Summer Holiday Fun At Cockatoo Island

The Harbour Trust is celebrating the summer holidays with a program of fun, all-ages activities at Cockatoo Island. Families and vacationing school kids will be able to embark on adventures that combine fun, outdoor exploration and history.

Sand Sculpture Tutorial (FREE)

Seeking an online activity that will entertain your kids ahead of (or after) a visit to Cockatoo Island? Watch a sand sculpting tutorial and learn how to create a mythological sea creature from sand! Suitable for children and their families, this tutorial ties into the common 18th and 19th Century fear amongst sailors and convicts that giant mythological creatures roamed the sea.

Watch the Sand Sculpture Tutorial.

Fun all-ages tours

In addition to the school holiday interactive drama ‘Crooked Characters Meet a Sea Creature’, the Harbour Trust are running five additional family tours on Cockatoo Island during the holidays. A mixture of on-demand (for groups larger than 10) during the week, and easy-book weekend tickets take you and your family on a journey back to Cockatoo Island’s storied convict, maritime and industrial eras. Discover iconic landmarks and hear some spine-tingling stories.

Tickets start from just $16 per person. Visit the Cocktaoo Island website to book! 

Camp at Cockatoo Island

Eager for a unique family staycation? Check into Cockatoo Island's waterfront campground, featuring unbeatable views of Sydney Harbour. Choose from five camping packages, catering for a range of budgets, group sizes and occasions, including romantic getaways and family vacations. Visit the Cockatoo Island website to book your camping adventure. 

 Crooked Characters Meet a Sea Creature Tour (NEW)

Update: As a result of staff shortages due to COVID-19, the Harbour Trust has made the difficult decision to cancel the Crooked Characters Meet a Sea Creature Tour. Ticket holders will be contacted directly by our ticketing platform, Ticketbooth, and refunded in full.

Across one hilarious hour, lively tour guides, ‘Ocka’ and ‘Too’, will weave fun seafaring tales into Cockatoo Island’s maritime and convict history. Children will then discover the history and stories of the buildings and people who lived on the Island.

Getting to Cockatoo Island

The easiest way to get to Cockatoo Island is by Public ferry. The F3 and F8 services operate to Cockatoo Island daily, departing from Circular Quay and Barangaroo as well as from wharves along Parramatta River. For further information, including timetables, visit the Transport NSW website. You can also visit Cockatoo Island by water taxi, private boat or kayak.

Street parking is available near the ferry wharves at Woolwich, Greenwich, Chiswick, Huntleys Point, Drummoyne, Birchgrove and Balmain. Check signage for any restrictions. 

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