Best Nature and Wildlife Areas in Cockatoo Island

"A 7-acre plot started as a poultry farm turned to be one of the must-visit wildlife parks near Sydney. The Featherdale located inner Western Sydney and a usual tour from Sydney to this wildlife park take 45 mins via M4 to reach. The finest Sydney attraction famous for Koala encounters and no one leaves Featherdale wildlife park without patting a Koala."

"A privately-owned zoo in Doonside, near Blacktown, Featherdale Wildlife Park specialises in Australian native wildlife and birds, as well as reptiles and marsupials. Get more info on visiting Featherdale Wildlife Park."

"Leaving Taylors Bay behind, the track continues to the Chowder Head peninsula, before arriving at Clifton Gardens Reserve. Clifton Gardens Reserve is has been a popular picnic spot for families in the area for a very long time, and for good reasons. This beautiful spot is now home to a rocky beach with a netted swimming enclosure, excellent BBQ and picnic facilities, a fenced playground, and toilet facilities."

"The Experiment Farm Cottage is a beautiful attraction that sits at the site of the country’s first official land grant, making it an iconic part of Sydney’s heritage. The grant, made in 1789, was facilitated..."

"Positioned in Sydney Harbour, 1km from the mouth of Rose Bay, Shark Island – Boowambillee (booh-uhm-'bil-ee) is a picnic spot with a difference. Explore the island's foreshore, go swimming or relax in front of amazing Sydney Harbour views."

"For the best baked ricotta cheesecake this side of the equator, go to Pasticceria Papa - easily the one of the best cakes in Sydney. Visit one of their three locations spanning the Inner West and Eastern Suburbs of Sydney - the locals can’t get enough. All stores feature a huge display cabinet piled high with Italian cakes, desserts, and sweets, and friendly, fast service."

"This is the go-to place for chemist-enthusiasts who relish the sweet treat of watching your ice cream created from scratch with liquid nitrogen. Watching the servers mix up beakers of goodness over the counter never fails to amaze me every single time. I never thought it possible to have ice cream with flavours like Deconstructed Apple Strudel or Jam Donut, much less have it taste good!"

"Bigge Park in Liverpool, a south-west suburb of Sydney, received a $5 million upgrade a few years back. The upgrade included a fantastic free water play area. Bigge Park also includes an accessible playground, a regular playground and climbing equipment."

"Award winning Pirrama Park in Pyrmont is a stunning Harbour-side green space with exceptional landscaping as the stand-out feature. This popular park is now home to grassy areas, wide walking paths, a large playground, BBQ and picnic facilities, public toilets, and a handful of cafes. The Pirrama Park area used to be a base for the water police, but the site was purchased by the City of Sydney in 2005, and subsequently transformed into a gorgeous Sydney park."

"If your kids love to dig then Pirrama Park in Pyrmont is where you need to head as this Sydney playground has one of the largest sand digging areas across the city. On hot summer days you will love the ocean breeze whilst the kids enjoy the wide-open pathway of water fountains in the water play area. Location: Pirrama Rd, PyrmontParking: yes, but it can be tricky to secure during busy times."