Team vs team
Use your own phones and join a team. Any teammate’s answer advances everyone. Beat the other teams on the leaderboard.
City exploration game
Convict Life Sydney: Escape from Cockatoo Island
4.56Player rating
A DIFFERENT WAY TO SEE THE CITY
Play at your pace · usually 120 min 3 km Sydney App-guided
Play in
English
The experience
About this quest
You’ve broken your chains, now run. Set in the heart of Sydney Harbour, this immersive quest drops you into the boots of a 19th-century convict making a desperate escape from Cockatoo Island.
Once a prison for the colony’s most feared criminals, the island’s crumbling tunnels, towering guard posts, and eerie work yards hold both danger and the clues you need to break free. Solve puzzles, follow a trail of secrets, and walk through real history with every step.
Whether you’re with friends or family, this is a journey of discovery, connection, and adventure. Can you outsmart the guards and find your way back to freedom before it’s too late?
Is this for you?
Who it's for
Starting and finishing at Cockatoo Island Ferry Wharf, this 3 km loop runs through the Convict Precinct, the Dog Leg Tunnel and Fitzroy Dock as you plot a convict's escape over about two hours. It suits friends and families with older children who want convict history told more actively than a guided prison tour. Pick something else if you want a guide to question or can only play after dark.
What makes this quest special
Highlights
Follow in the footsteps of convicts as you make your way around the historic sites on the island.
Uncover the island's secret tunnel that served as an air-raid shelter during World War II.
Discover the solitary confinement cells that were hidden until 2009.
From people who played this quest
Good times. In their words.
4.56 / 5
116 player ratings
Selected player reviews. Original words and ratings.
Most relevant starts with detailed five-star reviews. All ratings remain available.
From your phone to the streets
A walk that turns into an adventure.
- 1
Open the app. You’re on your way.
Choose your pass, then open your quest in the Questo app. It guides you from the starting point.
- 2
Get outside. Follow your curiosity.
Discover real places and their stories on foot. Stop for a coffee or a photo, then pick up where you left off.
- 3
Crack a clue. Share a little victory.
Look around for answers, solve puzzles and enjoy the “we got it!” moments.
CHOOSE YOUR PASS
How many are playing?
Get this questNo booking slot · play any dayFull refund until you start playing
BRING YOUR WHOLE GROUP
One city. Rival teams. Great stories together.
A school trip, a team day or friends out together. Turn your next outing into a little friendly competition.
Everyone for themselves
One player per phone. Solve clues on your own and race for the top spot on the final leaderboard.
Can a team share one phone?
Yes. Play together on one phone per team, or use your own phones and join the same team in the app. We recommend your own phones so everyone can take part.
Your walk, at a glance
Sydney
A · Start
33.845831, 151, NSW, Australia
B · Finish
Birchgrove NSW 2041, Australia
Start and finish only. Discover the stops as you play.
Along the way
Landmarks & Hidden Gems Included
The people behind the adventure
Created by Amanda.
A route that brings places and playful storytelling together.
Made by Amanda
WHAT MAKES A QUEST DIFFERENT
Your adventure, with a playful twist.
1 / 4
Experience
- This quest
- Discover places through stories and clues in the app
- Guided walking tour
- Hear stories and ask a guide questions
2 / 4
Pace
- This quest
- Pause for a photo, a café or a longer look
- Guided walking tour
- Usually follows the guide’s schedule
3 / 4
Company
- This quest
- Explore with your own people or on your own
- Guided walking tour
- Private and shared group tours are available
4 / 4
Guidance
- This quest
- Directions and challenges in the Questo app
- Guided walking tour
- Live interpretation from a guide
Features and terms vary by experience. Check the details before booking.
Good to know before you play
- We recommend not playing at night
- No attractions ticket(s) required
A little clarity before you go
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Cockatoo Island convict quest take?
Plan for about 2 hours and roughly 3 km on foot. The route is a loop that starts and finishes at Cockatoo Island Ferry Wharf, so you end up where you arrived. You can pause at any point and continue later.
What was Cockatoo Island used for?
In the 19th century it held some of the colony's most feared convicts. The quest takes you through the Convict Precinct, tunnels, guard posts and work yards, plus Sutherland Dock and Fitzroy Dock. It tells the story of each place while you play a convict trying to escape.
Where does the quest start, and how do I get there?
It starts and ends at Cockatoo Island Ferry Wharf, so you can begin as soon as you step off the ferry. There is no fixed start time to book, and no attraction tickets are needed to play the route.
Does the route go through the Dog Leg Tunnel?
Yes. The Dog Leg Tunnel has two stops, at its eastern and western entrances, between Sutherland Dock and the Historic Residence Precinct. The app tells the tunnel's story and sets a puzzle at each stop.
Is it suitable for children, and can we play in the evening?
It suits families with older children who are curious about convict history. The story is a desperate escape through eerie tunnels and work yards, and the walk takes about 2 hours. Play in daylight, because playing at night is not recommended.
Is Convict Life Sydney: Escape from Cockatoo Island self-guided?
Yes. The Questo app guides you between locations without a tour guide or fixed departure. You can start when it suits you and pause if needed.
Where does Convict Life Sydney: Escape from Cockatoo Island start and finish?
It starts at Cockatoo Island Ferry Wharf, 33.845831, 151, NSW, Australia and finishes at Convict Precinct, Birchgrove NSW 2041, Australia. The route is approximately 3 km and includes 13 location-based puzzles.
How many accesses does our group need?
This classic quest sells access per device and player. Each person who wants to solve clues on their own phone needs their own access.
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Cockatoo Island context
A convict prison and shipyard inside a fictional escape
Cockatoo Island was used as a convict penal establishment from 1839, with prisoners quarrying stone and constructing buildings and docks. It later became a major shipbuilding site and is now part of the UNESCO-listed Australian Convict Sites. This quest’s escape mission is fictional, while the labor, confinement and surviving island structures are documented history. Playable languages: English.
