New Zealand and Australia are the first countries to start 2025 celebrations

The new year has officially arrived in New Zealand and Australia, with stunning fireworks displays marking the transition to 2025 in these Southern Hemisphere nations.

In Auckland, New Zealand, the sky lit up at the stroke of midnight as residents and visitors celebrated with joy and grandeur. Shortly afterward, Sydney, Australia, followed suit with its iconic fireworks show over the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, dazzling millions around the world.

The staggered arrival of the New Year, dictated by time zone differences, adds to the uniqueness of global celebrations.

The first places to welcome 2025 include remote islands like Kiritimati (Christmas Island) in the central Pacific. Meanwhile, uninhabited Baker and Howland Islands, located near Hawaii, will be the last to bid farewell to 2024.