Every corner of every city comes with its own history, including ordinary stories and tales that are more than a little spooky. That's especially true on Cockatoo Island, of course. The tiny patch of land has played host to a prison, ship-building facilities, a reform school and a wartime boat repair port over the years, all in the middle of Sydney Harbour. And yes, it's also apparently home to a few ghosts too.
Plenty of mysteries surround the island, and while it runs regular Haunted History Night Tours, the site's latest event is particularly unsettling. It's called Cockatoo Island Ghostyard— A Paranormal Tour for very good reason. The guide will even have a paranormal detection device as they share the island's most unnerving yarns across a 90-minute walk, taking attendees through sites and buildings that have achieved notoriety. Many of the spots visited are rarely opened to the public, so you'll be seeing some new sites as you listen to gruesome true tales.
Kicking off with a sold-out session on Halloween, the tours will run each Saturday night from 9.30–11pm from November 17. Bookings are required, with $45 gets you a scary adventure — and if you're feeling brave, you can also glamp overnight from $200.