Cockatoo Island
Cockatoo Island
4
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Full view
About
Discover a different side to Sydney with a trip to Cockatoo Island / Wareamah. Located in the heart of Sydney Harbour, the island is a source of adventure and inspiration with its award-winning accommodation, panoramic views, guided tours and historic landmarks. A popular attraction is the UNESCO World Heritage listed Convict Site, which provides visitors with a window into the era when Cockatoo Island was a convict gaol (1839-69). Buildings that survived from this turbulent period were constructed by convicts, using blocks quarried from the island’s sandstone. Other highlights include a waterfront campground, licensed cafés, heritage houses and apartments, picnic spots, live music events and a former dockyard that contributed significantly to the nation’s shipbuilding activities between 1857 and 1991. Known to Sydney’s First Nations Peoples as Wareamah, Cockatoo Island is just a short ferry ride from Sydney’s CBD. So, what are you waiting for… escape to Cockatoo Island for a
Cockatoo Island, New South Wales, Australia
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
955 reviews
Excellent
430
Very good
374
Average
96
Poor
27
Terrible
28
WYSIWYG08
Greater London, UK46 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
A relaxed visit to the island, easily accessible by Ferry. Great insight into Australian history, with interesting tours.
Written 9 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RyTheTravelGuy
Miami Beach, FL406 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
Decided to see something different, so we hopped on a ferry and headed to Cockatoo Island. You get some stunning views as the ferry cruises along. We got there just past everything closing, but we didn’t want a guided tour so all was well. We did the lower loop, then climbed the stairs for the upper loop. Stunning views, and an avgeek dream. The island sits on final approach into Sydney international. Place is rich in history, and was pivotal to WWII and after. You can also camp there, we didn’t, but if that’s your thing look into it.
Written 4 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Surya D
Hyderabad, India12 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
The cockatoo island is just a 20 min ferry ride away from Curcular Quay and is worth visiting if the convict history interests you. Even if it doesn’t, the island offers spectacular views of the harbour and surroundings. We have taken a guided tour that lasted about 2 hours with a very knowledgeable guide. The waterfront cafe is very relaxing offering wonderful views of the city.
Written 29 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diane S
2 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
Fabulous historic location ..we'll worth a visit. A relaxed lunch at the Cafe at the top of the island is very enjoyable 😉
Written 22 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
slj1956
Chichester, UK90 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
Beautiful mind provoking island just off hustle and bustle of Sydney. Easy trip on the boat from central quays. Full of incredible history which you can absorbe walking around. Also a lovely place to just sit and reflect.
Lovely staff at reception and in the cafe.
Great place to take a picnic and just chill too. Great views of all of Sydney.
Lovely staff at reception and in the cafe.
Great place to take a picnic and just chill too. Great views of all of Sydney.
Written 12 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RobertP
Sydney, Australia29 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
So expensive for Two bedroom tent. No atmosphere. Nothing to do. Rude cafe staff when collecting bbq pack. Terrible value for money. Won’t return.
Written 18 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leigh C
Scone15 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
Absolutely appalling customer service, tour cancelled- despite multiple texts and confirming tour. We travelled from rural NSW, they sent an email while we were in transit cancelling tour, then sent another confirming the the tour, we arrived to a dark closed cockatoo island. The harbour trust refused to refund our ferry fares which was close to $250 for our group.
Very disappointing
0/10 for customer service
Very disappointing
0/10 for customer service
Written 13 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda C
1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Couples
Cockatoo island is amazing. We did the Ghost Tour with John. Very poor tour. He's a nice bloke but delivery and knowledge was lacking. He spent a lot of time talking to the few people near him. It was more about history then the scary stuff. We could have got the history during the day.
We will go back and check out the island during the day.
We will go back and check out the island during the day.
Written 18 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SOH KIEN PENG
Singapore, Singapore6,662 contributions
Sept 2023 • Friends
We were on a ferry cruise to Parramatta, appreciating the beautiful skyline and gorgeous coastline of Sydney harbor and that of the suburban when I noticed many passengers alighted at the jetty of Cockatoo Island. There must be something fascinating here to attract visitors and we quickly made a prompt decision to alight at this island and postpone our river cruise.
Our decision was right. This island is a rare UNESCO World heritage site renowned for her historic heritage site as a ex-convict penal establishment between 1839 and 1869. Convicts were shipped here from Great Britain to be confined in solitary cells. The island is notably surrounded by shark infested waters which made it difficult for the convicts to escape. The convicts were forced to work in harsh conditions on the island sandstone quarries and as construction workers for the Fitzroy Dry Dock on the island. Many lived in extremely cramp and unhygienic conditions and many perished and died of infectious diseases as a result.
The island has a remarkable history as a shipbuilding and ship repair facility. Shipbuilding on the island began in 1870. During the First World War, it was the dockyard of the Australian Navy, and several slipways were constructed. As such, we observed there were steel beams, Turbine Shop and remnants of some of the heavy machineries in the Industrial Precinct and the Ship Design Precinct. The eerie Dog Leg Tunnel which was used to transport resources and used as a bomb shelter during the World War made me shivered as the cold wind stirred its way in the tunnel.
The island is small like that of Kusu Island in Singapore and is very walkable though many of the old prison cell buildings are on the upper side of a hill slope. The campsite allowed adventurers to stay overnight on the island. As I wandered around the island, I could literally hear the cries and groans of the convict ghosts and that of the aborigines who were the original inhabitants and forced to be deprived of their homes and incarcerated when the British colonialists subjugated the island under their control.
I am glad to visit this heritage site during my short 5-day stay here in Sydney.
Our decision was right. This island is a rare UNESCO World heritage site renowned for her historic heritage site as a ex-convict penal establishment between 1839 and 1869. Convicts were shipped here from Great Britain to be confined in solitary cells. The island is notably surrounded by shark infested waters which made it difficult for the convicts to escape. The convicts were forced to work in harsh conditions on the island sandstone quarries and as construction workers for the Fitzroy Dry Dock on the island. Many lived in extremely cramp and unhygienic conditions and many perished and died of infectious diseases as a result.
The island has a remarkable history as a shipbuilding and ship repair facility. Shipbuilding on the island began in 1870. During the First World War, it was the dockyard of the Australian Navy, and several slipways were constructed. As such, we observed there were steel beams, Turbine Shop and remnants of some of the heavy machineries in the Industrial Precinct and the Ship Design Precinct. The eerie Dog Leg Tunnel which was used to transport resources and used as a bomb shelter during the World War made me shivered as the cold wind stirred its way in the tunnel.
The island is small like that of Kusu Island in Singapore and is very walkable though many of the old prison cell buildings are on the upper side of a hill slope. The campsite allowed adventurers to stay overnight on the island. As I wandered around the island, I could literally hear the cries and groans of the convict ghosts and that of the aborigines who were the original inhabitants and forced to be deprived of their homes and incarcerated when the British colonialists subjugated the island under their control.
I am glad to visit this heritage site during my short 5-day stay here in Sydney.
Written 29 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Davieland
Auckland, New Zealand630 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
On the spur of the moment we chose to spend a few hours here on our last day in Sydney. I’m glad we did. So much history to take in as we wandered around the island reading about the islands past. I’m glad I wasn’t a convict in the early 1800s - like there seems pretty grim. It’s an easy 10m ferry ride from Circular Quay.
Written 26 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sansjas
Kellyville, Australia43 contributions
Is there free overnight parking at woolwich wharf thanks
Cockatoo Island
Sydney, Australia
There is limited free parking at the wharves around Sydney.
Someone mentioned in the comments there is a new funky bar on the island as of 1 Sep? Is this true?
Geoffrey M
Sunshine Coast, Australia70 contributions
In previous years they have had a funky bar with DJs during the spring & summer months, but it seems that it has been cancelled for this year, which is a real bummer.
fairlie n
melbourne3 contributions
What time does the biennale / cafes open?
Cockatoo Island
Sydney, Australia
The Biennale of Sydney is open until 5pm each day. The cafes are open at various times, check the Cockatoo Island website for more details.
872su
Brisbane, Australia1 contribution
請問我如果網路上訂帳篷,當天到島上要跟誰聯絡和得知是住幾號帳篷呢?
Cockatoo Island
Sydney, Australia
Hi 872su, if you would like to set up your own tent on Cockatoo Island island, you can do so, you will need to book through the Cockatoo Island website. Its costs $45 per night during the week, and $50 per night for the weekend (Friday - Sunday).
I hope this helps with booking your stay.
Look forward to seeing you soon.
Thanks
Cockatoo Island