Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour

Cockatoo Island was used for convicts in the early days of the colony, but later it was developed for shipbuilding and industry. There is no industry remaining on the island, and the space is now parkland and many of the buildings open to explore.

On the lower level of the island you can see Fiztroy Dock and Sutherland Dock, where ships were repaired. Both cut out of the rock of the island. The factories and slipway are open to visit too. Some of the old factories house artistic displays. There are two long tunnels cut out of the rock that go under the plateau. The are both still open to walk walk through. The dog-leg tunnel has a soundscape of what life on the island was like at various times through the history.

On the upper plateau level there are more industrial buildings, lookouts, and a convicts mess. There is also a grass tennis courts available for hire. Allow at least two hours just to complete the self-guided walks on the island. Longer if you want to stop to see the views along the way.

From the high level on Cockatoo Island you can see across to Spectacle Island and Snapper Island. The slipway faces Spectacle Island, and scenery over there looks very similar to Cockatoo. The island was a naval explosives manufacturing and storage depot for the Australian Navy, and the island is still use by the navy. Snapper Island is the smaller island to the left of Spectacle. It was complete reshaped and redesigned to resemble a ship, and was then used for navy training. It is a public reserve now, but is not open to the public.