Cockatoo Island – Sydney

In between all of the smokey days that Sydney has been having, we managed to pick a day where the smoke wasn’t too bad to head out to Cockatoo Island. I’ve been in Sydney for quite a while now but I just haven’t made to the island yet. I was quite excited to go exploring the Island!

Getting to Cockatoo Island

Cockatoo Island is located in the middle of Sydney Harbour making it easy to get too. From Circular Quay just jump on one of the ferries that are going to the island. The trip is pretty short from Circular Quay.

I recommend picking a day with good weather as most of the island is exposed to the elements. Also if it is hot don’t forget a water bottle, sunscreen and hat. The Aussie sun can be quite harsh!

Exploring Cockatoo Island

We started at the visitor centre that is located just beyond the ferry wharf. My partner grabbed a map from the visitor centre. We decided to explore the island without the audio tour. The island is pretty easy to get around. The first buildings we explored were originally used to house convicts. The Island developed a reputation for being a harsh prison. As we made our way around the Island, we found heaps of information about the buildings on the signs, including what the building was used for, restoration details and historical facts.

As we made our way around we came upon some of the newer buildings that were used in the shipbuilding. This included a series of photos showing the shipbuilding that was fascinating and provided a nice break from the strong sun.

Surrounding Cockatoo Island has stunning views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House from many spots across the island.

The views were beautiful. I also spotted some accommodation on the Island. It would be an amazing place to stay even for just one night!

Overall

It only takes 1-2 hours to explore Cockatoo Island depending on how much information you want to read and you stop for lunch at the cafe. If you have some time while visiting Sydney I highly recommend visiting the island.

For more Sydney adventures check out my other travel posts: Exploring Sydney – A weekend food adventure | Part 2

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