The 1.5 million people expected in Sydney for NYE fireworks can expect 'new' and 'spectacular' sights. AS crowds surged into the CBD this evening authorities closed off access to Circular Quay, East Circular Quay and the walkways leading up to the Opera House before 5pm. The best spots around the harbour foreshore were closed off by 4pm as crowds packed the area around the Opera House and Overseas Passenger terminal to capacity. But Helen Chen and her sister Jessica along with their cousins Mable And Steven Li and Keven Su managed to grab a perfect vantage point just below the south east pylon of the harbour bridge, near Dawes Park. "We couldn't believe our luck," Helen said. We thought there would be heaps of people, but we just kept walking and found this great spot about 5pm. The family, all from Bankstown, spent their time waiting for the 9pm fireworks playing a Chinese card game called Big 2. Mabel Li , Helen Chen Steven Li, Kevin Su and Jessica Chen at The Rocks in Sydney. The Dennis family from Perth grabbed a spot outside the Museum of Contemporary Art at about 2.30pm. Kate and Ed Dennis met in Sydney 25 years ago, almost to the day, and brought their children, Finlay, 13, and Erin, 10, on a holiday to see the fireworks to celebrate. "I came to the fireworks in 1989 and it was hard to get a spot then, now it's quite a battle," Mrs Dennis said. French visitor Claire Auzou and her five friends spent the time waiting for the fireworks to kick-off getting into the new year's spirit by spraying colour and glitter into each other's hair. What a place to come to end the year. We are so excited," she said. The city was also flooded with police as more than 3000 officers from Local Area Commands and specialist units including Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, Police Transport Command, Public Order and Riot Squad, Operations Support Group, Licensing Police, Mounted Unit, Dog Unit, Marine Area Command and PolAir, took part in Operation Cadman. A police spokeswoman said that so far revellers were behaving themselves. FROM EARLIER: IT'S turning into a carnival atmosphere as thousands pack into the harbour for the Greatest Show on Earth - Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks show. Thousands more are on their way (so sit down in front!) The Sydney Opera House site is at capacity and closed to the public. And if you ever wondered what the contents of someone's head might look like, people piling into the best harbour view points will find out tonight. English girls Danielle Wormald, Lauren Eves, Lianna Smyth-Davies and Imogen Congvon are counting down to midnight at Mrs Macquarie's Chair. Picture: Simon Bullard Source: Supplied People file into Mrs Maquarie's Chair earlier today. These four girls were having fun in the sun at Mrs Macquarie's Chair today. "Essentially the idea is that every person perceives the universe in their own heads," the Mambo artist and Mental as Anything rocker said today. Tweet and Instagram using the hashtag #NYESYD The waiting game. Fireworks fans settle in for the afternoon at Mrs Macquarie's Chair. Picture: Simon Bullard Source: DailyTelegraph Ready to welcome 2014. The Harbour-side build up comes as Wet'n'Wild's NYE Water Festival tonight has been cancelled last-minute by promoters, who have cited unspecified technical production issues as the cause. The line-up to get into Mrs Macquarie's Chair was long and winding this morning. Picture: Raymond Cansick ‏ (Twitter: @bingo_ray) Source: Twitter Sydney Harbour isn't the only place in the city gearing up for a big night. Beach lovers are soaking up the sun on Bondi Beach catching the last rays of 2013. People have flocked to Bondi Beach today. Towels and shade are in demand at Bondi Beach today. New Year's Eve fireworks veteran Genny Haines turned up at the Opera House at 7am with a fold-out chair on her arm expecting to nab an uninterrupted view. Yes it does. People have camped out to get into Mrs Macquarie's Chair Source: News Limited It will be a full house. People wait for the Mrs Macquarie's Chair vantage point to open this morning Source: News Limited Campers enjoyed a quiet night near Jeffery Street wharf at North Sydney as they staked their claim to a vantage point under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. By midafternoon she had been joined by about a dozen other hardcore revellers, primed to get top spot. Nadja Boeck has prime position with her tent at Blues Point Reserve ahead of the New Year's Eve fireworks / Picture Gregg Porteous Source: News Limited New Year's Eve 2012 ... this year is set to be even bigger. Here are some other ways to get into the festive spirit. TUNE IN Comedian Merrick Watts will host an interactive show, streamed live from Sydney Harbour. Listen to 104.1 2 Day FM for a live simulcast of the 9pm and midnight fireworks soundtracks.