Cockatoo Island is a UNESCO world-heritage-listed island in the middle of beautiful Sydney Harbour. Hop on a ferry and explore the island for the day or stay overnight in the campground or holiday houses.
Retaining all its character and heritage from decades of human endeavour by convicts and shipbuilders alike, Cockatoo Island has undergone a renaissance in every sense of the word and opened its doors to all.
Visiting Cockatoo Island rekindles your sense of adventure. Be it via a short ferry ride from the city, or across open water on a kayak, arriving on Cockatoo Island opens a world of possibilities. Follow your passion for maritime or convict history, or take in the island’s top attractions on one of our self-guided journeys.
Take an audio tour if you really want to get under the skin of Cockatoo Island. Balance it with a spot of lunch at the island cafe, or pack a picnic and watch the world go by from a million dollar vantage point along the way.
For those wanting more, try a game of tennis or challenge a friend to a game of life-size chess. There’s a lot to do on Cockatoo Island and it’s always changing. We recommend you come back a few times to fully experience all that is on offer.
GETTING TO COCKATOO ISLAND
Where is Cockatoo Island?
Cockatoo Island is the largest island in Sydney Harbour. It’s located at the junction of the Parramatta and Lane Cove Rivers just a short ferry ride from Circular Quay.
Getting here
Hop on a ferry
Catching a public ferry is the easiest way to visit us. Harbour City Ferries run regular services to Cockatoo Island every day of the week, departing from Circular Quay and Darling Harbour, as well as from wharves along the F3 Parramatta River ferry route.
You can also visit Cockatoo Island by water taxi, private boat or kayak.
Car parking at ferry wharves
If you’re catching a ferry, you’ll find plenty of on-street parking close to the wharves at Woolwich, Greenwich, Chiswick, Huntleys Point, Drummoyne, Birchgrove and Balmain.
The Valentia Street wharf at Woolwich is the closest stop to Cockatoo – it’s just a five-minute ferry ride away and has unmetered parking so you can stay all day.
Around The Tellus 