Melbourne Cruises Dining & Sightseeing

Melbourne cruises on this page are Yarra River sightseeing trips, dining cruises, sunset sails, self-drive boat hire and wildlife cruises on Port Phillip Bay and Phillip Island, rather than ocean liner voyages. Most Melbourne river cruises leave from Southbank or Docklands and run from a 50-minute city loop to a whole evening on the water.

Yarra River sightseeing cruises in Melbourne

The 50-minute City Highlights cruise is the shortest way onto the water. It leaves from Federation Wharf, passes Flinders Street Station and Queens Bridge, then runs on to the Botanic Gardens and the MCG, with live commentary from the captain.

If you have an hour, pick a direction. The 1-hour River Gardens cruise winds past the Royal Botanic Gardens and Herring Island, while the 1-hour Port and Docklands cruise heads downriver past the Crown complex and the Southgate Arts Precinct and out to the port.

The 2-hour Melbourne City cruise combines both routes, and the City to Williamstown return cruise follows the river out towards Port Phillip Bay.

Dining cruises on the Yarra

Lunch, brunch, high tea and dinner each have their own sailing. The Spirit of Melbourne lunch cruise serves a 3-course banquet on a 2-hour sailing on Thursdays and Fridays, and the 4-course dinner cruise stretches a gourmet meal across a 3-hour sailing with wine, beer and basic spirits included.

The bottomless brunch cruise is a 2-hour sailing with sweet and savoury plates and unlimited drinks, and the Yarra River high tea cruise (Saturdays and Sundays only) starts with a glass of sparkling wine and sails to Williamstown and Hobsons Bay.

For a night out, the sunset dinner cruise is a 3.5-hour catamaran trip with a two-course dinner, drinks and a resident DJ.

Sunset cruises and boat hire in Melbourne

The 1.5-hour Yarra River sunset cruise is a private sail with a drink in hand, taking in the skyline and the Crown fire show.

To steer yourself, GoBoat electric picnic boats come in 1-hour, 2-hour and 3-hour hires from Banana Alley in the CBD. No licence or experience is needed, each boat takes up to 8 people, and you can bring your own picnic.

Whale, dolphin and seal cruises from Melbourne

The wildlife cruises run from the coast around Melbourne rather than the city. The Phillip Island winter whale cruise is a 4-hour loop of the island from Rhyll Jetty, past Pyramid Rock and Cape Woolamai, with a fur seal colony on the route. The dolphin and whale watching cruise with afternoon tea is a 3-hour trip from San Remo along the island's southern coast.

For humpback whales on migration, the Wilsons Prom whale cruise is a 6-hour trip from Port Welshpool with lunch at a remote cove. In Port Phillip Bay, the 3-hour dolphin and seal swim from Sorrento supplies snorkelling gear and wetsuits, and non-swimmers can come along as sightseers.

Frequently asked questions

Where do Melbourne river cruises leave from?

Melbourne River Cruises sailings leave from Southbank Promenade, except the 50-minute City Highlights cruise, which leaves from Federation Wharf. Magic Charters dinner and high tea cruises depart from Docklands, and GoBoat hire starts at 1 Banana Alley.

How long are Melbourne cruises?

Melbourne river sightseeing cruises run from a 50-minute city loop to a 2-hour trip, dining cruises are 2-hour to 3.5-hour sailings, and wildlife cruises range from 3-hour to 6-hour trips.

Are there dinner cruises in Melbourne?

Yes. A 4-course dinner cruise runs on the Yarra River, and a 3.5-hour sunset dinner cruise includes a two-course meal, drinks and a DJ. Lunch, brunch and high tea cruises are also available.

Can you go whale watching from Melbourne?

Yes, on cruises from Phillip Island and Wilsons Promontory. The Phillip Island winter whale cruise runs in winter, and the Wilsons Prom cruise watches for humpback whales on migration.

Choose the sailing that suits your evening, or your morning, and book it above. If you'd rather stay on dry land, the Melbourne attractions page has plenty to fill the rest of the trip.