As revellers up and down the UK put their champagne in the fridge in preparation for midnight, in some parts of the world the bottles have already been uncorked.

Fireworks have already illuminated the skies of New Zealand, Australia, Eastern Russia, Japan and Korea, because 2013 has already started.

More than 1.5 million people gathered to see the traditional New Year's Eve fireworks display in Sydney harbour, according to Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

Sydney's skyline exploded in red, gold, pink and green as the $6.6m fireworks display was propelled into the sky.

The event, chaired by creative ambassador Kylie Minogue, took place a couple of hours after the clock struck twelve in Auckland, and two hours before Seoul and Tokyo celebrated the midnight hour.

However the very first country to celebrate the end of 2012 and the beginning of the new year was the Kiritimati, or Christmas Island, an atoll in the deep pacific ocean part of the Republic of Kiribati.

New Year's Eve 2012: Myanmar Celebrates First Public Countdown

Sydney New Years Eve
Fireworks explode around the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House Reuters
Taipei 101 Taiwan
Taiwan's tallest building, Taipei 101, lights up like a rocket as 2013 celebrations get under way (Reuters) Reuters
Sydney New Years Eve
Fireworks explode over Sydney's skyline Reuters
Sydney New Years Eve
More than 1.5 million people gathered to see the traditional New Year's Eve fireworks display in Sydney harbour Reuters
Sydeny New Years Eve
Sydney's skyline exploded in red, gold, pink and green Reuters
Sydeny New Years Eve
2013 celebrations in Sydney, Australia Reuters
Tokyo
Lights on the Tokyo Tower, Japan Instagram
Sydney 2013
Fireworks explode over and around the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House during new year celebrations
Hong Kong
2013 celebrations in Hong Kong Reuters
Hong Kong
Fireworks light the sky over Victoria Harbour during a pyrotechnic show to celebrate the New Year in Hong Kong Reuters
Malaysia
Fireworks explode over the skyline of Putrajaya, Malaysia Reuters
Kuala Lumpur
Fireworks explode near the Malaysia's landmark Petronas Twin Towers during New Year celebrations in Kuala Lumpur Reuters
new year 2013 tokyo
Japanese revellers release balloons Reuters
puri new year 2013 sand sculpture
Away from the fireworks, sand artists In Puri, India, greet 2013 with a sculpture Reuters
Beijing 2013
New Year in Beijing Reuters
Gold Japan Australia Russia