The convicts lived in inhumane conditions with little ventilation and spent their days constructing further buildings on the island.
You can wander around the eerie remains of the Convict Precinct, where up to 500 prisoners at a time would be cramped inside barracks meant for around 300 only. In 1839 sixty prisoners were transferred from Norfolk Island to the new penal establishment on Cockatoo Island. Here are some of the different precincts you’ll learn about if you follow the route on the audio tour. It later became a penal establishment, naval ship dockyard, industrial school for girls and a reformatory. Before colonisation, the island served as a meeting place for the indigenous Eora people. Whether you pay for a tour or spend the day exploring by yourself, there’s a whole lot of history on Cockatoo Island. You can buy cider and craft beer from here, as well as food and hot and cold drinks. There’s also Marina Café and Bar over in the Docks Precinct, which is right on the water too. There’s outdoor seating by the water and you can buy breakfast, lunch, hot and cold drinks as well as beer and wine. You’ll see Societe Overboard Café next to the wharf on arrival. You’ve got a couple of choices of places to eat and drink on Cockatoo Island. The route is pretty long and winding with stairs, hills and even a big tunnel! The audio takes you through the history of the island, from when it was a convict site to when it became a shipyard and eventually closed for business. Cockatoo Island doesn’t look that big on the map, but it’s quite hilly with lots of different buildings and levels. $5 audio tour!Īllow about two and a half hours to complete the whole route. It’s very informative, with stories and snippets from people who lived or worked on the island. You press the relevant number on your control and listen to information about the history of that particular building or area. I chose the audio tour, which only cost $5! You’re leant a headset and map to use, and simply follow the well-signed route to each numbered stop on the island. There’s a wide range of Cockatoo Island tours to choose from, including a spooky ghost tour, crooked characters tour, Convict Precinct tour and a group history tour. You can also book a two-bedroom, split-level apartment with amazing views of Sydney Harbour. Cockatoo Island Garden Apartment Harbour Apartment This two-bedroom apartment with garden view sleeps up to four people.Ĭlick here to check Cockatoo Island apartment prices. Apartments on Cockatoo Islandįor a more comfortable stay, Cockatoo Island accommodation includes a choice of renovated apartments inside historical buildings.
The camping ground also has shared bathrooms, a camp kitchen, fire pit and large, covered dining area. You can also bring your own tent and bedding and book an unpowered camping spot.
Absolute-waterside camping at Cockatoo Island!Īs a cheaper option, you can book a slightly smaller tent without the esky. If you fancy glamping, you can book a deluxe waterfront tent, which includes sun loungers, an esky, two single camp beds and bedding.Ĭlick here to check Cockatoo Island camping prices. Cockatoo Island CampingĬockatoo Island is well-known for its waterside camping ground! You’ll see the tents lined up from the ferry. If you fancy staying longer than just a day to explore or simply enjoy the amazing views of Sydney Harbour, you’ll find a choice of accommodation to suit varying budgets, from camping to waterside apartments, a studio and a Federation home.
#Cockatoo island accommodation full
Just be careful as the ferries can become full on the weekends and it’s possible to get stuck! (I would say Sundays in particular as it’s cheap travel day.) Cockatoo Island ferryĪt the end of my visit I only needed to go two stops west to Chiswick, but the staff told us the next westbound ferry was full, so we all had to get a ferry east to Circular Quay in order to be first on the next westbound ferry to get a place! I could have swam home quicker! Plan your trip with the NSW journey planner. You can also catch a ferry from the western suburbs on the river. It’s a 20-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay to Cockatoo Island. Here’s all you need to know before heading out for a cultural Sydney day trip to Cockatoo Island. Nowadays you can hop on a ferry from the city to explore the island’s history, camp on the water’s edge and even enjoy live music as the sun goes down at the summertime Sunset Sessions. Once a gruesome convict establishment and reformatory school for girls, Cockatoo Island became a shipyard and industrial centre in the 1960s before being rehabilitated and opened to the public in 2007.
Situated in the vibrant blue waters of Sydney Harbour, the crumbling, abandoned buildings of UNESCO World-Heritage listed Cockatoo Island are in stark contrast to their glittering backdrop. Please see my disclosure policy for more details.
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