Melbourne · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

The 15 Best Boat Trips in Melbourne

25 tours  ·  from $23

The river through the middle of town, the bay past Williamstown and the seal colonies off Phillip Island. These 15 range from a 40-minute ferry to a full day on the water, each priced and honest about swell cancellations.

Melbourne: 2-Hour City Highlights River Cruise - Starting at Southgate beside the Langham Hotel
2-Hour Experiences, City Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Yarra River Cruises

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 upstream and downstream on Melbourne’s Yarra River, passing Docklands, Southbank, sporting grounds, Herring Island, and the Royal Botanic Gardens. You’ll have GPS-triggered English commentary, tea and coffee, indoor seating, and an open back deck for photos. The cruise may change boats midway.

“it was easy to access and the commentary was very interesting. the skipper was also very polite and knowledgeable.”

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Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise on the Yarra River - Four courses, with plenty on the table
Cruises & Boat Tours, Dining Experiences, Dinner Experiences, Tour Reviews, Yarra River Cruises

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 for a three-hour evening cruise past Federation Square, Flinders Street Station, Rod Laver Arena, and the Royal Botanic Gardens. You’ll receive four courses, Australian wine, beer, spirits, coffee, port, and attentive table service aboard the enclosed Yarra Countess or Yarra Empress.

“The good: service was excellent...the seating process, initial drinks, appetizers all done very efficiently and with warmth and care. The appetizers were quite tasting including duck slice, oysters, beef, scallops. The needs improvement: overall, Read more”

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Melbourne: Yarra River Sightseeing Cruise - The first stretch through central Melbourne
Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Yarra River Cruises

Melbourne: Yarra River Sightseeing Cruise

3.Yarra River Sightseeing Cruise

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

Cruise through central Melbourne from Federation Wharf, passing Eureka Tower, Southbank, the Royal Botanic Gardens, bridges, and riverside districts. An English-speaking captain and crew provide live commentary, with tea, coffee, snacks, and alcoholic drinks available onboard.

“great trip along the Yarra river. Guide was excellent. Cruise well worth the money”

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Highlights of Melbourne Cruise - The upriver route to the MCG and Botanic Gardens
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Highlights of Melbourne Cruise

4.Highlights of Melbourne Cruise

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

Cruise Melbourne’s Yarra River for about two hours, traveling upriver past the MCG and Royal Botanic Gardens, then downriver toward Docklands and the port. You’ll get onboard commentary, panoramic windows, an outdoor sun deck, and complimentary tea or coffee, though the two sections may involve a pause or boat change.

“Upstream tour interesting, downstream not so. A little boring to be honest but that's Melbourne. The trip was fine, staff good, service good. Seats on the boat uncomfortable and angles towards the windows.”

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Melbourne: 4-Course Dinner Cruise with Drinks - The Yarra route and what you actually see
Cruises & Boat Tours, Dining Experiences, Dinner Experiences, Tour Reviews, Yarra River Cruises

Melbourne: 4-Course Dinner Cruise with Drinks

5.4-Course Dinner Cruise with Drinks

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

Board at Southbank for a three-hour dinner cruise through central Melbourne. You’ll enjoy tasting platters, a choice of main course, dessert, cheese, drinks, and views of Federation Square, Flinders Street Station, Rod Laver Arena, and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

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

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Phillip Island: 1-Hour Cape Woolamai Scenic Cruise - The San Remo departure keeps the morning easy
1-Hour Experiences, Boat Tours in Phillip Island, Cruises & Boat Tours, Phillip Island Tours, Tour Reviews

Phillip Island: 1-Hour Cape Woolamai Scenic Cruise

6.1-Hour Cape Woolamai Scenic Cruise

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

Join Wildlife Coast Cruises at San Remo Jetty for a one-hour morning trip toward Cape Woolamai. Your English-speaking guide shares wildlife and coastal facts as you pass under Phillip Island Bridge, watch for seabirds and seals, and enjoy tea, coffee and cake aboard.

“What a great experience! Such lovely crew, friendly and informative. Would definitely recommend.”

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Melbourne: City and Williamstown Ferry Cruise - Leaving Southbank and following the Yarra
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Melbourne City and Williamstown Ferry Cruise

7.Melbourne City and Williamstown Ferry Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 356 reviews · from $23Best value

Take a roughly one-hour ferry between Melbourne and Williamstown, passing bridges, Docklands, shipping channels, and Hobson’s Bay. Choose one-way or round-trip travel, listen to onboard commentary, and use your free time in Williamstown for cafés, galleries, gardens, and seafaring history. Tea and coffee are included.

“Farmers market, cafes, ferry views The river was a bit high so we were a bit late leaving as we had to wait to fit under the bridges.”

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Melbourne: City and Williamstown Ferry Cruise - Leaving Southbank and following the Yarra
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Melbourne: City and Williamstown Ferry Cruise

8.City and Williamstown Ferry Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 343 reviews · from $23

Take a one-way or round-trip ferry from Southbank to Williamstown, cruising under low bridges and across Port Phillip Bay. Hear live English commentary, enjoy tea or coffee, and choose between time ashore in Williamstown or a relaxing return to Melbourne.

“Excellent Enjoyed by both myself and granddaughter. Will do it again”

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Melbourne: 2-Hour Bottomless Brunch Cruise - From Berth 1 at Southgate to the river
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Melbourne: 2-Hour Bottomless Brunch Cruise

9.2-Hour Bottomless Brunch Cruise

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

Settle aboard the Spirit of Melbourne for a relaxed two-hour brunch on the Yarra. From Southgate, you’ll enjoy sweet and savoury food, unlimited beer, wine, Prosecco mimosas, tea and coffee, plus views of Melbourne’s parks, gardens, stadiums and city skyline.

“Drinks and food were excellent had a great girls day out 😊”

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Philip Island: Seal Watching Cruise - Seal Rocks and the main wildlife encounter
Boat Tours in Phillip Island, Cruises & Boat Tours, Melbourne Whale and Seal Watching Cruises, Phillip Island Tours, Tour Reviews

Philip Island: Seal Watching Cruise

10.Seal Watching Cruise

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

Join Wildlife Coast Cruises from Cowes for a two-hour trip to Seal Rocks, home to more than 7,000 Australian fur seals. The captain and crew provide wildlife commentary, tea, coffee, and cake, with sheltered viewing, child-friendly activities, and possible dolphin, penguin, seabird, or whale sightings.

“Overall the entire event was wonderful! Everyone was very helpful and answered all the questions that was asked!”

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Melbourne: Electric Picnic Boat Rental on the Yarra River - What you see from the water
Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Yarra River Cruises

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 wheel of a private electric picnic boat on Melbourne’s Yarra River, with room for up to eight people and no boat license required. GoBoat staff explain the controls and route in English, then you set the pace. Bring food, drinks, sunscreen, and a sun hat.

“It was the best family outing / kids birthday party I’ve ever had. We picnicked while seeing the beautiful sights of our city. The kid were super excited and staff were amazing. Highly recommended. A pleasant experience”

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Melbourne: 1-Hour Gardens and Sporting Precinct River Cruise - Leaving Southgate beneath Princes Bridge
1-Hour Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Melbourne Gardens and Botanic Tours, Tour Reviews, Yarra River Cruises

Melbourne: 1-Hour Gardens and Sporting Precinct River Cruise

12.1-Hour Gardens and Sporting Precinct River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 196 reviews · from $27

Spend an hour on the Yarra River, leaving from Southgate and passing the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Olympic Park, Herring Island, and Princes Bridge. English commentary, panoramic windows, an enclosed cabin, and free coffee or tea make this a simple city overview in any weather.

“I wanted to take my young son to see the city and he was able to enjoy the full hour on the boat while I learnt through the running commentary”

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River Gardens Melbourne Sightseeing Cruise - River gardens and the Royal Botanic Gardens
Cruises & Boat Tours, Melbourne Gardens and Botanic Tours, Tour Reviews, Yarra River Cruises

River Gardens Melbourne Sightseeing Cruise

13.River Gardens Melbourne Sightseeing Cruise

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

Spend an hour on the Yarra River with live commentary, complimentary tea and coffee, and views of Princes Bridge, Herring Island, the MCG, Olympic Park, and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Sit inside behind panoramic windows or outside on deck, with the route adjusted for tides and river traffic.

“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 - Meeting the boat at Southgate Berth 2
City Tours, Coffee Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews

Melbourne City Cruise with Tea, Coffee, and Commentary

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

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

Choose a one-hour upstream cruise past the Royal Botanic Gardens, MCG, and Olympic Park, or head downstream to Docklands and Melbourne’s port. Live English commentary, indoor panoramic windows, an outdoor sun deck, and complimentary tea or coffee are included.

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

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Phillip Island Seal-Watching Cruise - Live commentary, landmarks, and Captain Tom
Boat Tours in Phillip Island, Cruises & Boat Tours, Melbourne Whale and Seal Watching Cruises, Phillip Island Tours, Tour Reviews

Phillip Island Seal-Watching Cruise

15.Phillip Island Seal-Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 146 reviews · from $82Top rated

Set out from Cowes Jetty on a two-hour catamaran cruise to Seal Rocks, about 2 kilometres off Phillip Island. Watch Australian fur seals from indoor or outdoor seating, listen to live commentary, and look for dolphins, whales, penguins, and seabirds. Afternoon tea is included.

“We got to see the seals up so close and all the staff where amazing with helping with the best places to see and sit.”

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