24 hours on Cockatoo Island, The Ultimate Sydney Island Adventure.

 Planning a Sydney staycation? Forget a hotel in the city, you absolutely MUST spend a night or two at the UNESCO World-Heritage-listed Cockatoo Island, just a quick ferry ride from the CBD.

Explore the historical landmarks by day, enjoy pizza and beers at the Island Bar and then pull up stumps and experience a night in the urban waterfront campground or one of the refurbished holiday homes.

I actually grew up in Hunters Hill, one of the suburbs adjacent to Cockatoo Island but until 2007 it lay dormant after a century of convict and ship building. After extensive renovations and rehabilitations, the island was opened to the public and has become a weekend playground for many.

Armed with a camera and a wide-brim hat, my travel buddy and I board a ship and hit the high seas in search of the island. (Read: We boarded a ferry at Woolwich for the three minute ride over to the Island and the sea was far from high).

Upon arrival we check in at reception, buy ourselves a BBQ pack for $35 (which includes bacon rashers, sausages, eggs, bread rolls, butter and oil, sauces and salt and pepper) and are taken to our home for the night by golf cart.

Now I haven’t had the best experiences camping, so I play it safe and book us into one of the island’s self-contained accommodations.

Located on the top of the island, the two-bedroom Garden Apartment sits among the other private residences and radiates with charm. Complete with modern amenities, a large entertaining deck and an enclosed garden, it’s quaint, bright and very homely.

We drop off our belongings, grab our cameras and explore every inch of the island’s 18 hectares. We wonder through the convict and ship design precincts, snap a million photos in the industrial yards, venture into underground tunnels and even play a quick game of street-ball on the forecourt.

After a coffee break at Societe Overboard, one of the Island’s three food outlets, we check out the urban waterfront campground.

At the base of the island and near all the main amenities are dozens of pre-erected tents, complete with camping beds, linen, sun lounges, an esky and a lantern. These tents are far from ordinary and the view from each is spectacular. Come with a friend and hire a 3m x 3m tent for $150-$175 per night or bring the kids and park yourself in one of the two-bedroom tents available for $310-$360 per night. Now this, my friends, is what you call glamping and I can’t wait to go back and try it.

Have your own tent? Great! The camp site also includes space for visitors to bring their own. The 4m x 4m spaces go for around $50 per night.

As the sun goes down over Cockatoo Island we sit on the back deck, enjoy the BBQ pack and watch the island’s permanent residents (and namesake) fly between all the old structures.

The peace and quiet means and you could be forgiven for thinking you’re on holidays in some far away land.

There is something for everyone at Cockatoo island and a visit should be right up the top of your to-do list. Whether you’re just popping by for the day or planning to sleep under the stars, this is a guaranteed adventure and there’s nothing else like it in Sydney.

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Have you been to Cockatoo Island? Tag your pics with #livelastminute so we can see 😉