Fort Denison Island

Fort Denison Island is a historical tourist spot of Sydney located in Sydney harbour. It was a penal site and houses a museum that contains artefacts of the aboriginal period. The main attraction of the island is a Fort built in the middle of the 19th century in the wake of the Crimean war. The fort contains Martello Towers and is unique in Australia. Every day several heritage tours of Fort Denison Island are conducted.

Before the arrival of the Europeans, the aboriginal name of the island Mat-te-Wan-ye prevailed, which later became Rock Island under the reign of Governor Philip. Few years later it was named as Pinchgut. It occupies a small island to the north of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Sydney Harbour. It is Sydney's only island cafe, and a popular location for wedding receptions and corporate events.

Tourists can access Fort Denison island by the ferry that departs wharf 6 at Circular Quay every 45 mins throughout the week. The price includes guided tours of the island, including the Martello Tower. It is conducted by the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Services. The Bureau of Meteorology operates a weather facility from the island and publishes observations on their website every half an hour.

Timings: Tours take place 9 am – 11:45 am (Saturdays and Sundays). Bookings are essential.