How Safe Is Shark Island, Really, And Can You Visit?

Shark Island is a shark-shaped island off the coast of Sydney, Australia. Yes, really - it is shaped like a shark! It is also known as Boowambillee by Aboriginal peoples. The name conjures up images of Great Whites and choppy waters. But Shark Island is, in fact, a picturesque place perfect for a stroll, a swim, and a bite to eat.

Shark Island has a colorful past. The tiny island has been the site of drownings, shipwrecks, and at least one shark attack. It has served as both an animal and a human quarantine area and a naval depot until 1975. It then became part of the Sydney National Harbor Park and was reserved for recreational use, including swimming, picnics, and weddings.

Shark Island History & Safety

So, is Shark Island safe? Are there sharks? Well, the only reported shark attack was in 1877. It involved an Australian sportsman called George Coulthard, who was merely sitting in a boat off-shore when a shark dragged him overboard! Coulthard survived, somehow, and managed to get back aboard the ship. He went on to fame for having survived the brutal attack. Shark Island became an official reserve beginning in 1879, just two years after the incident. We may never know why Coulthard saw it fit to turn the site of his near-death experience into a park for general amusement, but let's explore its safety from a modern vantage point.

To answer the general question - yes, Shark Island is safe. Mostly. Sharks are a highly infrequent occurrence in the freshwater inlet. The cautions of today have little to do with sharks. Shark Island is part of Sydney Harbor National Park and issues all requisite warnings for visitors engaging in water and outdoors activities: sunscreen, life vests (for inexperienced swimmers), and paying attention to water levels and temperatures. It's worth noting that inland waters can be cold enough to induce hypothermia even in the summer. And that heavy rainfall and the opening of reservoirs and dams can significantly impact water levels and currents.

The Australian National Parks site asks Shark Island visitors to watch out for other boats and undertows, not sharks. Check the park website for current alerts. In Coulthard's day, there were drownings and shipwrecks at Shark Island. A lighthouse was built in 1913, and improved communications on water safety have addressed these concerns. Finally, blue-green algae can occasionally be a concern, and warning signs are posted when this is the case.

Visiting Shark Island

General Info

Shark Island is open seven days a week (sunrise to sunset)
Picnic tables, drinking water, flush toilets, and some electricity available
No food is available for purchase on the island
Swimming is allowed
Island is available for rentals (book through Sydney Harbor National Park)

Activities

Shark Island is small - 250 meters long by 100 meters wide (or 0.16 miles long by .06 miles wide), which is nice if you don't wish to walk long distances! It is lush and grassy, and there are numerous picnic tables and a 360-degree view of Sydney Harbor. Shark Island is known as a destination picnic spot - a beautiful place for a date! Open seven days a week, there is no food on the island for purchase, but bringing a picnic is fine. Flush toilets and drinking water are available. There is a $7 landing fee per person.

Swimming can be a refreshing leisure activity at Shark Island. The waters are calm, and the view is unbeatable. Avoid swimming for three days after heavy rainfall. Check the park website for warnings. Bodyboard, snorkeling, and fishing are also popular pastimes.

Ever thought about having the run of an entire island? Shark Island is available for rentals and hosts parties year-round. With Sydney Harbor twinkling in the background and a capacity of 800, Shark Island makes a memorable site for holiday parties and destination weddings. There is a gazebo and a small beach for picture-perfect photo ops.

Flora and Fauna In The Area

With the possibility of sharks low on the radar, Shark Island is home to multitudes of fish and wildlife. There are at least 150 species of birds around the island, such as the white-bellied sea eagle. Native water rats run the small beaches. Sydney Harbor is also home to the Humpback Whale! While not directly available through Shark Island, whale watching tours leaving from elsewhere in Sydney Harbor offer an exciting way to continue enjoying the area and see a large sea animal that will not attack or endanger lives.

A variety of flora - and variety may be an understatement - also awaits at Shark Island. More than 820 species grow in this small oasis! Temperate Australian woodland plants combine with plants from the desert. Grab a field guidebook and enjoy!

Getting There

Commercial ferries are the most common way to get to Shark Island. There is no parking, and private vessels may not dock at the island (though they may pick up and drop off visitors). Check for local ferry companies (note that COVID has suspended ferry service in some cases). Seaplanes are also an option. Take a scenic flight followed by a picnic on the island itself.

Via Ferry