Cockatoo Island — Attraction in Sydney

New Years Eve at Cockatoo Island. We spent 2 nights at Cockatoo island to celebrate NYE 24/25. When looking for reviews prior to our visit, I couldn't find any good ones, so here it is. Firstly - we could not fault the place. Easy access. Ferry stops there frequently. For NYE we had to purchase our package a few months in advance and there are a variety of options available (just check the website). As soon as we arrived - we had our bags checked as you can't take byo alcohol or glass. Then there were plenty of people to greet us and check us in and we had a lovely staff member walk us to our tent. The tent was in perfect condition. We were supplied with camp chairs and camp mats (I recommend you rent an extra one as well) and we hired the pillows (they were brand new and fluffy). We took an eski with us filled with ice and bottled water and snacks. We took a sleeping bag and a backpack with a few clothes and a lantern light. The toilets and showers were way better than we expected. And they were frequently cleaned across the 2 days. There were also staff in golf buggies constantly going around and emptying the rubbish bins etc, so the island was neat and clean the whole time. The island on NYE had plenty to entertain us. We did drag bingo, a history tour about the convicts, the walk to the viewing points overlooking the harbour. There was also a silent disco and putt putt. On NYE they had an open air concert and everyone was dancing and having a great time. If you want a good view of the fireworks, many people were setting up their rugs and chairs in the morning. But there is plenty of space. The island is capped to a certain amount of people and it was perfect. Enough to have fun but not over crowded. Food and Drinks - the Marina cafe was our favourite of the two. There were busy times but nothing crazy. But often you got served right away and the staff were lovely. We had pizza, nachos, fish n chips across the 2 days. And good coffee. The bar sells a huge variety of choices, all good quality and at worst the queue was probably 6 people deep. Super convenient. There are plenty of food options so you can get away without taking snacks. But there is a camp kitchen as well so you can cook your own food if you wish. The best thing about the whole NYE experience was the lack of crowds, everyone was really relaxed and just happy to enjoy the island and the festivities. Everything was safe and clean and easy to access. They did have security walking around at night to make you feel extra safe. We were blessed with perfect weather, and would do it all again in a heartbeat. If you have considered spending NYE on the island, do it!! It is a such a memorable couple of days and nights seeing the famous harbour bridge fireworks without the hectic crowds or crazy...

Just spent two nights/three days here with my hubby and 16 year old. We stayed in the Studio apartment with a roll out bed.

Positives: We were stunned by the layers of history throughout the island - too much to write about but worth a read in the lead up to or during your visit/stay. From the remnants of the Indigenous Tent Embassy (now fashioned into a mirrored mosaic), onto convict quarters, and then to extensive ship building/repair facilities.

My hubby is a photographer and he was overwhelmed by the photographic opportunities available to him on the island. The large industrial sheds to the south of the island remain open through the night enabling access for photography in low light.

You are able to see across to our beautiful city and the Harbour Bridge from the eastern side of the island.

Accommodation was comfortable, with everything you could want for a short stay, including a dishwasher and washing machine (see photos).

Staff: The fellow who checked us in was helpful and pointed out areas on the island where he felt my husband would be able to capture great photos. We grew tired, however, of having our bags repeatedly checked for alcohol when returning to the island from trips to the mainland, despite staying in the Studio apartment. (You cannot bring alcohol in if you are camping.)

Negatives: The nesting seagulls can get in your face (they are indiscriminate with their nesting locations and can surprise you on your walk).

The studio apartment is located above the Visitors Centre, a stone's throw from the ferry wharf and adjacent to hundreds upon hundreds of nesting seagulls . As such, it is not quiet. Late into the evening (we think it stopped about midnight) you can hear the recorded ferry announcements discussing mandatory mask use. People from the camp ground congregated under the apartment window until late into the evening (or until moved along). And the seagulls went off like the proverbial throughout the night when something or someone disturbed their slumber.

Food: It's best to bring your own. If you're camping, you can purchase bags of ice. We ate lunch and ordered a coffee at each cafe on the island to get a feel for both. Price-wise, they were about the same. However, the coffee at The Marina was superior. We also felt ripped off at Societe Overboard when they charged us $18 for 3 Cornettos. The food at each was nothing to write home about. We felt there were more options at The Marina (which can be accessed from the Visitors Centre via the Dog Leg Tunnel but...

Took the Sydney ferry almost to the end of the line – had to change at Circular Quay – and arrived at Cockatoo Island. Not too sure about this place – we thought it would be better with plenty more history. The problem is there IS a lot of history but not enough is made about it. Cockatoo Island seems to concentrate more on people it can get to come camping on the island, and therefore provide an income stream, and on the biannual contemporary art exhibition going on which to be fair was really weird and most of it was a load of rubbish, but there were a couple of really thought provoking pieces, one a HUGE rubber boat filled with rubber figures of adults and children – epitomising fleeing refugees, and the other two were a giant eye reflecting all the nuclear explosions that have taken place since Hiroshima, I didn’t know the last one was just in 1996! And finally, a really clever one involving mirrors, shipping containers and some form of periscope at the end whereby you can see the sky in front of you (inside the crate) whilst looking down at yourself by your feet! The island itself and some buildings were great, but mostly it was just rusty pieces of turbine engines and things like that, so you had to have a great love of all things dockyard I think Also we walked all the way to the restaurant near the top of the hill which had A boards out all over the place advertising absolutely gorgeous stuff, only to find all the doors were closed and it was shut – that’s a bit stupid! Still an enjoyable day out – it could just have...