for all your new years eve party plans- head to www.newyearsparty.com.au which lists events held by venues all over australia!! check it out!!
i think if you want hippies, try to go to nimbin. thats where all the hippies hang out. like a hippie community there. it is in NSW, where sydney is. it is inland, north of sydney. my friend's family is moving back there from tasmania. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimbin,_New_South_Wales
I say sydney. have a look at these links http://www.pleasetakemeto.com/australia/melbourne http://www.pleasetakemeto.com/australia/sydney