Melbourne · MELBOURNE CRUISES

The 15 Best Melbourne Cruises

58 tours  ·  from $24 a head

The Yarra runs straight through the middle of town and Port Phillip Bay opens out beyond it. These 15 cruises go from a cheap hour past Southbank to dinner on the water, each priced and timed.

Melbourne: 2-Hour City Highlights River Cruise - Follow the river past Docklands and the old waterfront
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Melbourne: 2-Hour City Highlights River Cruise

1.2-Hour City Highlights River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 1,804 reviews · 2 hours · from $49Our pick

Cruise both downstream and upstream on the Yarra, passing Docklands, Polly Woodside, the MCG, Herring Island and the Royal Botanic Gardens. GPS-triggered English commentary sets the scene, while an open rear deck gives you a place for photos. Tea and coffee are included; snacks and other drinks cost extra. Allow for a possible pause or boat change mid-cruise.

“I loved the wonderful lady at the ticket booth Fay. She was super nice, helpful even on a sweltering hot day!!!”

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Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise on the Yarra River - Drinks that help make the price work
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Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise on the Yarra River

2.Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise on the Yarra River

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,470 reviews · from $139

Board at Southbank Promenade at 7:30 pm for an approximately three-hour dinner cruise on the Yarra. You’ll pass city sights including Federation Square, Flinders Street Station, Rod Laver Arena, and the Royal Botanic Gardens while enjoying four courses, wine, beer, spirits, and attentive table service. The boat is enclosed, and the vessel may vary.

“Delightful evening despite a bad weather day. Crew made us comfortable and welcome. Food was great- looked great and lovely flavours. Generous portions”

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Melbourne: Yarra River Sightseeing Cruise - Following the Yarra through central Melbourne
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Melbourne: Yarra River Sightseeing Cruise

3.Yarra River Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 889 reviews · 1 hour · from $28Best value

Cruise for an hour from Federation Wharf, passing Melbourne’s skyline, Eureka Tower, the Royal Botanic Gardens and Southbank. Live English commentary adds local history and landmarks, while tea and coffee are included. You’ll return to your starting point, with a restroom onboard and other drinks available to buy.

“excellent views, lots of room and space to take all the pictures you want”

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Highlights of Melbourne Cruise - Commentary, windows and the open deck
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Highlights of Melbourne Cruise

4.Highlights of Melbourne Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 722 reviews · from $50

Cruise the Yarra River from Southbank for views of Melbourne’s skyline, gardens, sports precinct and Docklands. The roughly two-hour trip includes onboard commentary and complimentary tea or coffee, with indoor seating behind panoramic windows or an open sun deck. The route may change with river conditions, and a pause or boat change can separate its two sections.

“Perfectly spent 2 hours! Highly recommended cruise with professional and helpful staff. Best Melbourne view from the Yarra river”

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Melbourne: 4-Course Dinner Cruise with Drinks - Four courses, with time to enjoy each one
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Melbourne: 4-Course Dinner Cruise with Drinks

5.4-Course Dinner Cruise with Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 511 reviews · 3 hours · from $138

Board an enclosed restaurant boat at Southbank for a three-hour Yarra River dinner cruise. Enjoy a tasting platter, a choice of main, dessert and cheese, plus included drinks and views of Melbourne landmarks. Main courses must be selected when booking. The cruise is for adults aged 18 and over.

“Had our own table by the widow - great views. Great Food, Great Service. Thoroughly recommend it”

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Wilsons Promontory Wilderness Cruise from Tidal River - Fur seals, seabirds and possible whale sightings
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Wilsons Promontory Wilderness Cruise from Tidal River

6.Wilsons Promontory Wilderness Cruise from Tidal River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 449 reviews · from $118Top rated

Set off from Norman Beach in a custom amphibious boat for a 2.5-hour cruise along Wilsons Promontory’s granite coast. Your guide points out South Point, Skull Rock and a fur seal colony, with chances of spotting dolphins, whales and seabirds. Windproof, waterproof jackets are provided. The ride can be rough and spray can leave you wet.

“A great experience. Knowledgeable guides. Wonderful breathtaking scenery. Enjoyed being out on the water.”

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Phillip Island: 1-Hour Cape Woolamai Scenic Cruise - Wildlife Watching Without a Guarantee
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Phillip Island: 1-Hour Cape Woolamai Scenic Cruise

7.1-Hour Cape Woolamai Scenic Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 415 reviews · 1 hour · from $34

From San Remo Jetty, take a one-hour morning cruise toward Cape Woolamai, passing beneath the Phillip Island Bridge and along granite cliffs and sea caves. An English-speaking guide shares commentary as you watch for seabirds and marine life. Tea, coffee, and cake are included. Wildlife sightings vary, and the bow is restricted to people over 1 meter tall.

“Staff were excellent, it could not be improved, Thanks”

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Melbourne: 2-Hour Bottomless Brunch Cruise - From Southgate to the Yarra
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Melbourne: 2-Hour Bottomless Brunch Cruise

8.2-Hour Bottomless Brunch Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 297 reviews · 2 hours · from $90

Join Melbourne River Cruises at Southgate for a two-hour brunch aboard the Spirit of Melbourne. Expect sweet and savoury food, unlimited beer, wine and Prosecco mimosas, plus tea and coffee as the boat passes riverfront parks, gardens, sports stadiums and city views. Check in at Berth 1 at 12:50 PM.

“OMG. The crew have been the absolute dream team!! please give them a pay rise 🙏 😍 food was great, drinks flowing, it was the best afternoon in Melbourne on the river 😎🙌 thank you so much to all the amazing crew ❤️”

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Melbourne: Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner - Harbour views before sunset
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Melbourne: Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner

9.Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 214 reviews · 3 hours · from $84

Set out from Victoria Harbour with Kayak Melbourne guides for a three-hour paddle past the Bolte Bridge, Crown Casino, Southbank and Flinders Street Station. You’ll get a land-based safety lesson, stable two-person kayaks, and dinner served while you’re tied up in a marina. Finish near Federation Square as the city lights come on.

“Ben and Ethan were very friendly and good guides / instructors. No prior knowledge needed, all explained before we set off. The kayaks have rudders so no need to panic about steering if you’re new to kayaking. Plenty of opportunities to take photos, ask questions and learn a bit more about the city, and the food was decent. Water bottles were also provided. It was someone’s birthday so Ben and Ethan were kind enough to get them a birthday cookie with a candle as a surprise, after one of the other participants mentioned it. I travelled solo and this was not an issue - I paired up with someone who…”

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Philip Island: Seal Watching Cruise - Watching the fur seals at Seal Rocks
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Philip Island: Seal Watching Cruise

10.Philip Island: Seal Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 213 reviews · 2 hours · from $81

From Cowes, take a two-hour cruise along Phillip Island’s coast to Seal Rocks, home to more than 7,000 Australian fur seals. Expect wildlife commentary, time to watch seals from the boat, and complimentary tea, coffee and cake. Dolphins, penguins and seabirds may also appear, but sightings vary.

“I enjoyed the travel, the history about the place and kind cruise attendants. Unfortunately I got sea sick but they were helpful and understanding.”

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Melbourne: Electric Picnic Boat Rental on the Yarra River - Choosing one, two, or three hours
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Melbourne: Electric Picnic Boat Rental on the Yarra River

11.Electric Picnic Boat Rental on the Yarra River

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 209 reviews · 1 - 3 hours

Take the helm of a private electric picnic boat for up to eight people and cruise Melbourne’s Yarra River for one to three hours. No boating experience or license is required. GoBoat staff explain how to steer and suggest a route for your rental time. Pack a picnic and drinks; the boat is quiet, easy to handle, and made partly with recycled PET bottles.

“It was absolutely amazing. A really nice experience to tour the city with your loved ones. The guides we so helpful and patient (especially if you’re someone like me who’s first time to pilot a boat)”

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River Gardens Melbourne Sightseeing Cruise - A close-up view of bridges and riverbanks
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River Gardens Melbourne Sightseeing Cruise

12.River Gardens Melbourne Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 193 reviews · from $29

Cruise the Yarra River for about an hour from Southbank, passing sights such as Princes Bridge, Herring Island, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the MCG. Onboard commentary adds local history, and tea and coffee are included. You can sit inside behind panoramic windows or head to the outside deck, with snacks and other drinks available to buy.

“Nice relaxing cruise, very informative about sights and history. It was raining so it was great that it was all enclosed. Complimentary tea, coffee & water.”

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Melbourne City Cruise with Tea, Coffee, and Commentary - Upstream past gardens, bridges and sporting grounds
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Melbourne City Cruise with Tea, Coffee, and Commentary

13.Melbourne City Cruise with Tea, Coffee, and Commentary

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 189 reviews · 1 hour · from $29

Choose an upstream cruise past the Royal Botanic Gardens and Melbourne Cricket Ground, or head downstream toward Docklands and Hobson’s Bay. Each trip lasts one hour and includes live English commentary, tea and coffee, indoor panoramic windows, and an open sun deck. The boat departs from Southgate’s Berth 2.

“I was very interested in the history information. (My 8 year old granddaughter was not )”

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Melbourne Sunset Kayaking Experience with Dinner - Victoria Harbour gives you a different Docklands view
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Melbourne Sunset Kayaking Experience with Dinner

14.Melbourne Sunset Kayaking Experience with Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 188 reviews · from $86

Set out from Docklands with a guide, basic paddling instruction, and a stable Sea Bear kayak. Follow the Yarra past Victoria Harbour and Southbank, pause for fish and chips or another dinner choice on the water, and look for Crown Casino’s fire display. The tour takes about three hours and ends near Federation Square.

“Great trip, run my experts. Dinner on the yarra was awesome. Guides made you feel really welcome and showed you the basics of kayaking. Would highly recommend”

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Wilsons Promontory: Afternoon Wilderness Cruise - South Point and the open waters of Bass Strait
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Wilsons Promontory: Afternoon Wilderness Cruise

15.Afternoon Wilderness Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 168 reviews · 2h 30m · from $109

This 150-minute afternoon cruise follows Wilsons Promontory’s rugged coast aboard a custom-built amphibious boat. Expect South Point, Skull Rock, offshore islands, and chances to spot seals, dolphins, birds, or migrating whales. English-speaking guides share local history and wildlife details. Waterproof, windproof jackets are provided; bring warm layers.

“Amazing afternoon on the boat! Great guides! Lovely weather! Would recommend this activity to everyone!”

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New in Melbourne Cruises

★ 4.5Whitewater Sports rafting on the Yarra riverFrom $755 reviews
★ 5.0Yarra River Half-Day Rafting ExperienceFrom $4721 reviews
★ 5.0Wilsons Promontory Full Day CruiseFrom $37640 reviews
★ 5.0Dolphin & Whale CruiseFrom $9623 reviews
★ 4.5Phillip Island Sunset CruiseFrom $5638 reviews
★ 4.590 minute wildlife and scenic cruiseFrom $5321 reviews
★ 4.01.5hour Scenic and Wildlife luxury cruiseFrom $5312 reviews
★ 4.03-Hour Dolphin and Seal Sightseeing Cruise, operated with swim tour passengersFrom $7824 reviews
★ 5.0Yarra River Waterbike TourFrom $14023 reviews
★ 4.0Golden Hour CruiseFrom $468 reviews
★ 4.5Spirit of Melbourne Lunch CruiseFrom $9627 reviews
★ 5.0Private Romantic Melbourne Dinner Cruise for 25 reviews
★ 5.0Phillip Island Wildlife Cruise and Penguin Tour from MelbourneFrom $11830 reviews
★ 5.0Luxury Private 90min Wine and Cheese Yarra River Cruise5 reviews
★ 5.0Cruise Ship Friendly Yarra Valley Wine Tour with Port PickupFrom $1368 reviews

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