8 ways to celebrate the Year of the Dragon in Darling Harbour

Make sure to plan your visit around the traditional Chinese lion dances, which will roam around the harbour from 6pm to 8.30pm on Saturday, February 10 and 17. With their powerful drum beats and ornately decorated costumes, the lion dancers will be hard to miss. 

This year, Darling Harbour is amping up the festivities with spectacular jet pack shows on Saturday, February 10 and 24. The entertainers will soar sky-high over the waters of Cockle Bay at 6pm or 7.30pm, followed by an impressive fireworks display at 9pm. 

This year, Darling Harbour has also introduced brand new drone shows happening on Friday, February 9, 16 and 23 at 9pm.

You’ll also want to head back to the harbour for three exhilarating days of dragon boat racing from February 16-18. More than 3,000 paddlers will battle it out on the waters in 12-metre-long dragon boats; a tradition originating from Southern China that has turned into a fast-paced water sport, this time even featuring on-board drummers.

Make a day and night of your Lunar New Year celebrations with a feast from one of Darling Harbour's fabulous restaurants, bars and attractions. You'll also spoilt for choice with the waterside dining district’s collection of buzzing Asian eateries, including XOPP by Golden Century, Hello Auntie, Holy Basil, MuMian, Doodee Noodle and 15 Cenchi.

The lush Darling Harbour oasis, the Chinese Garden of Friendship will also be hosting a suite of special Lunar New Year happenings. Kicking off on February 10 with a Twilight Garden Party from 5.30pm to 8.30pm, you can ring in the Year of the Dragon amongst the koi ponds with music performances by contemporary jazz fusion duo Scarlett Fusion and calligraphy demonstrations, even picking up a special keepsake for you to take home.

By taking a trip to the garden during the Lunar New Year, you can also sign up for a private Chinese astrology fortune reading, or get hands-on with a dragon painting or puppet-making workshop. The little ones will be entertained too, with kids' craft classes and a lantern decorating workshop, where they can learn about its significance in Chinese culture.

A must-see at the Gardens this year is The Tea Exchange, a new exhibition presented in partnership with the Museum of Chinese Australians (MOCA), that will explore the history and cultural significance of tea in Australia, through contemporary artworks by Casey Chen, Remy Faint, Sarah Goffman, Bernadette Huang and others. This exhibition is included in your entry to the Garden, which costs $12 per adult.

While you’re in Darling Harbour, visit the Chinese Garden of Friendship and snap a photo that captures the essence of the Year of the Dragon for your chance to win a prize pack valued at $750. Entries close on January 29 and you can find the full details here. Remember, the more imaginative, the better!