Request a school or vacation care program

• We only accept bookings for groups of at least ten students/children.
• The booking price excludes the cost of ferry travel.
• We recommend you book at least two months in advance as our programs and tours are subject to the availability of our educators and guides.
• Teachers and other supervisors are free of charge.
• Please ensure there is adequate supervision for your group for the duration of the program or tour, namely:
  • 1:10 for primary school students
  • 1:20 for high school students
  • 1:10 for children with additional needs

The following tours and programs are available:

• Vacation Care (NSW School Holidays)
• Convict Times (Kindergarten to year 4)
• Then, Now and Tomorrow (Years 1 to 4)
• History Site Study (Years 7 to 10)
• Social and Maritime Case Study (Year 12)
• Haunted History Tour
• Group History Tour

By ferry

• The easiest way to get to Cockatoo Island is by public ferry. The F3 and F8 services operate to Cockatoo Island daily, departing from Circular Quay, Darling Harbour and Barangaroo as well as from wharves along Parramatta River. For further information, including timetables, visit the Transport NSW website.
• If your group is travelling to Cockatoo Island by ferry, each person will need to be in possession of an Opal Card with sufficient funds. To pre-purchase Opal One Day Travel Passes for your entire group, visit opaldaypass.transport.nsw.gov.au.
• If you are catching a ferry to Cockatoo Island with a large group, we encourage you to notify Harbour City Ferries by email. Please ensure they are made aware of the size of your group, the ferry service you intend to use (e.g. F3 Parramatta Service @ 10am on 17 July) and where you are travelling to and from (e.g. Circular Quay to Cockatoo Island).

By private charter

• We can arrange private transfer to and from Cockatoo Island at a cost of $16 per person. Email education@harbourtrust.gov.au for details.

Nearby parking

• On-street parking is available for cars near the ferry wharves at Woolwich, Greenwich, Chiswick, Huntleys Point, Drummoyne, Birchgrove and Balmain.
• The Harbour Trust has a car park at the Hunters Hill Sailing Club (accessible via Clarke Road, Woolwich). The car park can accommodate a coach and is a short walk from the Woolwich ferry wharf. Email education@harbourtrust.gov.au to arrange parking.

School groups booked into an excursion at Cockatoo Island must ensure teachers and students:

• maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres from others;
• have not travelled overseas in the last 14 days;
• have not been in contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last 14 days; and
• are not unwell and have not demonstrated any COVID-19 symptoms in the last 14 days.