In partnership with The Sydney Harbour Trust
Sydney is full of special moments in summer. Relaxed, contemplative, life-affirming slices of daily life that blend the city’s unmatched beauty with scenes that feel like they’ve been lifted straight out of a dream. Many of these moments happen in and around Sydney Harbour, from across the bridge in Kirribilli to high up in Mosman at Taronga Zoo.
For the past several years, between January and April, Cockatoo Island – a former convict prison and dockyard in the heart of Sydney Harbour – has provided a haven for those seeking to broaden their musical horizons while enjoying a cruisy Saturday afternoon.
That’s all thanks to Sunset Sessions – an intimate and expansive live music series that takes place on the island’s Biloela Lawn – a sprawling outdoor space with expansive harbour views. As the light softens, and the city exhales after another long week, attendees will enjoy a picnic-style gig where local musical acts perfectly soundtrack the scenes unfolding on the harbour… Meandering yachts. Zig-zagging ferries, leaving white streaks in their wake. The sun, taking its final dive for the day behind the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.
As with previous seasons, this year’s lineup champions emerging artists across different genres, including acoustic, house and jazz. Further, each show features two acts, ensuring attendees will have embarked on quite the musical odyssey by the evening’s end.
Sunset Sessions runs Saturday afternoons from 10 January to 4 April. Tickets are available to purchase online for $38 and food is available either for preorder or at the venue. Plus, kids aged 12 and under can attend free with a paying adult, providing families with an easy win for summer weekends.
While live music is at the heart of Sunset Sessions, the scenic journey across to Cockatoo Island sets the tone for the experience. Getting to the island is refreshingly easy, with ferries running daily from Circular Quay, Barangaroo and wharves along the Parramatta River. If you want to be there in just 10 minutes, the F3 fast ferry from Barangaroo delivers you straight into the heart of Sydney Harbour. Step off the wharf, and it feels like you’ve unlocked a secret part of Sydney Harbour. Even if you’ve been a dozen times before.
Arriving early is recommended. Cockatoo Island is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed Convict Site, layered with stories of industry, incarceration and transformation. Before the music begins, take the opportunity to explore. Guided tours offer rich context and insight, while self-guided audio tours allow you to wander at your own pace through tunnels, slipways and waterfront lookouts. Families can lean into the sense of adventure with a fun-filled tour designed to engage younger minds, turning history into something playful and memorable.
For those who want to extend the magic, an overnight stay transforms a great afternoon into a full escape. Accommodation ranges from the waterfront campground, located directly on the harbour’, to charming holiday houses and apartments. Once the crowds depart and the last ferry leaves, Cockatoo Island grows quiet. Morning arrives gently, with harbour views, birdsong and the sense that you have experienced a side of Sydney many people never see.
Sunset Sessions is an invitation to do summer differently. You may find that, somewhere between the music and the water, you fall a little bit in love with Sydney all over again.
Find out more here
