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8 Tips For a Successful Self-drive Boat Hire

self drive boat hire for couples, private cruising in Melbourne
self drive boats for rent, Melbourne

Make Your Self-drive Cruise a Success!

Self-drive boat hire tips

Melbourne Boat Hire allows you to step aboard and take a self-guided adventure through the heart of Melbourne City on the scenic Yarra River. No boating licence or previous boat experience is required. To help you plan and to ensure a fun, safe, and prosperous boat hire in Melbourne, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

1: Be prepared for your booking

After the excitement of making your booking, make sure you know where to go to on the day, and If you get a chance download our self-drive hire map and familiarise yourself with the route you will take. Also, make sure to have photo ID and a valid credit card for the $500 security bond on the day of hire.

2: Ensure you and your guests arrive on time for your booking

To ensure you get to enjoy your full experience, please ensure you and your guests arrive on time, this is 15 minutes before your booking time to guarantee departure on time. If you are late, unfortunately, we cannot extend your booking time.

Listen carefully during the safety briefing and follow our boat hire instructions

3: Pay attention and listen carefully during your safety briefing as there a few key navigational rules that you a required to understand, and you need to know where all the safety equipment is located and how to use, most importantly you need to understand how to drive the boat.

4: Ask questions and know that we are only a phone call away during your booking

There is no such thing as a stupid question, and our friendly and experienced staff are here to help to ensure you have a safe and successful boat hire. Remember our support contact number is listed on the hire map on-board each boat and you can call at any time if you are unsure of something.

5: Use common sense and be alert to your surroundings at all times

Because of other boat traffic on the waterways, common sense is crucial when cruising the river. Always operate the boat at a safe speed, and follow our instructions given during the safety briefing. If you are unsure of something slow down and reassess the situation. Be alert to your surroundings at all times and keep a good lookout forward and aft of the boat.

6: Bring your own food and drink to enjoy

One thing that makes our boats so fun and unique is that you can bring your own food and drink to enjoy a floating picnic on the Yarra River with loved ones and friends. Remember that the designated driver must remain under .05 BAC -same as driving a car on the road.

7: Pack your camera and make sure your phone is fully charged

Cruising on the scenic Yarra River provides many photograph-worthy moments, be sure to pack your camera or have your smartphone fully charged for those Instagram and Facebook enviable posts.

8: Bring your music and plug it into our onboard stereo

All our boats are equipped with stereos and built-in speakers that have a 3.5mm aux-in connection to connect your smartphone or iPod. You can listen to your favorite playlists or stream directly from music services such as Spotify.



Follow these eight self-drive boat hire tips, to help you. Ensure you and your guests will have a magical Melbourne experience. We look forward to welcoming you onboard soon!

To view more about self-drive boat hire options click here.

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Melbourne Boat Hire respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters we operate on, the Bunurong Boon Wurrung and Wurundejeri Woi Wurrung people of the Eastern Kulin Nation and pays respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.