The Australian National Maritime Museum is inviting families to go on a Cockatoo Island Adventure when it hosts a special free family fun day amongst the spectacular shipyards of historic Cockatoo Island.
Cockatoo Island Adventures Family fun daySunday 23 October 2016, 10.30am – 3.30pm
The museum is taking its monthly family fun day on tour to give visitors an enhanced insight into Sydney’s maritime history. Held in partnership with the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, families will enjoy circus performances, character tours, steam crane demonstrations, live Kinderling Radio DJ, storytelling and much more.
A full day of fun is planned for all the family, including:
Kids on Deck: Rats, Bats and Bunting Tossers – Enjoy nautical themed craft activities inspired by the surroundings of the historic Cockatoo Island shipyards. Make your own model submarine or battleship, craft a periscope or souvenir badge or design a temporary tattoo. Dress up as a sailor and play fun nautical games. 11am – 3pm
Circus performances and games: Ship Shape – Join the kooky and talented Heidi Hoops for a display of daring and delightful circus arts inspired by sailors and submarine spies. Then join in and learn hula-hooping skills and circus moves. 11am, 12pm and 2.00pm (30 minute sessions)
Tour: Crooked Characters of Cockatoo Island and other Colonial Escapades – Embark on a hilarious journey exploring the history and mythology of Australia’s colonial past. 1pm – 2pm
Storytelling performances: Sea Tales – Join spoken word artist Miles Merrill and composer Trevor Brown for lively, interactive musical storytelling. Take an imaginative journey from wild storms and brave journeys to distant lands of lighthouse keepers and beat boxing whales. 11.30am, 12.30am and 1.30pm
DJ: Kinderling Radio – Dance the day away at the Kinderling Radio DJ booth. 11am – 3pm
Steam Crane Demonstrations – Watch the wonderfully restored, fascinating old steam crane power into action and see how steam power used to rule the Fitzroy Dock. 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm & 2.30pm
Boat cruise: historic Sydney – Cruise around Cockatoo Island on the historic Sydney which was the Captain’s Launch of the HMAS Sydney built in 1945. 10.30am – 3.00pm
Self-guided activity trails – Visit the visitor’s centre to pick up a special activity booklet for children to explore our convict and maritime past. Follow the map on Convict Clues to answer the secret convict question or on Ship Shape Challenges to discover the secret ship shape.
Face painting: Sea creatures, Sailors and Swashbucklers – Have your face painted with a special sailor tattoo, swashbuckler’s grin or sea creature. 11am – 3.30pm
Photo op: Blinky the lighthouse – Have your photo taken with our adorable inflatable lighthouse. 10.30am – 11.30am, 2pm – 3pm
The Cockatoo Island Adventures family fun day is free and is a collaboration between the Australian National Maritime Museum and the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. Be sure to pick up your family fun map on arrival to plan your day’s adventure. For further information about Cockatoo Island including how to get there visit www.cockatooisland.gov.au.
The Australian National Maritime Museum, in Darling Harbour, is open from 9.30am to 5pm daily. For more information call 02 9298 3777.
Media contacts:
Jude Timms – External Relations Officer, Australian National Maritime Museum (02) 9298 3645; 0418 219 841; jtimms@anmm.gov.au
Murray Black – Media and Communications Executive, Sydney Harbour Federation Trust (02) 8969 2113; 0407 453 428; murray.black@harbourtrust.gov.au