Sightseeing Cruises

2-Hour Yarra River Sightseeing Cruise

Cruise captain checking tickets of guests on Yarra River sightseeing cruise in Melbourne.

Melbourne River Cruise boat on Yarra River with city skyline in the background.

Yarra River sightseeing cruise boat with Melbourne cityscape in the background.

Melbourne River Cruise guests enjoying city skyline views from the boat.

Sail the Yarra River for 2 hours, exploring Melbourne’s top landmarks like Federation Square, Docklands, the MCG, and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Highlights

Cruise the Yarra River for 2 hours, passing iconic landmarks like Federation Square, Docklands, and the Crown Entertainment Complex.
See Melbourne’s natural and urban beauty, from the Royal Botanic Gardens to Melbourne CBD views and the striking Bolte Bridge.
Discover history with views of the 19th-century “Polly Woodside” sailing ship and Melbourne’s bustling shipping channels.
Enjoy live commentary, revealing fascinating stories about Melbourne’s landmarks, from sports arenas to world-class cultural hubs.
Fun fact: Many animals call Yarra River home, including 18 different species of frogs and 170 bird species!

Inclusions

2-hour Yarra River sightseeing cruise
Live commentary
Complimentary tea/coffee

Exclusions

Beverages (can be purchased on the cruise)

Itinerary

Cancellation policy

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Reviews

4.5

908 ratings

5/5

631

4/5

183

3/5

2/5

1/5

Stevie

5/5

Jan, 2025

Dave and crew were lovely and friendly. The views of Melbourne were awesome and commentary to support it taught us a lot about the city.

Nicola

3/5

Jan, 2025

The Tour required you to disembark from the boad, wait 15 minutes and then return to the boat to complete. This was not communicated and if was, we would have not taken the tour. The issue is, that their is very little shade and only a small proportion of seating, so if you are with ederly (which we were) it made the experience uncomfortable. Not sure why this detail was not clearly indicated on either the ticket or the webpage. Otherwise everything else was good.

Bernard

5/5

Jan, 2025

The cruise itself was fantastic. Great captain and commentator. The only criticism would be the organisation before embarking was bad. I had a QR code on my phone. I asked the guide about instructions and she ushered us to berth 2. At no stage did she say I needed to print off a ticket, it also doesn't say that on the email. Nearly missed the cruise because of this , it was a crazy few minutes. Really needs to be improved

Sally

5/5

Dec, 2024

The views the peacefulness, the commentary was good but miss some of it because of other people talking on the boat, some very interesting info in it.

Carola

4/5

Oct, 2024

Everything went well with the tickets. At the counter for the boat tour, we were registered in the computer and received our boarding pass. The trip was nice. The explanations of the sights were interesting.

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Your experience

Melbourne, how the river sees it

Step aboard for a journey that reveals Melbourne’s charm from its most serene vantage point: the Yarra River. As the city buzzes around you, drift along the calm waters and take in unmatched views of Melbourne’s iconic landmarks. Starting at the vibrant Southgate Arts & Leisure Precinct, the cruise glides past Federation Square’s striking architecture before revealing the lush beauty of the Royal Botanic Gardens and the intriguing Herring Island. Along the way, discover the heart of Melbourne’s sporting spirit with glimpses of world-class venues like the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Rod Laver Arena, and AAMI Park.

Sail into the story of Melbourne’s past and present as you pass the 19th-century sailing ship Polly Woodside, a symbol of the city’s maritime heritage. The route continues through the bustling Docklands, offering views of modern marvels like Docklands Stadium and the World Congress & Trade Centre. Glance up at the impressive Bolte and Westgate Bridges, two engineering feats that span the city’s shipping channels, as you learn about Melbourne’s industrial prowess through expert onboard commentary.

The cruise loops back, presenting the city skyline in all its glory. Capture the unique blend of historic and contemporary as Melbourne’s CBD reflects on the river’s surface. Whether you’re soaking in the view of Crown Entertainment Complex or the Government House, you'll learn about the significance of the landmarks that shaped Melbourne over the years.

Route

Southgate Arts & Leisure Precinct
Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
19th Century sailing ship “Polly Woodside”
Crown Entertainment Complex
World Congress & Trade Centre
Bolte Bridge & Westgate Bridge
Shipping Channels and dock area
Docklands and Docklands Stadium
Melbourne CBD views
Federation Square
Royal Botanic Gardens
Government House
Melbourne & Olympic Parks including AAMI Park, Melbourne Arena, Holden Centre, Margaret Court Arena | MCA, Melbourne Cricket Ground | MCG, and Rod Laver Arena
Herring Island

Know before you go

What's not allowed

Guests appearing intoxicated may not be permitted onboard.

Accessibility

The cruise is wheelchair and stroller accessible.

Additional information

Children will have to remain seated at all times during the cruise.
Ensure you check-in at the ticket kiosk 15 minutes before departure.
Australian citizens enjoy reduced prices with concession tickets. Please bring your valid IDs.

My tickets

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.
Please arrive at the boarding point 15 mins before the scheduled time of your visit to avoid any delays.
Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the boarding point.