Party your way into 2018 at these Melbourne venues

For a New Year’s Eve party where you’ll want for nothing head up to the Dutchess. Party like a king or queen with their four-hour premium canapé and beverage package plus live entertainment. Go for the DJs but stay for the circus performers: this NYE party is pulling out all the stops in an effort to make you look back fondly on the year that was. Get your tickets for $110 per person. Or go all out and book a private booth for $130 per person.

Downstairs the party will be going just as strong at the Duke. For $95 per person NYE partiers can look back on all the highs and lows of 2017. From 8pm till midnight (or should that be 2018?) you can let loose in the Duke’s friendly surrounds with their roaming canapés and drinks package. There will be live entertainment plus every five tickets sold gets one ticket for free (time to round up your five best mates).

If you have been in the Melbourne CBD come midnight January 1 then you’ve no doubt experienced one of the most hectic nights of the year. Packed streets, packed public transport: it’s a thrilling experience, but not what you want to do every year. Enter Port Melbourne's Exchange Hotel. They’re hosting a free New Year’s Eve shindig featuring acoustic cover artist Jamé Forbes and veteran Melbourne DJ Rod Boyd.

If the highlight of your 2017 was all the great beer you tasted then the beer tasting NYE event from Beer DeLuxe and Feral Brewing Co is for you. Between 4-7pm on December 31 you can taste 12 of their best tap beers (one for every month of the year) while munching on matched pizza. You’ll also be able to meet the brewer and chill out to live entertainment all afternoon. All for just $50 per person.

Fancy some al fresco celebrations? The College Lawn Hotel New Year’s Eve barbecue is equal parts raucous and relaxed . Your $99 ticket gets you four hours of beer, wine and sparkling as well as an all you can eat barbecue. All of which you get to enjoy in the hotel’s leafy courtyard while listening to DJs until 1am.

When you’ve had enough of the silvery goon sack New Year’s Eves of your early twenties book yourself in for the Middle Park Hotel’s over 28s only NYE celebration. For $110 you get a four hour buffet and drinks package (including tap beer, wine and basic spirits) as well as live entertainment in the lead up to the count down. Ring in the year surrounded by people who know more about wine than ‘red’ or ‘white’. Tickets are available right up until December 29.