Shark Island – Boowambillee
Sydney Harbour National Park
Overview
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.
- Type
- Picnic areas
- Accessibility
- No wheelchair access
- Price
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To visit Shark Island all visitors need to pay a $7 per person landing fee. Children 0 to 4yrs are free.
- Opening times
Shark Island is open 7 days a week, between sunrise and sunset.
Bookings in advance are essential.- Bookings
- All visitors need to pay a $7 per person landing fee. Book and pay online or call the National Parks Contact Centre on 1300 072 757.
- Hire this venue
Shark Island is available for events and function hire.
- Please note
- Private vessels can drop off and pick up, however are not permitted to moor at Shark Island.
- Barbecue facilities are not available on Shark Island.
- You'll need to bring everything you need for the day.
Do you like the sound of an island getaway but don't have time to jump on a plane? With its lush grassy areas, picnic shelters and spacious gazebo and amazing 360° views, the island is the perfect place for a harbour picnic or to watch the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
The 1.5ha Shark Island sits in Sydney Harbour, just 1km from Rose Bay.
After lunch, you can explore the island's foreshore and grottos, hand built in the early 1900s and hiding a range of tide pool creatures.
Captain Cook Cruises run a service to Shark Island during school holidays.
Take a virtual tour of Shark Island captured with Google Street View Trekker.
Tours and events at this location
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NYE Shark Island
BOOKED OUT. Celebrate New Year’s Eve on Shark Island – it's a great way to see in 2025. Enjoy the dazzling fireworks from this prime location.
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Sydney seaplane flight and Shark Island picnic
Discover a whole new side to Sydney Harbour on a scenic flight with Sydney Seaplanes. You’ll fly through to Bondi before enjoying a decadent picnic on Shark Island.
Also see:
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Goat Island
Known as Me-mel by the local Cadigal people, Goat Island was once inhabited by Bennelong and Barangaroo. Guided tours are available to explore the rich history of Goat Island.
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Clark Island
With views of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, historic Clark Island is a picnic spot like no other, near Double Bay in the eastern suburbs.
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Rodd Island
Historic Rodd Island, in Iron Cove, offers scenic harbour views, picnicking, fishing, and venue hire for weddings and functions in Sydney Harbour National Park.
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Fort Denison – Muddawahnyuh
Fort Denison – Muddawahnyuh (mud-uh-'wahn-yuh) is a heritage fort on a Sydney Harbour island. Once called Pinchgut Island, the former military facility is a popular New Years Eve vantage point.
Google Street View Trekker
Using Google Street View Trekker, we've captured imagery across a range of NSW national parks and attractions. Get a bird's eye view of these incredible landscapes before setting off on your own adventure.
Conservation program:
Fort Denison heritage collection project
Fort Denison is home to a wealth of historic heritage. The Fort Denison heritage collection project invited volunteers to locate, identify, document, conserve, interpret and make accessible the heritage collections in Sydney Harbour National Park. This allowed NPWS to engage with the community and ensure our collections are protected.
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Operated by
- Nielsen Park office
- Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
- 02 9337 5511
- npws.sydneysouth@environment.nsw.gov.au
- Greycliffe House, Nielsen Park, 6 Steele Point Road, Vaucluse NSW 2030
Park info
- in Sydney Harbour National Park in the Sydney and surrounds region
Sydney Harbour National Park is open sunrise to sunset but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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Park entry fees:
Bradleys Head: $8 per vehicle per day. North Head: $5 per vehicle per day. Tap and pay card or phone payments accepted at pay machines. Coin payment available at Fairfax carpark machines only. Chowder Bay: Monday-Friday: $3 per hour, to a maximum of $16 per day. Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays: $4 per hour, to a maximum of $20 per day. If you hold an NPWS All Parks or Multi Parks Pass, you can park free for up to four hours per day - additional time can be purchased. Car parks operated by Sydney Harbour Federation Trust or Mosman Council are not covered by your pass. Please check signs carefully. Park’nPay: You can also pay for your visit to any area via the Park’nPay app.
Other fees:
Landing fees or tour fees apply to visit Sydney Harbour islands. All public visitors to Shark, Clark or Rodd Island, need to pay a $7 per person landing fee. To arrange, please contact 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS). Annual NSW Parks Passes do not cover landing fees.
Buy annual pass
What's nearby:
Things to do (210)
- Aboriginal culture (18)
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- Educational activities (2)
- Environmental appreciation/study (4)
- Fishing (19)
- Historic heritage (55)
- Horse riding (3)
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- Sailing, boating and cruises (16)
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- Wildflowers (seasonal) (13)