Shark Island

Shark Island is a wonderful little gem sitting in Sydney Harbour, one of the world's great natural beauties. It's been a tightly held secret for too long but now the word is out — the island is yours for the taking and can be visited and hired out for private parties.

Once you could access it only by private boat or water taxi, but now there is a ferry service operating on weekends from Darling Harbour via Circular Quay. It can carry 150 passengers at a time (500 is the maximum amount of visitors allowed on the island at one time).

Matilda Cruises can organise a Shark Island Picnic Pack which has sandwiches, cheese, crackers, juice, cake and chocolates.

If you want to go Italian style, La Dolce Vita is a mahogany speedboat custom made for those of us who like to toff it up with a glass of champagne. The sleek speedster tours the harbour foreshores with the driver pointing out places — and mansions — of interest.

Of course, you can still access the island by water taxi or even your own boat, but for the latter you need to purchase a permit from the National Parks & Wildlife Service at Cadman's Cottage in The Rocks.

The little island measures just 1.5ha and has a path running around its perimeter. It has fresh water, toilet and picnic facilities.

It is the perfect spot for a family day out — at low tide there is a small beach suitable for swimming and there are lots of rock pools with sealife. Tall pines and other trees provide plenty of shade on summer days.

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