Is Cockatoo Island the best Sydney Harbour island to visit?

The best Sydney Harbour island to visit is Cockatoo Island. The largest of the Sydney harbour islands offers a combination of convict era heritage, camping, bars and guided Cockatoo Island tours.

There are several Sydney Harbour islands, most of which Sydney doesn’t use as productively as it might. Tiny Clark Island has no ferries, but can be accessed via water taxi or private boat for picnics. Fort Denison is basically one Martello Tower, although ferries do go there. Tours are available and concerts sometimes take place on the island. Meanwhile, Shark Island, at the eastern end of the harbour, is a popular picnic area. Visit it on Sydney Harbour kayaking tours.

The Sydney Harbour island that has been developed into something a bit more interesting is Cockatoo Island.

Cockatoo Island is the largest harbour island in Australia’s biggest city.

13 brilliant experiences in Sydney you should book

The Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains.

(💲Great value 💲) Tick off several bucket list items on a highlights-packed Blue Mountains day tour.
Get perfect views of the world’s most beautiful city on a Sydney Harbour helicopter tour.
Save money with a multi-attraction pass.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enjoy the romance of a tall ship cruise on Sydney Harbour.
Eat all you can at the Skyfeast at the top of Sydney Tower.
See migrating humpbacks – on a whale-watching cruise.
(Highly recommended ✅) Go behind the scenes of Australia’s most famous building on an Opera House tour.
Dine as the city lights up on sunset dinner cruise around the harbour.
Combine beers and stories on a historic pubs tour through the convict-era Rocks district.
Stand on your board and catch waves during Bondi Beach surfing lessons.
Go to wombat and kangaroo-spotting hotspots on a Southern Highlands tour.
Enjoy Sydney’s wild side on a Manly snorkelling & nature walk.
(🥇Top choice in Sydney) And, best of all, paddle to hidden beaches on a harbour kayaking adventure.

Cockatoo Island heritage

Cockatoo Island is on the UNESCO World Heritage list, as part of Australia’s historic convict era sites. It was used as a place of punishment for convicts who reoffended while in New South Wales.

World Heritage-listed Sydney Harbour Island, Cockatoo Island — World Heritage-listed Cockatoo Island is the most interesting Sydney Harbour island to visit. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

The biggest Sydney Harbour island later became a major shipbuilding hub. What remains in place now is a strange combination of old stone housing and dockyard industrial buildings.

The newest addition to this is tents – Cockatoo Island has been turned into a popular camping and glamping destination. But even if you don’t stay overnight, the cafés, bar and deckchairs make it an agreeable place to come for an afternoon chillout surrounded by arguably the world’s prettiest harbour.

The island has also become a major events space – and it makes a pretty cool place to come for a music festival.

Cockatoo Island tours: The best Sydney Harbour island?

There are several tours available on Cockatoo Island, but most of them only during the school holidays or for larger group bookings. The standard Cockatoo Island tour is about the history of the island, but there are also more focused options. These include a tour of the convict precinct, a ‘Haunted History’ ghost tour and a tour devoted to convict escape attempts.

Cockatoo Island is easy to get to – regular ferries from Circular Quay head there. Forget about swimming there, however – you’re better off at one of the Sydney Harbour beaches.