Overview
One of Sydney's most popular tourist attractions is set to undergo a blood-curdling transformation. During two consecutive weekends, October 25–27 and November 1–3, a wander around the ghostly grounds of Cockatoo Island will become a delightfully nightmare-inducing experience. Visitors can face their fears at the Tunnels of Terror — a pair of immersive Halloween pop-ups featuring live actors. First, there's The Haunted, filled with spectres from beyond the veil, and then, taking its cues from Cockatoo Island's troubled past as a sanatorium for orphaned girls, there's The Asylum, a deranged descent into madness. Expect to be chilled to the bone with each unsettling step you take.
If you manage to escape these tortured tunnels, your reward will be a devilishly delicious bounty of spooky snacks. Indulge in food truck treats and sips from signature Blood Bag cocktails (or mocktails) at the bar. You can also get into the Halloween spirit with the help of expert special effect makeup demos and show off your killer dance moves by learning the iconic MJ 'Thriller' dance.
Tickets for access into the tunnels start from $40 and group packages are available for friends and families craving a truly terrifying Halloween experience. Travel with ease to the island with ferries every 20 minutes from Parramatta and Circular Quay.
For young daredevils who may not be ready for the full-throttle horror of the tunnels, there are family-friendly sessions between 4–5 pm on Saturdays and 2–3 p.m. on Sundays for teens aged 14-18. Visitors to the evening sessions which run from 7–9 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 5–7 pm on Sundays, must be aged over 18.
