Cockatoo Island

The largest island in Sydney Harbour — a UNESCO-listed former convict site and shipyard, now a campsite and arts venue with spectacular harbour views.

Cockatoo Island is the largest island in Sydney Harbour and a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of Australia's Convict Sites network. Located at the confluence of the Lane Cove and Parramatta rivers, it served first as a convict settlement in the 19th century, then as a Royal Australian Navy dockyard, and eventually became one of the country's most important shipbuilding centres. Original machinery, tunnels carved by convict labour, and massive dry docks from this industrial era remain accessible on the island today. Reachable only by ferry, Cockatoo Island offers the unusual experience of camping inside Sydney Harbour — with views of the Harbour Bridge — and hosts regular art events including the Sydney Biennale. Part industrial monument, part cultural venue, part adventure.