Thousands have lined South Bank to bring in the new year with a bang, with a double firework display to captivate the young and old.
About 90,000 people were estimated to have packed into South Bank to watch the annual fireworks display at 8.30pm, while many thousands more watched on from Eagle Street Pier and Portside at Hamilton for simultaneous displays.
![Crowds at South Bank watch as the skies above Brisbane explode with New Year's Eve fireworks.](/web/20170102205827im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/k/a/z/v/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtkaqq.png/1483231445856.jpg)
Plenty of families set up camp on the grass by the Brisbane River and for some it was their first time at the New Year's Eve firework display, including the L'Estrange family.
"It's nice to feel the community spirit here tonight and be with a lot of people," Marissa L'Estrange said.
![BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 31: The Eve and Chapel family celebrate New Year's Eve at South Bank on December 31, 2016 ...](/web/20170102205827im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/k/a/z/0/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtkaqq.png/1483231445856.jpg)
Daughter Hannah had been looking forward to "lots of sparkles" and her New Year's resolution was to "get a unicorn".
It was also the first New Year's Eve fireworks display at South Bank for the Van Heerdens, who hoped to "make the best of every moment and enjoy this beautiful country" in 2017.
Meanwhile Philip Omot and his family, who immigrated from South Sudan eight years ago, were looking forward to joining the hundreds of other families for a spectacular firework display.
![Families celebrating New Year's Eve at South Bank.](/web/20170102205827im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/k/a/z/2/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtkaqq.png/1483231445856.jpg)
"It's very good, we enjoy coming here because there's so many different cultures and different diversities," Mr Omot said.
![Crowds eagerly await fireworks at South Bank during New Year's Eve celebrations.](/web/20170102205827im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/k/a/c/2/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtkaqq.png/1483231445856.jpg)
Skylighter Fireworx director Max Brunner said there would be bridge-to-bridge fireworks.
"Wherever you end up along the Clem Jones Promenade, you're going to get a front row seat to the fireworks," Mr Brunner said.
![Otong Obang, Philip Omot, Azhel Oman, Abango Obang and Kwan Obang (left to right) were looking forward to spending New ...](/web/20170102205827im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/k/a/c/8/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtkaqq.png/1483231445856.jpg)
"It's a big challenge to come back to the same venue and present something all new and spectacular and keep raising the bar.
"I'm sure people who come back year after year to all these precincts will get an amazing new experience."
![It was the first time witnessing the New Years Eve fireworks display at South Bank for Juanita and Johan Van Heerden ...](/web/20170102205827im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/k/a/c/3/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtkaqq.png/1483231445856.jpg)
The fireworks were set to a top 40 soundtrack featuring a special tribute to Prince and Gene Wilder at midnight.
Police and ambulance crews were also out in force, with Police Commissioner Ian Stewart promising Queenslanders there was no known terror threat in the state.
However, concrete blocks were placed on the Gold Coast to protect those celebrating the new year.
The cube-shaped blocks, more than a metre in size, were placed in Cavill Mall about lunch-time to prevent vehicles driving through the crowds expected to gather.