Cockatoo for kids

How to Book

Book now for your school to visit Cockatoo Island in 2008.

Hey kids

If you love going on adventures, then you have to visit Cockatoo Island!

It's been around for centuries first it was a convict gaol, then a school for naughty girls, then a huge shipbuilding yard and a place where submarines were fixed. Heaps of the old buildings are still there. You can check out the original convict gaol, barracks and guardhouse. They were all built in the early days of Sydney's settlement.

Did you know that Cockatoo Island was where infamous bushranger, Captain Thunderbolt, made his escape?

You can also walk through underground tunnels and see the enormous sheds, workshops and cranes that were used to build ships. And there are special docks too. Thousands of people worked at Cockatoo Island as apprentices and tradesmen.

Plan your own adventure

One of the best things about visiting Cockatoo Island is that you can catch a ferry there. The island is in Sydney Harbour ' only about a 10-minute ride from Circular Quay. It's so much fun!

Make sure you bring a grown-up with you to visit Cockatoo Island. When you get off the ferry, you can pick up a brochure with a map that shows you how to get around and see all these amazing things. And when you have had enough walking around, you can sit down at the Muster Station Cafe for some lunch or a snack. Or if you are really lucky, you might be allowed to bring the family tent and stay overnight at the Campground. What a great school holiday activity that would be!

And don't forget to tell your teacher that you can also visit Cockatoo Island for a school excursion. It's a really cool place to learn about the history of Sydney, and your friends would really love the chance to travel on a ferry too.

Things to do

You might want to print this activity booklet before you visit so you can impress your friends and family with all the info about Cockatoo Island.

More information