You can watch the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race both on TV/online and from several prime vantage points around Sydney Harbour and the Heads. There is also live streaming and a race tracker if you prefer to follow it digitally.

TV, streaming and online

  • The official Australian TV broadcast is on Channel 9, with streaming available on 9Now for viewers who want to watch on mobile, smart TV or browser.
  • The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYC) streams coverage on its YouTube channel (CYCATV), including a dedicated live broadcast of the race start.
  • After the main TV coverage ends, you can continue to follow the fleet via the official online race tracker on the Rolex Sydney Hobart website.

Best land vantage points in Sydney

  • Around the official start line off Nielsen Park in Vaucluse, the eastern shore offers excellent views, which is why Nielsen Park is one of the most popular places to see the start.
  • Headlands near the Harbour entrance such as South Head and the area around Hornby Lighthouse are often recommended as some of the best spots to watch the yachts charge out of the Heads and turn south.
  • Other noted harbour lookouts include Georges Heights and various headlands in the eastern suburbs that overlook the race course as the fleet funnels towards the ocean.

Official race village and big screen

  • Spectators can go to the Sydney Race Village at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Darling Point, where the start is shown live on a big screen amid race-day festivities.
  • The village offers a more relaxed way to take in the atmosphere if you prefer not to battle for a clifftop or foreshore viewing spot.

On‑water viewing options

  • Numerous commercial spectator cruises operate on Boxing Day, positioning close to the exclusion zone near the start line so you can watch from the water.
  • Some cruises include commentary, food and drinks, and follow the fleet towards the Heads for a front-row view of the exit to the open sea.

TL;DR: For “where to watch Sydney to Hobart start,” the main options are Channel 9/9Now, CYCATV on YouTube, the official Rolex Sydney Hobart tracker, foreshore spots around Nielsen Park and South Head, and the Sydney Race Village at Darling Point.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.