Some of those people - both locals and visitors - turned up hours before the fireworks exploded into skies over Belmore Basin to stake their claim on the ideal vantage point.

Once base camp was set up, they ventured out for a swim, set up the stumps for one last game of cricket for 2014 or bought the kids an ice cream while they waited for the carnival rides in Lang Park to be set up and switched on.

One of those who got in early  - and grabbed a great spot - was Lisa Rowlinson from Ingleburn and her extended family.

They’d set up two huge shade tents right on the sand at Belmore Basin to house almost 20 relatives and friends.

‘‘I’ve been coming here for the last four or five years,’’ Ms Rowlinson said.

‘‘The family has been coming here for the last two.’’

Ms Rowlinson used to live in Coniston and attended her first New Year’s Eve fireworks show in Wollongong with her cousin.

And she’s been back every year since.

‘‘I love it here - I give it 10 out of 10,’’ she said.

She arrived at about 2pm to set up the beach tents - a spot she’s grabbed for the last few years.

‘‘We don’t block the other people’s views down here and the kids can play in the water,’’ she said.

Marty Ashworth and Judy Scolari  made the ‘‘spur of the moment’’ trek to Wollongong all the way from Dubbo.

Staying overnight at the Boat Harbour Motel, Ms Scolari said it was the chance to see the fireworks over the water that brought them to Wollongong.

‘‘The water brought us here because I work in Bourke and Walgett, places like that where you don’t see the ocean,’’ Ms Scolari said.

Rowland and Suzi Ware  travelled down from Thirlmere for the fifth year and grabbed a spot on the grass at Belmore Basin right in front of the lighthouse.

‘‘We were up at North Beach last year but the view wasn’t as good up there so we brought our chairs here this year,’’ Ms Ware said.

They preferred to spend New Year’s Eve in Wollongong because they got to see fireworks over the water without having to battle the ‘‘million and a half people’’ attracted to Sydney’s display.

Elsewhere in the Illawarra and South Coast, people also saw in 2015 with the bang of fireworks.

The Shellharbour Club held the only fireworks shows in the city - at 9pm and another one for the adults at midnight.

Kiama residents and holiday makers were treated to a fireworks display over the water off Black Beach.