A great way to experience Sydney is to visit its islands. It's not something that many people do. There are seven harbour islands and one of the most popular is Clark Island -  just off Double Bay. It has great views of the harbour, the bridge and Opera House.

It also has a walking track, picnic tables, toilets and cold water and is a great place to watch sunsets.

Shark Island in Iron Cove is open on weekends for picnics and a paddle.

Goat Island is to the west of the Harbour Bridge and was used initially as a gun store, and then by the Water Police to keep a look out for smugglers and escaped convicts. Day tours are available on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Night tours looking back into the island's gruesome past are held on Saturday nights. Sundays are picnic days from 11:30am - 3pm.

Another popular place is Fort Denison, once a prison for some of NSW most hardened criminals. It’s now a popular tourist spot where the New South Wales Parks and Wildlife Service offers guided tours. For approx $45, you get ferry transfers to and from Fort Denison, a guided tour, and a gourmet breakfast of orange juice, fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, sourdough toast, oven dried tomatoes, crispy bacon, coffee and tea. The tours meet at 9am at Cadman's Cottage. The return ferry heads back at 11:45am.

If you end up near The Rocks after your island tour, there is a tourist market on the weekends. The Rock’s architecture and history are interesting and there are some good cafes/restaurants/pubs and souvenir shops to check out. One of the best pubs is tucked away from the crowds on Cumberland St. It’s more likely to have locals than tourists and a great menu of boutique beers and crocodile pizza!


GETTING THERE


For information on any of the islands, phone the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

Ph: (02) 9247 5033

www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

For further information on directions: go to www.whereis.com/whereis/directions.do