Camp on Sydney Harbour: Family Camping at Cockatoo Island

Cockatoo Island offers a unique spin on a fun, family tradition: the humble camping trip. Not only is it the only island on Sydney Harbour where families can stay overnight (or longer), it also features an award-winning campground with a range of affordable options. The bottom line: you don't need to get on a flight to enjoy an island getaway; simply hop on a ferry to Cockatoo Island!

Free to explore, easy to get to, and open year-round, Cockatoo Island is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site that rewards families looking for an easy school holiday escape, a weekend adventure or a spontaneous family staycation.

A Scenic Spot to Stay, a Launchpad for Adventure

Whether you're after a back-to-basics camping experience or something a little more comfortable, Cockatoo Island's campground caters for most budgets, group sizes and interests. Plus: your family will enjoy front row seats to a truly breathtaking spectacle...the sight of the sun setting and rising on one of the world's most iconic harbours. 

Best of all? Once the day-trippers have gone home (or before they've even arrived), the island is all yours! Located alongside historic buildings, jaw-dropping landmarks and sprawling green spaces, the campground isn't just a scenic place to stay...it's a launchpad for all sorts of adventures! 

Camping Options to Suit Every Family

There are a range of inexpensive camping options, from BYO tent spots to basic camping packages with pre-erected tents. For a little more space and comfort, the deluxe two-bedroom package includes a pair of tents with a sheltered table area — perfect for families with older kids.

BYO Tent (Site Only): Bring your own gear and set up on the waterfront. This is the most budget-friendly option and great for families who already have their own camping kit.

Basic Camping Package: Don't own a tent? No problem. This option comes with a pre-erected tent so you can travel light and focus on the fun.

Deluxe Two-Bedroom Waterfront Package: The pick for families who want a little more room to move. Two tents plus a sheltered table area make this a comfortable base for a longer stay.

For full details on inclusions, maximum occupancy and current pricing, head to the Cockatoo Island campground overview.

Campground Facilities: Better Than You'd Think

You might be camping, but you won't be roughing it. Campers have access to a well-equipped communal kitchen with sheltered facilities, including 10 barbecues, boiling water, two fridges, microwaves, a vending machine and seating for 50 people. Dedicated toilets, hot showers and a laundry ($4 per load) are also available.

The Campfire Experience

Located near the island's historic, dockyard-era slipways, the campground's fire pit (weather-dependent) is a place where families can gather after dark, toast marshmallows and swap stories under the stars. It's the kind of simple, old-fashioned fun that kids will cherish and remember for years to come.

Campground Cinema

Yes, there's even a cinema especially for campers! Located next to the former convict prison (1839 - 1869) on the upper island, movies screen at a designated time every night for campers of all ages. Pack the blankets and settle in for a film with one of the best settings in Sydney. Confectionery and other snacks available for purchase at the island's visitor and accommodation centre. 

Food and Drink: Your Options

Campers can bring their own food to store and prepare in the campground kitchen. For those travelling without groceries or who want minimal meal prep, BBQ packs are available to pre-order from the Cockatoo Overboard Cafe, conveniently located next to the island's visitor and accommodation centre. The Marina Cafe & Bar is also worth a visit, located in the Docks Precinct, it features a relaxed beer garden.

Between the two on-site cafes and the fully-equipped campground kitchen, you can absolutely get by without hauling a full esky onto the ferry.

Explore all your Eat and Drink options.

Activities: The Island Is Your Playground

There's no shortage of things for families to see and do during their camping trip at Cockatoo Island. Here are some of the highlights: 

Curious Tales Family Tour: This 60-minute guided tour is fun for oddballs of all ages. A good-humoured journey through the island's history, it runs on Saturday afternoons. Tickets start from $20. Online bookings are essential.

Our Day at Cockatoo Island: This self-guided booklet-led tour designed for kids aged 6 to 10 is available for $5 from the visitor & accommodation centre (open 10 am to 4 pm). Guided by a series of pink cockatoo signs, young adventurers visit 8 activity-packed stops across the island. Along the way, they'll meet a whale named Burriburri, play convict games and learn to communicate like a sailor!

Audio Tours: If mum or dad gets a chance for some well-earned 'me' time, they can explore the island's layered history with one of three immersive audio tours. There are three to choose from — one focused on the island's convict era (1839 to 1869), another on the dockyard era (1857 to 1992) and a third that offers a crash course in the island's history as a whole. Available for $10 per person, they are self-guided, mobile-based experiences (BYO device) that can be completed in around 45-minutes to an hour at a push. To start an audio tour, simply scan the QR code on any of the island's many audio tour 'jump on' signs. 

Accommodation Add-ons: Looking to make your stay extra special? A range of add-on experiences are available for campers, such as a paint and sip experience on the harbour for the kids and adults, a shopping excursion to nearby Birkenhead Point Outlet Centre and a Woolwich French market trip. Just add these during your booking process.

Free Activities: Monthly steam crane demonstrations run on the first Tuesday of every month, a genuine highlight for machine-obsessed kids. Campers also get exclusive access to the games room. Basketball hoops are available on the Eastern Apron, the Turbine Shop is a fantastic place for scooter riders, the Eastern Apron is ideal for kite flying, and there is a giant chessboard behind the visitor and accommodation centre.

For a full rundown of activities, visit Cockatoo Island.

Getting There is Half the Fun

Getting to Cockatoo Island is easier than you think! Simply hop on a public ferry from Circular Quay, Barangaroo or a wharf along the Parramatta River.

For the quickest route, take the F3 ferry from Barangaroo, and you'll be on the island in under 10 minutes.

Ferries run daily, and the journey itself is part of the experience, with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House along the way. 

Plan your trip to Cockatoo Island.

Cockatoo Island Camping: The Fast Facts

Cockatoo Island is the only island on Sydney Harbour where families can camp overnight. The waterfront campground offers BYO tent sites, basic pre-erected tent packages, and deluxe two-bedroom packages. All campers have access to hot showers, toilets and a communal kitchen equipped with 10 barbecues, fridges, microwaves and seating for 50. Additional facilities include a campfire pit (weather dependent), a nightly campground cinema in the convict precinct, and exclusive access to vintage lawn games.

On-site dining is available at Cockatoo Overboard and Marina Cafe & Bar (hours differ), and campers can bring and store their own food in the campground kitchen. 

General entry to the island is free, and affordable camping packages are available separately.

Cockatoo Island Camping FAQs

Can families camp on Cockatoo Island? Yes. Cockatoo Island has a waterfront campground open year-round with options for all family sizes and budgets.

What facilities are available to campers on Cockatoo Island? Campers have access to hot showers, toilets, and a fully equipped communal kitchen with 10 barbecues, boiling water, two fridges, microwaves, seating for 50 people and laundry facilities ($4 per load). A campfire pit (weather dependent) and a nightly cinema are also available exclusively to campers, along with a games room.

Is there food available on Cockatoo Island for campers? Yes. Cockatoo Overboard (near visitor and accommodation centre) and Marina Cafe & Bar (in the Docks Precinct) are both on-site. Campers can also bring their own food to store and prepare in the campground kitchen, and BBQ packs are available to pre-purchase from Cockatoo Overboard.

How do you get to Cockatoo Island to camp? By public ferry. Services run daily from Circular Quay (approx. 25 minutes) and Barangaroo (under 10 minutes via the F3 ferry). No car access is available; the ferry is the only way to reach the island.

What activities are available for families staying overnight on Cockatoo Island? Campers can join the Curious Tales Family Tour (from $20, Saturdays), pick up a self-guided, booklet-led family tour ($5, ages 6 to 10), watch monthly steam crane demonstrations, and access the games room exclusively as campers. They can also fly kites on the Eastern Apron, scoot through the Turbine Shop, and take advantage of the giant chess set behind the visitor and accommodation centre.

Is Cockatoo Island camping suitable for young children and toddlers? Yes. The island's flat open spaces, green lawns and free-roaming environment suit young kids well. The campground cinema, fire pit and games room are all appropriate for younger children, and the self-guided family tour is designed for ages 6 to 10.

Ready to secure your spot on Sydney Harbour? Plan your family camping stay at Cockatoo Island.

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