Contained

Overview

Things are about to get a little livelier at Cockatoo Island, as the historic site prepares to play host to a multi-faceted shipping container summer pop-up. Contained will see the island temporarily score a bar, a restaurant and a hotel from February through to June.

The brainchild of Anatoly Mezhov and Irene Polo and originally erected in Perth, Contained features a whole swag of offerings to tempt Sydneysiders onto the island right through to June. Most excitingly, pop-up restaurant Don Tapa will be dishing up a creative mix of South American and indigenous Australian flavours, starring ingredients picked fresh from the on-site urban farm.

Head to the bar to enjoy even more local goodness. Urban Winery's Alex Retief has pulled together a wine selection celebrating some of NSW's most underrated regions, to sit alongside a Young Henrys beer rotation and a range of Archie Rose's artisan spirits.

And, if you fancy making a proper stay of it, there's the Contained boutique hotel, where guests can stay right by the water, in luxury digs made from repurposed shipping containers. You'll get waterfront views and the ability to order food right to your room. This isn't cheap, of course, with rates at $305–385 a night.

A program of one-off Contained events will also be held over the coming months, including a six-course Valentine's Day degustation and a series of guest chef dinners. And the 21st Biennale of Sydney will run from March till June — which would be the prime time to check it out.