Sydney Harbour · from Central Station by public transport
Cockatoo Island is about 35 minutes from Central Station by train and ferry, with 1 change on a typical weekday morning. From Cockatoo Island Wharf, Side A it is about 450 m on foot.
About Cockatoo Island
Cockatoo Island Wareamah is a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the confluence of the Parramatta River and Lane Cove River in Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Step by step
- T8 train from Central Station to Wynyard Station, leaving at 08:37 (5 min).
- Walk 650 m to Barangaroo, Wharf 1, Side B.
- F3 ferry from Barangaroo, Wharf 1, Side B to Cockatoo Island Wharf, Side A, leaving at 08:58 (9 min).
- Walk 450 m to Cockatoo Island.
Plan this trip live for your date
Closest station and stops
The closest train station to Cockatoo Island is Wollstonecraft Station, 2.5 km in a straight line. The nearest ferry wharf is Cockatoo Island Wharf, 500 m on foot. The usual route from Central leaves you at Cockatoo Island Wharf, 500 m on foot, which is the stop to use.
| Kind | Nearest to Cockatoo Island | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Train station | Wollstonecraft Station | 2.5 km in a straight line |
| Ferry wharf | Cockatoo Island Wharf (on the usual route) | 500 m on foot |
| Bus stop | Woolwich Rd at Franki Ave | 800 m in a straight line |
Walking distances follow the footpath network; where a stop is not joined to it the distance is a straight line, and the walk is longer.
By train, ferry, bus or light rail
Each line is a separate search of the timetable using only that kind of transport (and the train to reach a wharf or light rail stop), on weekday mornings from Central.
- By train alone: not possible; the nearest station is Wollstonecraft Station, 2.5 km in a straight line, but no train journey from Central reaches Cockatoo Island on foot from there.
- By ferry: typically 37 min from Central with 1 change: T1 train then F3 ferry.
- By bus alone: not possible; the nearest stop is Woolwich Rd at Franki Ave, 800 m in a straight line, but no bus journey from Central reaches Cockatoo Island on foot from there.
From other stations
Typical weekday-morning journeys to Cockatoo Island, measured the same way as from Central.
| From | Typical time | Changes | By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central | 37 min | 1 | T8 train then F3 ferry |
| Town Hall | 37 min | 0 | F3 ferry |
| Circular Quay | 32 min | 0 | F3 ferry |
| Sydney Airport | 1h 04m | 3 | train and ferry |
| Parramatta | 1h 13m | 1 | T1 train then T9 train then F3 ferry |
When to go
- Weekdays: first departure from Central at 05:56, last at 23:42; roughly every 20 minutes.
- Saturdays: first departure from Central at 06:17, last at 23:37; roughly every 20 minutes.
- Sundays: first departure from Central at 06:51, last at 21:37; roughly every 20 minutes.
Times are departures from Central Station for journeys that reach Cockatoo Island the same day, read from the published timetable.
Getting back to Sydney
On weekdays the last journey back leaves at 23:51 and reaches Central at 00:59, by F3 ferry then bus 52 then T4 train. On Sundays the last one leaves at 21:51 and reaches Central at 22:45, by F3 ferry then bus 52 then T1 train.
Accessibility
Not confirmed. The timetable does not say whether Central Station, T8 train, Barangaroo, Wharf 1, F3 ferry and Cockatoo Island Wharf are step-free, so we do not claim it. We found no route from Central that is published as step-free all the way.
| On the usual route | Timetable says |
|---|---|
| Central Station (board) | not published |
| T8 train (vehicle) | not published |
| Barangaroo, Wharf 1 (change) | not published |
| F3 ferry (vehicle) | not published |
| Cockatoo Island Wharf (get off) | not published |
From the wheelchair fields Transport for NSW publishes with the timetable. It has no information on lifts, ramps or whether a lift is working today; check Transport for NSW before you travel.
Last mile
From Cockatoo Island Wharf, Side A it is about 450 m to Cockatoo Island along mapped paths, about 7 min on foot. Check the way yourself before you go: maps do not show every closure, crossing or footpath.
Nearby places reachable by transit
- University of Sydneyabout 20 minutes from Central by bus
Taronga Zooabout 50 minutes from Central by train and bus
Sydney Olympic Parkabout 45 minutes from Central by train and bus- UNSW Sydneyabout 40 minutes from Central by bus
Sydney Airportabout 15 minutes from Central by train- Macquarie Universityabout 55 minutes from Central by train and bus
Questions
- Can you get to Cockatoo Island without a car?
- Yes. Cockatoo Island is reachable on scheduled public transport alone: train and ferry, about 35 minutes from Central Station with 1 change.
- How long does it take to get to Cockatoo Island from Sydney?
- About 35 minutes from Central Station: the median of 30 weekday journeys leaving between 8 and 10 am.
- Is there public transport to Cockatoo Island on Sundays?
- Yes. On Sundays the first journey leaves Central at 06:51 and the last at 21:37; roughly every 20 minutes.
- What is the closest train station to Cockatoo Island?
- Wollstonecraft Station, 2.5 km in a straight line. The usual route does not use it: T8 train then F3 ferry to Cockatoo Island Wharf is the way to go.
- Can you get to Cockatoo Island by train?
- Not by train alone: the nearest station is Wollstonecraft Station, 2.5 km in a straight line, but no train journey from Central reaches Cockatoo Island on foot from there. The usual way is T8 train then F3 ferry.
- Can you get to Cockatoo Island by ferry?
- Yes, typically 37 min from Central with 1 change: T1 train then F3 ferry.
- Can you get to Cockatoo Island by bus?
- Not by bus alone: the nearest stop is Woolwich Rd at Franki Ave, 800 m in a straight line, but no bus journey from Central reaches Cockatoo Island on foot from there. The usual way is T8 train then F3 ferry.
- What time is the last ferry back from Cockatoo Island to Sydney?
- On weekdays the last journey back leaves at 23:51 and reaches Central at 00:59, by F3 ferry then bus 52 then T4 train. On Sundays the last one leaves at 21:51 and reaches Central at 22:45, by F3 ferry then bus 52 then T1 train.
- Is Cockatoo Island wheelchair accessible by public transport?
- Not confirmed. The timetable does not say whether Central Station, T8 train, Barangaroo, Wharf 1, F3 ferry and Cockatoo Island Wharf are step-free, so we do not claim it. We found no route from Central that is published as step-free all the way.