Harbour Esplanade centre of the action

Harbour Esplanade will come alive at the end of the month with the arrival of Volvo Ocean Race yachts as well as New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Some 125,000 people are expected to flock to Docklands to get up close and personal with the seven mega-yachts which have to be tilted over to get under the Bolte Bridge.

Race organisers will establish a village at the north basin of Victoria Harbour (Cow up a Tree) where City of Melbourne pontoons have been reused to form a mini-marina (pictured right).

The new berthing facility is to be used in the future by Port Phillip Ferries rather than its current location at Water Plaza.

Locals will have noticed the departure of Seven Seeds Pty Ltd – the operator of Hortus Cafe. Development Victoria says the glasshouse structure will be used as a terminal by Port Phillip Ferries.

The Volvo race village will operate between December 27 and January 2, with a range of community activities and attractions.

The boats themselves are expected on December 28, but organisers have no control over how fast or slow competitors make their way from Cape Town to Docklands. The boats leave on December 2 for Hong Kong.

Docklands is again one of the City of Melbourne’s New Year’s Eve live sites, with television coverage from Channel 7.

Fireworks will again be fired at midnight from rooftops and the council says Harbour Esplanade will be the best vantage point.