Where to Watch the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

Every Boxing Day, the cities of Sydney and Hobart celebrate one of the greatest Australian sporting traditions - and we're not talking about the Ashes.

The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is one of the most thrilling events of the holiday season, and if you want to get in on the action, you'll need to know exactly where the best vantage points are.

They Sydney to Hobart yacht race first took place in 1945. It has become an Australian sporting tradition with more than 100 yachts participating in recent years.

The Sydney to Hobart yacht race starts near Nielsen Park on Sydney Harbour and ends in the port city of Hobart in Tasmania.

This means the competitors travel an incredible 1,100kms over the course of the race.

The yachts come from all over the world, though most are manned by Australians. In addition to representatives from down under, competitors hail from the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany, Cyprus and New Zealand.

If you're planning a holiday to Sydney for this event, you can delve into the thick of things by heading to the harbour.

There are vantage points on both side of the harbour and among the very best views is from South Head at Watsons Bay.

Be sure to get pack lunch and sunscreen and plan to arrive early in the day, though, this is one of the biggest events in Sydney every year, so you can expect crowds to be large.

If you're a family travelling to Sydney for the race, you may want to head to the north side of the harbour instead.

From there, you can see the yachts sail by at Cremorne Point, Bradleys Head and Clifton Gardens, or travel beyond Manly to North Head.

And if you want to get really close to all the action, you might like to book a ticket on a spectator boat on Sydney Harbour.

If you're going to be in Hobart for the race, the best vantage points are at Battery Point, where the race comes to an end.

Hobart's historic waterfront hosts a reception for the yachts, so that's a great place to visit after the race.