or on the Esplanade, with its big fireworks display.

Although the Thai new year, known as Songkran, is only celebrated in April, that doesn't stop Bangkok from partying. Roads and buildings are decorated with lights. Big countdown parties are held at Central World Plaza and Siam Square, two major city centre shopping areas, and at Sanam Luang Park. A good place to end up is near Rama 8 Bridge, where the best fireworks display takes place. The top party spots in town are the luxury hotels along the Chao Praya River. The Peninsula, Oriental, Shangri-La and Royal Orchid Sheraton hotels all have spectacular parties and host their own firework displays.

On the European mainland, the major party city this year is bound to be beautiful Paris. Millions pack the streets around the Eiffel Tower and the Champs Elysses on the big night. Travel on the Metro is free that night, but they are packed and its best to try to book a hotel close to your party spot. If you prefer a nightclub atmosphere, try the Studio 54 Disco Ball at Paris' Gibus, the Hardclashbattlefight Party at Batofar and the Allstars New Year Party at Le Pulp.

Rome's traditional New Year's celebrations are centered in Piazza del Popolo, where the programme includes fireworks, rock and classical music concerts. In true Italian style, the party lasts well into the night. In Milan, Italy's well-heeled will attend the New Year's Eve Gala at the newly-renovated La Scala opera house. In London at least 500,000 people congregate in central London on the big night. Trafalgar Square is a popular destination, but laser shows at the London Eye are also starting to draw large crowds. If you are visiting the British capital, choose a hotel in central London or one close to a tube station. As the Underground is free from midnight until 4.30am, getting home shouldn't be a problem.

Further north is the city considered to be the "home" of new year parties, Edinburgh, and the once-a-year favourite song, "Auld Lang Syne". The Scottish capital throws a legendary bash that lasts for a full three days! Known as Hogmanay, the celebrations start with a torchlight procession through Old Town streets on December 29 and end with the famous Royal Bank Street Party. This event boasts the world's most spectacular New Year fireworks. From start to finish, Edinburgh's historic and beautiful city centre streets are brought to life by music, street theatre, fireworks, film, pipes and drums.