Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SIGHTS
Harbour Islands
COCKATOO ISLAND
( 8969 2100;
www.cockatooisland.gov.au
; tours adult/child $18/14; tours 11.30am & 1.30pm Sun; Cocka-
too Island)
Studded with photogenic industrial relics, convict architecture and art installations,
fascinating Cockatoo Island (Wareamah) opened to the public in 2007 and now has regular
ferry services, a campground and rental accommodation. Weekly guided tours dig into the
island's time as a prison, shipyard and naval base (bookings essential), but information
boards and audio tours ($5) make a self-guided wander rewarding.
ISLAND
A spooky tunnel passes clear through the middle of the island and you can also explore
the remains of the prison. During WWII most of the old sandstone buildings were stripped
of their roofs and converted into bomb shelters. Solitary confinement cells were unearthed
here recently after being filled in and forgotten in the 1890s
FORT DENISON
ISLAND, FORTRESS
(ferry & tour adult/child $27/17; tours 12.15pm & 2.30pm daily, plus 10.45am Wed-Sun; Captain Cook Cruises)
Called Mat-te-wan-ye (rocky island) by the Cadigal people, in colonial times the small for-
tified island off Mrs Macquaries Pt was a sorry site of suffering used to isolate recalcitrant
convicts (nicknamed 'Pinchgut' for its meagre rations). Fears of a Russian invasion during
the Crimean War in the mid-19th-century led to its fortification. It now has a cafe.
Circular Quay about seven times a day, but to access the Martello tower you'll need to pre-
GOAT ISLAND
(adult/child $29/24; from Cadman's Cottage)
Goat Island, west of the Harbour Bridge, has been a
shipyard, quarantine station and gunpowder depot in its previous lives. Three-hour heritage
tours depart at 10.30am on Sundays from Cadman's Cottage; bookings essential. On the
last Sunday of the month the boat departs the island 45 minutes later (and costs $3 more),
allowing extra island time for a picnic lunch (bring your own).
ISLAND
SHARK ISLAND
(ferry adult/child $17/15; Captain Cook Cruises)
Little Shark Island off Rose Bay makes a great
picnic getaway, but there's not a lot here except for toilets and drinking water - and at
ISLAND
