New Year's Eve 2009
Relaxed and family-friendly, camping on Cockatoo Island is the perfect way to spend New Year's Eve with your family and friends. Enjoy the spectacle of Sydney's famous fireworks with the convenience of a good night's sleep just metres away in your own tent.
This event is now fully sold out. If you have purchased a one-night ticket, rest assured that your ticket is valid for December 31st not December 30th, as printed on the ticket.
Important Information for Ticket Holders
Congratulations to those who have purchased Cockatoo Island Camping tickets for NYE 2009! We look forward to welcoming you to Cockatoo Island and hope you enjoy the celebrations. Remember to check your arrival date, bring you ticket & ID with you and to confirm the latest NYE ferry schedules with Sydney Ferries. Download the following document for a handy reference to all the important information you need to know about your New Year's Eve experience on Cockatoo Island:
Information about New Year's Eve [PDF - 71KB]
And remember this is an all weather event. There will be no cancellation for poor weather conditions.
The NYE Experience on Cockatoo Island
In 2009 we are offering:
* one, two and five-night camping packages
* three camping equipment package levels (site only, site with tent only, site with tent and accessories)
* inclusive camping and ferry ticketing (for those arriving 30th or 31st Dec and departing 1 Jan)
* improved island catering and advance purchase food items supplied by Belinda Franks Catering
* ice for sale on the island.
Tickets
All tickets for this event have now sold out.
Some reminders for ticket holders:
Check your arrival date
Please check whether you purchased your ticket to arrive on 30 December for a two-night stay (30 and 31 December) OR whether you purchased your ticket to arrive on the 31 December for a one-night stay.
Bring your ticket - no ticket, no entry!
Your Moshtix ticket includes up to four people. Make sure you print your ticket and bring a copy with you as this will be scanned for entry. You will also need your ticket for travel via Sydney Ferries to and from the island. Moshtix tickets will need to be shown to Sydney Ferries staff, and will be required for entry to the island. Tickets will be scanned on arrival at the island and wrist bands issued.
You only need to bring one copy of the ticket per site unless your group is travelling separately. If you booked multiple sites in your name, you will need a ticket per site or package. You will need to notify us in writing by 27th December if your group is arriving separately - email camp@cockatooisland.gov.au.
Bring your ID
The ticket holder (i.e. the person whose name the booking is under) must show ID on arrival. Any changes to ticketing can be done via the Moshtix website and must be completed by the 22nd December. No name changes can be accepted after this date.
Check your ticket
Check which ticket type you have purchased and what camping gear you will need to bring:
- Camping Package - includes site, 2.4 x 2.4m dome tent, two sleeping mats, two chairs, one lantern. Sleeps up to two adults and two small children, or three smaller adults. If there are more than two people, you will need to bring extra mats etc. BYO sleeping bag and pillow (no other equipment available for hire).
- Tent only - includes site and 2.4 x 2.0m oz tent. Sleeps up to two adults and two small children, or three smaller adults. BYO sleeping mats, chairs, sleeping bag etc.
- Site only - includes site only. BYO tent and camping gear. All sites are 4 x 4m. Tents must be contained within this area (max four persons per site). Sites are allocated on arrival.
Check-in
- Check-in is open from midday, 30 December until 6pm
- Check-in is open from 9am, 31 December until 6pm
Groups/Late Arrivals
- If group bookings were made under different names, you will need to arrive together for your camping sites to be grouped together.
- If you are arriving after 6pm or if your group is arriving separately we will need to be informed of this in writing by the 27 December, email: camp@cockatooisland.gov.au.
Ferries
Cockatoo Island is serviced by two Sydney Ferries routes: Balmain/Woolwich and the Parramatta/Rydalmere RiverCat service. Ferry travel is included in your Moshtix ticket.
We strongly recommend arriving early at Cockatoo Island to avoid mainland road closures and harbour traffic. The weekday ferry timetable applies on New Year's Eve, but please remember that all scheduled ferries on Sydney Harbour cease mid to late afternoon on New Year's Eve due to harbour congestion and exclusion zones. The exact time depends on harbour conditions on the day, so try to travel as early in the day as possible.
For departures on New Year's Day, Sydney Ferries will be operating a public holiday ferry timetable.
To confirm ferry times and to check for updates regarding travel on New Year's Eve, please see the Sydney Ferries website
Food and Drink
Food and both alcoholic (excluding spirits) and non-alcoholic drinks will be on sale on the island. BBQ facilities are available. Alcohol may not be brought onto the island.
Belinda Franks Catering
During the New Year period, the Cockatoo Island Cafe, operated by Belinda Franks Catering, will be open from 8am to 7pm. The cafe is located on the eastern side of the island, overlooking the Plaza and the water's edge.
Belinda Franks Catering will be offering a wonderful array of food for purchase over New Year, including breakfast, lunch, snacks all day and a full wine list. You can choose from a delicious selection of menu items or pre-order a BBQ pack and cook your own meal on the island's BBQs. Just order your BBQ pack in advance and collect on arrival. (Note: only the BBQ packs require pre-ordering; all other items on the menu will be available for purchase during the event.)
Belinda Franks Catering - Menu NYE 2009 [PDF - 752KB]
Belinda Franks Catering - BBQ Pack Order Form [PDF - 69KB]
For further information on food and drink for New Year's Eve or to pre-order a BBQ pack, phone Belinda Franks Catering on 02 8338 9393 or email gabriella@belindafranks.com.au
What's On
Enjoy the following activities on the island over the New Year period.
- Free guided tours, hourly from 12.45-3.45pm, 30 & 31 December. Campers only. Book with Visitor Centre on arrival. Meet under the large sailcloth on the campground.
- Free children's activities, 12-5pm, 30 & 31 December, Building 124, lower island. Decorate a festive NYE mask, pick up a Ships Ahoy Treasure Trail map to explore the island, create a collage based on Willliam Kentridge's art installation or construct a cardboard model of the island's Military Guardhouse. (Kids must be accompanied by an adult).
- Audio tours for hire. $5. Available from Visitor Centre, 10am-4pm.
- Free viewing of William Kentridge's art installation (10am-4pm, 31 December), Building 124, lower island.
- Tennis court for hire. Bookings and racquet hire at the Accommodation Office, near the ferry wharf.
- Swimming area (bring your plastic sandals as seabed can be rocky).
Other Things You Should Know
- No ATM available on Cockatoo Island.
- Campers are not permitted to bring alcohol onto the island. A bar will operate during New Year's Eve 11am - 1pm . Wine and beer by the glass or bottle can be purchased.
- There will be bag searches on arrival.
- Credit card facilities are available at the Cockatoo Island Cafe where you can purchase your food vouchers for use around the island. The bar will accept cash/credit card; no vouchers at bar.
- Ice is available on the island for $6 per 5kg bag.
- No public telephone available on the island.
- No lockers available - consider bringing a small lock for your tent.
- The upper island will be closed at dusk.
- Feel free to bring musical instruments.
Camping Booking Conditions
- Full payment is required at the time of booking.
- No refunds or changes to bookings are permitted.
- Not transferable.
All other usual terms and conditions apply, please see booking information on our website.
Site Conditions
- Check-in time on New Year's Eve is after 10 am and check-out time on New Year's Day is 12 noon. On other days, check-in time is after 2pm and check-out time is 10am.
- Tents comfortably sleep 3 small adults or 2 adults and 2 small children.
- Only 2 sleeping mats and 2 chairs are included in the camping package, package contents cannot be varied or purchased separately.
- If you are bringing your own tent and it exceeds 4m x 4m, you must hire an additional site(s).
- Sites will be allocated at the sole discretion of campground managers.
- Maximum number of people per site will be monitored and strictly enforced.
- For maritime safety reasons, private vessels (including kayaks) may not use Cockatoo Island on New Year's Eve. The dropping off and picking up of passengers by private vessel on New Years Eve is also prohibited.
- No alcohol may be brought to the island.
- The following items or activities are not permitted: camp fires, gas fires, portable BBQs, compressed liquid or gas containers, portable radios or amplified music, pets, glass and ball games.
- This is a family friendly event. Please have consideration for other campers and please follow the instructions of all security staff and rangers.
- In the case of rain, the event will still proceed.
- Campground and island regulations are available on our website and will be enforced by security staff.
- Download Cockatoo Island Campground Guidelines (PDF - 211 KB)
We look forward to welcoming you to Cockatoo Island on New Year's Eve!
Further information
