17:30 AEST Sat Apr 28 2012

It isn't easy to get someone from Melbourne to sing Sydney's praises — and vice versa — but when Giaan Rooney did some island-hopping in Sydney Harbour, she was amazed.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House stand guard over eight islands sprinkled around the harbour. Giaan checked out three of them and she loved them all.

Cockatoo Island

The largest of the islands, Cockatoo is available for everyone to enjoy. The 18-hectare island's history includes it being an Aboriginal fishing spot, imperial prison, industrial school, reformatory and jail. Its prison buildings are on UNESCO's World Heritage list and is managed by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.

Related:

VIEW PICS: Cockatoo Island, Sydney

and

An Insider's Guide to Sydney