The Yarra River is considered to be the social hub of the stunning city of Melbourne and with a choice of boat trips available, Melbourne Boat Hire offers you a unique and exciting way to experience many of the city’s attractions. We have a range of yarra river cruises which span a couple of hours- to a full half day or evening. Design your own itinerary and schedule stops at points of interest along the water’s edge. You can leave the planning to us- and we’ll put together a boat trip that will take in the best sights and stops dependent on the weather and time of day.
With Melbourne Boat Hire you can choose from skippered boat hire, or self-drive boat hire, which requires no license or previous experience. There is also a choice of a two-hour, or four-hour boat journey to suit your own schedule. Bookings are exclusive- which means it’s your group, your very own skipper or your own self-drive boat rental experience.
From the seat of your self-skippered river craft you can travel between a variety of attractions such as Melbourne Park, the entertainment and sports facility which is host to the famous Australian Tennis Open; or journey to Herring Island Park, a unique island in the centre of the Yarra River. It’s considered a haven for art and nature lovers alike. Only accessible by boat, the island offers a unique opportunity to walk among many of the interesting artists’ sculptures on display.
Stretch your sea legs at the Royal Botanical Gardens, home to a variety of beautiful rare plants and flowers. Here you can take in the picturesque landscapes, discover the iconic buildings and enjoy a guided tour through the grounds. The gardens offer a variety of attractions to enjoy all year round: In summer climb aboard a luxury Cambridge style boat on the garden’s ornamental lake with Punt Tours On the Lake, or simply enjoy a stroll within the grounds and absorb the magnificent natural scenery. In winter you can enjoy lunch at Jardin Tan, a modern Vietnamese café located by the Observatory Gate.
If you are on a limited budget there are a number of picnic spots along the Yarra River where you can dock and enjoy a pre-packed lunch or BBQ while enjoying the iconic views. A shorter trip on board one of our luxury hire boats from the Yarra River in Docklands will provide
If you have a taste for something a little more cosmopolitan, or perhaps just fancy a bite to eat or a glass of wine, why not dock at the Southgate Precinct and enjoy its many shops, restaurants and bars. You can even dine while taking in the sights of the river in the riverside food court.
The Yarra River is also host to a variety of colourful and exciting events such as the Melbourne Festival, the renowned Moomba Festival, the Rowing Regattas and Dragon Boat racing.
Our Melbourne boat trips on the Yarra River take in the following sites:
Docklands
South Wharf
World Trade Centre
Crown Casino
Eureka Tower
Southbank
Flinders Street Station
Federation Square
Birrarung Marr
Melbourne Park
MCG
Aami Park
Botanical Gardens
Herring Island
Pass under historical bridges
Below is a map of the Yarra River self-drive cruising area.
Yarra River Self-Drive Hire MapFor more information on what is happening in Melbourne and sights to see, visit: