Cockatoo Island

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Cockatoo Island is a World Heritage Site that offers many fun activities and interesting places to poke around and explore

Ariel view of Cockatoo Island cc licensed photo by Dave Keeshan

Cockatoo Island is situated in the centre of beautiful Sydney Harbour in a very predominate location centralized at the meeting of three waterways. It is a brief 10-minute city ferry ride from Darling Harbour or just over 20 minutes from Circular Quay. This reclaimed industrial area and former home to convicts are rich in history, resulting in it being listed as a World-Heritage-Site listed by UNESCO — (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 2010.

History

Cockatoo Island is the largest Island in Sydney Harbour. The impressive 18 hectares or 44-acre island was first used by the British in 1839 to house repeating offenders and to alleviate the problem of the overcrowded prisoners on Norfolk Island. Here, convicts were put to intense labour service cutting deep into the sandstone to build structures such as prison barracks, silos for grain storage, official residences, a military guardhouse plus the Fitzroy dry dock built between 1847 and 1877 — 10 painstaking years with the bare hands of convicts who were usually in waist deep water and iron leg shackles. When it was finished The Fitzroy dock was used to serve the British Navy and other ships.

In 1869 the prisoners were relocated and the prison was transformed into two sections becoming an orphanage and reformatory for girls in 1871. It was renamed to Biloela — an aboriginal name meaning Black Cockatoo.

By 1870, shipbuilding and repairing ships was the main industry for Cockatoo island. This business grew steadily and between 1880-1900 the Sutherland dry dock was built. During WWll Cockatoo island was the leading ship repair response in the south-west Pacific. After the war, the ships were changed back to commercial use. The ship building business continued on until 1979 when the last ship to be built on the island was the HMAS-the largest navy boat to be built in Australia. At present, it is still spotted occasionally in Sydney Harbour.

Things to see and do

Today there is no industrial use on the island and, after being off-limits to the public for over a century, you will find parkland and over 70 structures. Several of these buildings are open for you to explore, including the slipway and factories, some displaying creative exhibits.

There is no fee to visit the island. When you arrive you can simply explore the island yourself with the help of a map or you can sign-up for one of the guided tours of Cockatoo Island outlined on the official website.

There are two old tunnels that were used to transport workers and goods from one end of the island to the other: The Dog Leg Tunnel, which is 360 metres long and the Straight Tunnel which is the oldest of the two and was built in 1915. (During WWll it was modified to become an air-raid shelter). Both these tunnels are opened for the public to walk through. The Dog Leg Tunnel is equipped with a soundscape of what it was like on the island throughout different times of history.

On the higher level of the island is a prison mess, old industrial buildings and a grass tennis court.

You will find lookouts with harbour views that reach out across to Spectacle and Snapper islands.

Those that wish to learn more about this maritime island and the history of the people who occupied it can take an audio tour. There is so much to do on the island and exhibitions change so it's good to go more than once to get the full experience.

When visiting the island give yourself at least a 2 hour window to complete your walk; longer if you want to take the time to linger a while and learn about the maritime island's past, while taking in the beautiful harbour views.

There are boat rentals, swimming in a designated area and kids activities.

Those wanting to spend more than one day can stay overnight at the first urban waterfront campground in the world. The tents are all set up for you — a new trend called glamping. For more information, check the official site.

Food and Refreshments

When stopping for a meal, there are several restaurants and cafes to choose from. Societe Overboard at Parramatta Wharf offers breakfast and lunch along with hot and cold drinks. Cockatoo Island Marine Centre at Camber Wharf offers light fare and snacks along with tea, coffee, cold drinks, beer and wine. The popular Island Bar, located on the Eastern Apron serves drinks, cocktails and Italian cuisine for lunch or dinner and is open a bit later that the other establishments.

If you prefer, you can pack your own meal as there are many picnic areas on both the upper and lower level of the island. You should be aware that you are NOT allowed to bring alcohol on the island.

See the complete line of Sydney Experiences on Viator

Facts For Your Visit

Fee: No

Address: Cockatoo Island, New South Wales 2110, Australia

Cockatoo Island Reviews

Rated 4.4 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating Cockatoo island is a great day trip in the middle of Sydney harbour. Parts of the island are world heritage listed and the island has had many uses over the years. There are 2 licensed cafes on the island. I did the convict Sites tour which was brilliant. The guide Steve did a great job and I recommend doing this tour if visiting the island. The only way to access the island is by getting a ferry which is fun in itself with awesome views of Sydney harbour. You can also camp on the island which one day I definitely want to do.
Geoff C - a week ago

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5 Star Rating Cockatoo Island is a hidden gem in Sydney Harbour. It offers a unique blend of history and nature. The island has fascinating convict-era buildings and industrial relics. Views of the harbour are stunning. You can camp overnight for a special experience. There are guided tours to learn about its past. It's easy to reach by ferry from Circular Quay. The island is perfect for a day trip or weekend getaway. It's a must-visit for history buffs and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
D - 3 weeks ago

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5 Star Rating We had a wonderful experience camping for one night with the kids. They had a great time. We booked a deluxe waterfront tent, and it was pretty awesome. Advice: bring power cables. There are plenty of power points in the kitchen, but check if they’re not crowded. You can make coffee, as there is a hot water machine. You can also buy snacks and noodles to cook from the vending machines. If you couldn’t book BBQ machines online, don’t worry. They become available once others finish cooking, either at night or in the morning. We visited during a weekday of school holidays, so I’m not sure about the weekends.
Rusintha Costa - 3 weeks ago

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5 Star Rating Good spot to spend some time away from the mainland and take a short ferry hop to a quiet but decent sized island that can fill you with information and activities while you walk around for a few hours. The ferry that stops here comes multiple times an hour so you never have to think about the schedule too much. Quite a number of interactive exhibits and the island offers multi levels and multiple structures to independently explore on each level. Some video presentations about new chips being built and sent off here, some originally used convict and prison structures restored or kept in original condition.
Victor Wang - 2 months ago

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5 Star Rating An incredible experience at Cockatoo Island! This once-abandoned island is now a fascinating blend of history, art, and nature right in the middle of Sydney Harbour. We loved exploring the old convict buildings and industrial relics while enjoying the stunning views of the city skyline. There’s something for everyone, from guided tours and camping spots to cafes and picnic areas. It’s the perfect day trip for both locals and tourists looking to uncover a unique part of Sydney’s past. Highly recommend!
Josephine Angelina - 2 months ago

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Directions

Sydney Ferry Line	Nearest Station	Walking Time
F3	Circular Quay or Darling Harbour	3 minutes

How to get to Cockatoo Island by Sydney Ferry

From Circular Quay Wharf 5 or Darling Harbour Wharf 3 you can catch the F3 Parramatta Ferry which stops at Cockatoo Island. There are a couple of sailings per hour throughout the day which take about 8 minutes from Darling Harbour or 21 minutes from Circular Quay. Additional sailings operate out of Circular Quay from early morning until just after 11:30pm to round out the schedule. Those sailings skip Darling Harbour but make four other stops along the river and take a total of 26 minutes. Either way you'll enjoy a very scenic ride in Sydney's beautiful harbour.

You can download a Cockatoo Island Ferries Timetable here or use our 'instant directions' feature above to find the next sailing.