Ringing in 2014 with bigger bang than ever before NYE Fireworks vantage points Source: CourierMail Tennis star Daniela Hantuchova is ready to have some fun in Brisbane. Picture: Sarah Keayes Source: News Limited IT may be one of the biggest nights of the year but sometimes the biggest names in town don't know what it will serve up. Tennis star Daniela Hantuchova is a regular in Queensland at this time of year for the Brisbane International but she usually misses the fun. "I've been spending New Year's Eve here for the last few years," she said. But I usually only manage to stay up for the kids' fireworks. I've come earlier so I'm not as tired this year ... I'm ready to have some fun. The only thing that stands between the sports star and a swanky soiree is the competition's draw. "I'm not sure what I'll do yet ... but I'll definitely go out if I'm not playing tomorrow," she said. All my team is here with me. It's been a tough week for Hantuchova who took the court in the middle of a sweltering summer's day on Sunday for a hit out. "That was one of the worst days I've experienced," she said of the local climate. It's been a quiet and unseasonably warm festive season for the Slovak who celebrated her first Christmas without her family by her side. About 70,000 people are expected to flock into central Brisbane tonight and almost as many will welcome in 2014 at other events around the state. Brisbane's fireworks will be the largest display yet. The hottest spot is South Bank where families are expected to begin setting up camp from as early as 6am ready for the fireworks double header. A spokesman for the event said families should pack the picnic and make the pilgrimage before lunch time to secure river frontage. Any later and you might end up fighting for a good spot. It fills up very quickly," the spokesman said. The family event is alcohol free but police are warning those celebrating with a glass of bubbly to be on their best behaviour elsewhere. Almost 1000 police will be on hand.to keep celebrations under control in Brisbane and on the Gold and Sunshine coasts Superintendent Des Lacy said revellers on the Gold Coast could expect a strong police presence as they work to keep public areas safe. "We're not the fun police but we have to make sure public areas remain safe for families who want to enjoy the fireworks," he said. When the clock and calendar ticks over at midnight, the hottest place to be will be the front of the cab queue. About 2000 taxis will be hitting the streets ready to transport the tired, tanked and high-heel weary home. General manager of Yellow Cabs, Bill Parker, said it was one of the busiest nights of the year but admitted there were no shortcuts to securing a seat in a taxi. It's not our biggest night. The Broncos playing on a Friday night when it's raining would be," he said. But we'll have everything out there with four wheels. Mr Parker urged customers to call 20 minutes' early when booking a taxi to avoid delays in the peak periods"We're busy prior to 7pm and then quiet until midnight and then busy again after that. John Tighe, general manager at Black & White Cabs, offered two tips to punters hoping to snag a taxi. Use the supervised taxi ranks. As long as the queue appears, you will get a cab," he said. Secondly, try the app when booking. Using iHail technology, the app pinpoints the passenger's location using GPS before sending a taxi. "It's wonderful for people who don't really know where they are," Mr Tighe said.