There are sometimes special events on at Cockatoo - concerts, Art shows etc. Otherwise the place is a bit devoid of interest unless you are looking for some atmospheric photos. A lot of history happened at Cockatoo but this is barely explained to the visitor.

It's great to wander around, see the history of the place. It's especially excellent when there is an exhibition of some sort on. The Island Bar is expensive but worth it to relax & enjoy the great view.

We caught a Ferry from Circular Quay which run every 30 minutes. It cost $23 return for my husband and I. The ferry ride takes about 20 minutes. I never knew anything about this Island, but it was amazing and had a lot of history. We did a self walking tour which took about 2 hours. We were given a... More

As a local (Balmain) I have watched the development of Cockatoo Island over the years and I have to say it's now pretty good. With plenty of history to enjoy (prison, factories, workshops, dockyards, tunnels, cranes etc) and now reasonable access by ferry it makes for a good day for families, couples, historians, everyone. On a clear day it is... More

Not only is Cockatoo Island full of history, it has an amazing real grass tennis court with the most beautiful view of our harbour.

We went just for boat fun in the harbours , then we stopped in the Island and we spent 2 hours, it is so much interesting, the old buildings , from the convicts time 1788 , the Island history , the tunnels, the rocks,the English barracks, the sheds, during the time they were used by the navy to design and... More

We visited this island for the first time in March and I can not believe we hadn’t been there previously. The island is very interesting, it shows part of the Sydney history that we only read or watch in a historical program. It is a bit sad to know the brutal part of it, but you cannot change history! The... More

I live locally and have had a visit to cockatoo island on my list of things to do for a while. We started our day with a BBQ lunch on the free BBQ facilities near the camping area. This part of the Island has been extremely well designed, blending some of the old maritime history into a very beautiful camping... More

Great day out for the family - but be prepared for LOTS of walking. Our kids enjoyed following the children's activities while exploring the tunnels and variety of old buildings on the island. Take a picnic lunch and enjoy the great harbour views, or stay the night in the tents provided.