Discover Melbourne’s history and highlights on this guided Yarra River cruise. Float past the city’s towering skyscrapers and lovely urban gardens while learning about the transformation of this vibrant city from 19th-century port town to a modern cultural capital. Your sightseeing cruise takes you upriver and downriver for a scenic overview of attractions on both banks.

Cruises downriver to the port and upriver away from the city
Opportunities to photograph Melbourne's skyline and port from the water
Onboard commentary with insights into Melbourne's history
Panoramic windows provide unparalleled views plus protection from wind or rain
Sun deck for outdoor river cruising

What's Included

Commentary
Drinks (tea and coffee)
Yarra River Cruise

No food or drinks are sold on board
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Gratuities

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

Melbourne River Cruises
Berth 2, Southbank Promenade, Southbank VIC 3006, Australia
Berth No 2, Southgate Arts and Leisure Precinct Landing

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Take in Melbourne’s highlights from a unique vantage point on the scenic Yarra River. Learn about the history of this modern metropolis on a narrated tour as you glide past beautiful gardens, historic buildings, and ultramodern skyscrapers.

Enjoy the sights from your boat’s sundeck or through panoramic windows from the inside cabin, where you can enjoy complimentary coffee or tea. At the end of the round-trip journey, you have a wonderful overview of Melbourne’s history and layout to help you plan the rest of your time in Victoria’s welcoming capital.

Downriver Highlights:
• Docklands
• Crown Entertainment Complex
• West Gate Bridge
• 19th-century sailing ship Polly Woodside
• World Congress Center and Trade Center
• Southgate Arts and Leisure Precinct
• Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center

Upriver Highlights:
• Princes Bridge
• Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
• The Governor's residence
• Olympic Park
• Herring Island
• Royal Botanic Gardens
• Victorian Arts Center spire
• National Tennis Center

Melbourne River Cruises (Pass By)

Yarra River (Pass By)

Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) (Pass By)

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (Pass By)

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (Pass By)

Docklands (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Please note the travel date is only required as an indication within 3 months from booking confirmation date
Note: Passengers may bring a small amount of snacks and drinks on board
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
Unfortunately the vessel is NOT wheelchair accessible. However, passengers in a wheelchair can be accommodated only if they can get on and off the vessel on their own and if the wheelchair is collapsible. The staff are not permitted to assist handicapped persons due to insurance restrictions
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 78 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

about cancellations.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Brown_J

I had a great time, the Captain and his first Mate made my experience memorable. I would definitely come back and do another cruise.

Reviews

3.5

411 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 411 reviews

Fantastic!

Erin_O, Jun 2023

Fantastic cruise with fantastic crew! Commentary was informative and funny :) 2 hour boat trip was perfect

The Melbourne Cruise- An enjoyable experience

Ashish_G, Jun 2023

The Melbourne Cruise offered an extraordinary view of the landscape. The commentary was good with skillful navigation under the low bridges at South Bank.

A MUST TRIP

Mwila_M, May 2023

Lots of sights to see and guide was knowlegeable and funny..Suggest may be a continuous trip, up and down stream of the river without a break in between.It was cold on the day of the cruise could have done with a hot cup of beverage.

Beautiful scenery

Brown_J, May 2023

I had a great time, the Captain and his first Mate made my experience memorable. I would definitely come back and do another cruise.

Too crowded on deck

Jill_B, May 2023

The trip was only 1hr 20mins and should have been 2 hours. Lots of people climbed on the cabin roof which blocked a lot of the views.

Good commentary from...

Stephen_R, May 2023

Good commentary from skipper throughout trip Great viewing from inside or outside on boat Saw alot from the boat that maybe you wouldnt by foot

Amazing and relaxing

Dennis_H, Apr 2023

The crew was great. The trip was relaxing and informative. Highly recommend this tour. The captain was very informative and interesting and a little funny. A pleasant way to spend the afternoon

Late start, probably 20...

Sandra_L, Apr 2023

Late start, probably 20 min spent picking and dropping people off across the river. Not much of a tour. Pretty poor for the price. Cold! All windows left open while everyone froze

Worth it

Rhonda_A, Apr 2023

Great way to see Melbourne from ‘behind the scenes’ - the captain regaled us with his knowledge and ‘Auto Pilot’ has a sunny face : )

DO NOT DO THIS ONE

Ric, Apr 2023

The sound system did not work and so we got no commentary throughout the journey, all we got was god awful music! The boat was totally trashed and needed to be retired period I would never do this again and would never recommended it.

Yarra Cruising

Ronwyn_D, Apr 2023

The views and commentary outlining history and points of interest. Very easy to book and locate. A very relaxing way to see some of the sights of Melbourne

Captain very...

Suzanne_E, Apr 2023

Captain very knowledgeable and the cruise was a way to see some of Melbourne. It was quite relaxing and Im glad we booked for the 2 hour trip.

Yarra River Cruise

Dawn_A, Apr 2023

Apart from viewing the sports arenas the cruise upriver was not that interesting. Down river was much better, more things to see and commentary was more interesting.

Awesome experience

Abhimanyu_J, Apr 2023

Good experience but man there was rude at the ticket counter. Tourist places should have good atmosphere towards the tourist.

Be aware

Jennifer_B, Apr 2023

Be aware, your 2 hour cruise, in our case was actually two one hour cruises with a 30minute break in between where you had to kill the time at the spot where you got on.

The staff on the boat...

Claire_E, Apr 2023

The staff on the boat were nice. However it’s very basic, and the direction the boat goes in you get very limited views of Melbourne, unless you stand outside when coming back into dock. The tour description also said 2 hours, and it was less than 1 hour. Not worth the price unfortunately

Fun on the Yarra

Priscilla_L, Mar 2023

Information given by Skipper was informative and entertaining. Views were excellent. As it was raining the floor was very wet. Unfortunately aan elderly passenger slipped and hit her head on the metal door sustaining a black bruise. Felt your ferry should carry a first aid kit and an ice pack as nothing was available. As a passenger i offered her assistance but she was shaken. Also we had to ask for the complimentary advertised coffee or tea. All in all we really enjoyed the 2 hour cruise.

Great views of the city...

Miles_P, Mar 2023

Great views of the city when travelling back to centre from both directions, particularly when standing at the rear of the boat. Our rating was only ‘average’ due to the delivery of the boat’s captain who mumbled much of the time. What we were able to hear was interesting but we only heard about 20%.

Enjoyed the river cruise

Joanna_W, Mar 2023

The commentary was excellent ! We learnt so much about the history of Melbourne and the Yarra. It gave us some great ideas of what to visit next !

Rather disappointing

Kathy_A, Mar 2023

Prompt departure and returned on time. We found it really not a great vessel for sightseeing as the viewing inside was quite restricted by the depth of the windows when seated and we preferred to sit out the back which was better but there was no exterior speaker to enjoy the commentary, which we found bizarre. The fridge was faulty so you couldnt enjoy a drink on route which was dissapointing.

City of Tall Buildings.

Jacoro_L, Mar 2023

Melbourne is really a very beautiful city with great food and lots of different cultures. A great place to visit.

Boat tour of Melbourne

Donald_H, Mar 2023

Viewing Melbourne skyline. Seeing location of 1956 Olympic games and where Australian Open tennis is held.

Trip not worth

Vikram_B, Mar 2023

There’s nothing memorable about this tour because I booked it for 2 hours ride but after reaching there you find out that it finishes in damn 50 minutes.

Amateur operators, not happy.

Mary_J, Mar 2023

Commentary upstream was just a continuous blurb, it was hard to understand and and was a bit of information overload. (The Captain from New Zealand). Out tickets indicated a 1:30pm start, we arrived about 15 mins early, so as to be sure not to miss the boat, and the boat did not arrive until about 1:50pm. We waited round in the hot sun for 40 mins before we could go aboard. Not a very professional operation considering there were many tourists from overseas waiting as well. The other captain who commented on the downstream section was quite good. Comments were clear and precise and we had time to look around without having to concentrate on the commentary. (Aussie Captain).

Not worth it

Laree_B, Mar 2023

It’s not a 2 hour cruise. It’s 1 hr, then sit in the dock for 30 mins ( and fry in the sun) then another 30 minute trip. Very old boat , Captain who gave commentary for the first 25 mins of the 1hr trip , just didn’t really want to be there I don’t think. Very hot and stuffy on the boat. Reasonable size fan , but pointed straight at the Captain. Didn’t enjoy it at all to be honest.

Excellent

Dawn_H, Mar 2023

Excellent. Definitely recommend it. Sam was the captain and Merco the deckhand. Amazing commentary, funny and informative. Really friendly guys. A great trip.

When we arrived at the ticket koist we were informed that the trip was cancelled so we are looking to Viator to refund

Warren_B, Mar 2023

Not applicable the trip was cancelled by the boat company who refused to reimburse our payment. we were told to refer back to Viator for a refund of our money paid to viator

Don’t bother

David_D, Mar 2023

Don’t bother with this tour. It lasted 45 minutes not an hour. The commentary was only about 20 minutes and very basic, mostly about the sports complexes and bridges.

Great

Rose_a, Mar 2023

Was a great boating trip with a very good running commentary along the way. All of the notable things shown and explained

Central Tour on the water

Svenja_B, Mar 2023

Without big diversion you can hear the description and history. You just can enjoy the fresh air between beautiful sights without loud nouise around you.

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