Smaller crowd in Queenstown for New Year

Forecast rain stayed away from Queenstown as a smaller-than-expected crowd enjoyed New Year's Eve celebrations on the resort's waterfront.

Overseas visitors, families, couples and young revellers gravitated to the waterfront in growing numbers during the countdown to midnight, although the crowd was markedly sparser than those seen in the past few years.

An estimated 8000-10,000 people enjoyed a good-natured atmosphere, with little sign of conspicuously drunk and disorderly behaviour.

Rain predicted to hit the resort late in the evening did not eventuate, and revellers instead enjoyed a warm, calm evening.

The celebrations, capped off by a high-octane fireworks display over Queenstown Bay, were marked by police and security contractors strictly enforcing a CBD liquor ban.