River Gardens Melbourne Sightseeing Cruise
3.5

River Gardens Melbourne Sightseeing Cruise

By Melbourne River Cruises
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This sightseeing cruise on the Yarra River gives you a front-seat view to Melbourne's riverside gardens and scenic parklands. Hop aboard a riverboat with panoramic windows and hear live commentary on Herring Island plus sporting arenas like the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Sip coffee or tea while watching the city slip past.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 15 per group
Duration: 1h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Cruise up the Yarra River on a narrated tour
  • Panoramic riverboat with up-close views of Herring Island
  • View scenic riverside gardens, parks, and sporting arenas
  • Guide points out Melbourne's natural and cultural attractions

  • Complimentary tea and coffee
  • Live commentary on board
What's not included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off


Start:
  • Melbourne River Cruises, Berth 2, Southbank Promenade, Southbank VIC 3006, Australia
    Berth No 2, Southgate Arts and Leisure Precinct Landing.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Pushchair accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3013SIGHTB

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Confirmation for this product will be received at time of booking
    • Cruise duration times and direction are approximate and subject to change, often due to tides and river traffic.
    • The boat is completely enclosed and windowed so that passengers won't be subject to the elements.
    • Restroom available on board
    • Most travellers can participate
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3013SIGHTB

    From
    AU$38.00
    per adult
    Select date and travellers
    Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Melbourne River Cruises
      4.0 of 5 bubbles1,614
      Australia
      Joined in December 2008
    • Allan C
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic trip a must in Melbourne
      Fantastic cruise up and down river the food was excellent staff were helpful and friendly this trip is a must for anyone visiting Melbourne 👍👍👍
      Written 15 March 2025
    • COLLEEN57_12
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Bottomless..
      Did this cruise with my family today. Wonderful way to spend a very warm afternoon in Melbourne. The food and drinks really were bottomless and delicious. Staff were great. Highly recommend.
      Written 15 March 2025
    • 113maryannep
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Exceptional experience ❤️
      What an exceptional enjoyable day, great food, endless drinks scenery and friendly service. Of course we had a beautiful sunny day. I would highly recommend this cruise and I’m sure I’ll try to do it again, Coming from the country a great way to appreciate Melbourne.
      Written 14 March 2025
    • L3604CEingridm
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great night!
      My Cousins last evening in Melbourne before flying back to the UK, what a great evening, layout and set up was great, weather good, staff incredibly lovely food was presented in a timely fashion, well presented on the plate and the taste was fantastic, it was a fabulous evening I would certainly go again if family/friends came to visit.
      Written 13 March 2025
    • barbarasL6801OF
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Girls holiday
      Really enjoyed it, staff were amazing , food was lovely, however we ordered chicken for all 4 of us and were given 4 vegetarian Lasange. They managed to find one chicken meal and one salmon meal. I am allergic to sea food so had the chicken, my daughter had the salmon, the other two had no choice but they said the vegetarian lasange was nice. Over all it was a fabulous day, drinks were flowing, I would recommend this and I would go again .
      Written 9 March 2025
    • X3202LBandrewl
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Melbourne River Dinner Cruise
      The dinner river cruise is outstanding. A wonderful way to see Melbourne and all its glory. The food is first class and the service brilliant. This was our second dinner cruise and we will now make it an annual event.
      Written 7 March 2025
    • G4739QUstevep
      0 contributions
      2.0 of 5 bubbles
      Not what I expected.
      We did a cruise on 15/2/25 at 13.30pm. The 2 hours cruise was actually only 1 hour 20 mins. The boat couldn't fit under one of the bridges (high tide?) so we had to turn back and wait for a while. Not a big deal but interesting. The seating was just a series of plastic chairs in rows. Not very comfortable. It rained and I had to move two seats away from the window as the vessel leaked badly. For $110 per couple it was disappointing.
      Written 6 March 2025
    • 23blancheb
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A lovely experience
      We had a slow leisurely cruise around the Yarra River on a quaint little ferry boat. It was A great way to wind down after a busy day. We enjoyed the 4-course meal. And iconic views of the city were perfect for selfies and photos.
      Written 5 March 2025
    • Pearl65
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Perfect way to spend a couple of hours in the city
      Lovely food and staff. Free flowing drinks (wine, beer or champagne) but you can pay for spirits. We sat upstairs and it happened to be a beautiful day and the perfect temperature. Everything was better than we could have hoped for. Loved it.
      Written 1 March 2025
    • 253lynw
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      One of our better decisions....!
      An excellent trip from start to finish,well organised and very relaxed,the food and drinks were excellent,staff were just great,all in all one very enjoyable evening,worth it.
      Written 24 February 2025
    • DAVIDBH25
      0 contributions
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      Melbourne dinner cruise
      Great food and service,plenty to drink. Fantastic views of Melbourne at night. This is a must if visiting this City. we were not disappointed . Well done to the he crew
      Written 21 February 2025
    • MTW49
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Dinner Cruise
      Food excellent plenty of alcohol included staff were great and friendly it was a beautiful relaxing night we had a good night
      Written 19 February 2025
    • Cruiser824152
      0 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      River views
      There was not much outdoor space to sit. A lot of people were standing outdoors, so it was hard to see in front of us and also the seats are low so it is hard to see the views in front of us. Everybody was talking so it was hard to hear the comments on the historical information through the speakers. However it was nice to go down the river and it was a beautiful day out and it is a good way to see the city from afar
      Written 17 February 2025
    • K3041GIheatherl
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent
      The dinner cruise was great , service excellent and wonderful views , would thoroughly recommend as a wonderful experience
      Written 15 February 2025
    • N3146QTtimj
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A dinner cruise that is a must whenever you are in Melbourne.
      My wife and I had a wonderful dining experience on the Spirit Of Melbourne Dinner Cruise. The staff on board were extremely well organised and attentive even with the boat being full that night. The food was very good and the wine kept coming! A very enjoyable and value for money 3-hour gentle trip up the Yarra was the perfect way to spend a summers evening. A great night out!
      Written 14 February 2025
    See all 1,614 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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    3.5
    3.5 of 5 bubbles65 reviews
    Excellent
    22
    Very good
    16
    Average
    7
    Poor
    5
    Terrible
    15

    VEGE34
    Montpellier, France44 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    We took this cruise wanting to see parts of the city that we would not visit otherwise. The cruise boat we got on does not offer a deck to sit outside and enjoy the view, besides the small area at the rear of the boat where there is a long bench to sit on, but then you have chances to become deaf or asphyxiated from the noise of the motor or the fumes. As for the route not much to see beside river banks, the captain does point out what's behind but most of the time you have do use your imagination. From the map we were supposed to go around Herring Island but we did a u-turn in front of it instead.
    Team and comments were ok.
    Good thing we got a discount and it lasted only one hour.
    I would recommend choosing another type of cruise with this company and checking on what kind of boat its runs.
    Written 1 March 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear Madam, thank you for your feedback and we are sorry that your experience was not of the quality that you had expected. We would like to let you know that we are seeking ways to renovate our cruise ships. This is to ensure our guests to have a comforting and satisfying experience in the future. Thank you for bringing this into our attention. We would appreciate another chance to earn your business. Please let us know when you’re boarding with us again next time.
    Written 12 March 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    J_S_B40
    Mumbai, India134 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Found this to be a very good way to view the city. Captain was amazing and very informative. The nuggets about each location and embellishments were good fun. Boat is spacious, you can stand on the outside deck too, which we did on way back. Great views across, calm boat ride and we were very lucky to get a sunny day in mid winter. The boat has a bar and coffee setup. Coffee was free and good. Covered a good amount of sites in one hour.
    Written 17 July 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hello, Thank you for your fantastic review! It's great to know that the captain was amazing and provided informative commentary throughout the journey. We strive to make the experience enjoyable and engaging for our guests. We're delighted that you had the opportunity to stand on the outside deck and enjoy the great views across the city. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for another memorable cruise in the future. If there's anything else you'd like to add or any further suggestions you may have, please feel free to let us know.
    Written 17 July 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Juliette D
    Foxton Beach, null, New Zealand155 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020
    We had this hour long trip as part of a cruise ship excursion. Things were very orderly and well organised. The river trip itself was interesting - it provided another perspective on the history of the city.

    While the chairs were a little hard the refreshments (tea / coffee / bottled water + biscuits) were very welcome.

    The windows allowed great views from any location.
    Written 17 January 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi Juliette, we really appreciate you spending your precious time sharing your experience with us. We are also pleased to hear that you had enjoyed our cruise. We are working very hard to keep this up and improving our standards of service from time to time. We would love to see you coming back!
    Written 19 March 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    thehensters1
    Adelaide, Australia10 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2025 • Couples
    Unfortunately, the reality of this cruise does not match the advertised offering. Unless you are one of the first people on board and manage to get one of the very limited outdoor seats you are doomed to sit inside. Here you will be deafened by the endless music that is only interrupted by a monotone commentary.
    The seating inside is temporary seats lined up in rows. Strangely, all the seats closest to the windows are on an angle so you find yourself leaning to the side to sit upright. Why have a 45 degree slope where you put chairs. As a result, the cruise gives you a very achy back.
    For us, the best part of this cruise was getting off it as quickly as possible.
    Written 10 February 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are truly sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. We strive to provide a pleasant and enjoyable experience for all of our guests, and we sincerely apologize for any discomfort you encountered during your cruise. Your comments regarding the seating and onboard environment are valuable, and we will be sure to review them to see how we can improve for future guests.
    Written 12 February 2025
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    ShaDaveLouis
    Bonogin, Australia23 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    I wouldn’t normally leave a negative review but I am doing so in the hope they improve their service. We opted for the river gardens cruise. The boat was 20 minutes late due (they claimed) to a dissatisfied disabled customer refusing to get on at the other embankment. We only found this out when it was too late to get a refund. The commentary was lacklustre and lasted 5 minutes, and the captain was clearly disinterested. In comparison, we had been on the MCG tour the previous day where our guide was extremely enthusiastic and informative for 90 minutes and we’d paid less money! The inside of the boat was fitted with school- like chairs and it was dirty so we sat outside. I think with a few improvements this could be a much better experience but as it currently is, I wouldn’t recommend.
    Written 21 December 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hello, We are sorry to hear of your less than satisfactory experience with us and hope you will accept our apologies. Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback, we will definitely look for ways to improve the experience for all our customers. We would like to make things right and assist you personally and hope you will allow us to speak with you to discuss the situation. Please send us an email at info@melbcruises.com.au or simply contact our office at 03 8610 2600. Thank you.
    Written 22 December 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    heatheryone
    Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates62 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2024 • Couples
    Disappointing. We were Looking for a peaceful and informative 2 hour cruise.

    Instead We had very loud pop/rock music blasted at us except when the recorded commentary was playing. we went <1/2 hour upstream- seated on rock hard dining room chairs that were not secured. turned around and went back to where we started.

    We were told to get off and wait for 1/2 hour. Which we did in the blazing sun as if we’d gone to seek shelter we’d have ended up at the back of the queue to re board along with all the customers going for a one hour cruise.

    We reloaded and went 20 mins downstream this time. And back

    It would have been more pleasant and peaceful to have walked along the riverbank - and $124 cheaper for us as a couple.
    Written 25 March 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hello, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback regarding your recent cruise experience with us. We are truly sorry to hear that your cruise wasn't the peaceful and informative journey along the river you had hoped for. It sounds like we missed the mark in several ways, and for that, we apologize. We're really sorry for the disappointment you experienced, and we hope we have the chance to make it right.
    Written 26 March 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Andrew H
    Melbourne, Australia5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2023
    It was great to see Melbourne from the river and we enjoyed the commentary which was a mixture of fun facts, history, and bad jokes delivered professionally and with the right amount of energy. The boat was clean and tidy (though having the radio on when the commentary finished made it harder to talk in our group).
    There was a lot of information about the history of the river, the bridges over it, and the sights along the way.

    A must do for visitors to Melbourne.
    Written 5 January 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hello, It makes our day to hear that we were able to provide you 5-star service. We’ll make sure the entire team at Melbourne River Cruises receives your feedback – they’ll be thrilled to hear your kind words. Thank you so much. We can't wait to serve you again.
    Written 9 January 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    melbs83
    Melbourne, Australia158 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2020 • Family
    Disgusting service received this morning by the man at the Berth 2 kiosk and Daniel.

    Having already done the Docklands cruise we booked Via Groupon the river garden cruise.

    When I arrived at the kiosk the man was being short tempered with a customer who’s first language wasn’t English, he had a go at a colleague who approached him about the toilets on the boat not working, and then it was my turn. I told him we were there for the river cruise, after a bit of huffing and puffing (assuming because it was a Groupon thing) he gave me the ticket.

    When we were queuing for the boat I noticed it said “Docklands” on the sign near the boat so my husband took the ticket and went to query it.

    After a couple of minutes I joined them, only to see my husband, the kiosk man and his colleague Daniel arguing. I heard the man telling my husband that I hadn’t told him we wanted the river cruise, it was my fault, because I’d booked it by Groupon and that I needed them to refund me because the river cruise wasn’t on today.

    I told him that I definitely had told him we wanted the river cruise, and he told me I hadn’t. His colleague Daniel, who loved using the condescending word “Darl” to address me until
    I asked to stop, then joined his colleague and starting shouting at me that the cruise wasn’t on, and that I hadn’t told his colleague which cruise I wanted.

    When I asked why he hadn’t just told us this when we got the ticket he again told me I hadn’t asked for the garden river cruise. Or, that he hadn’t heard me.

    We booked these tickets last night, after checking the cruise timetable and there was no mention of any cruises not running today. There was no signage up informing people at the kiosk.

    When we left the kiosk a lady from another family approached us and told us that they’d also had the misfortune of speaking with him, and he’d been unhelpful and rude to them too, and only being a few steps away from the kiosk I heard him calling me a liar to Daniel.

    This man should not be in a customer service role, he should’ve just told us that the river cruise wasn’t running today instead of giving us a ticket for the Docklands cruise, hoping we wouldn’t notice??

    The website should have been amended to say the river cruises weren’t on today and this could have been avoided completely.
    Written 8 March 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi Chelle, thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We are sorry to hear that you had an unpleasant experience on our cruise. We always aim to deliver an exceptional level of service to our customer and we regret that we missed your marks. Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention. We are striving to resolve the problem so this does not happen again. We would appreciate another chance to make this up to you. Please let us know when you're boarding with us again. If there is any further issue or enquiry, please send us an email at info@melbcruises.com.au or simply contact our office at (03) 8610 2600. Thank you.
    Written 12 March 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Nishant S
    1 contribution
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Disappointing Experience with Rude Staff

    I regret to say that our experience on this boat was far from enjoyable. The staff were shockingly rude, displaying a complete lack of courtesy throughout the trip. Their attitude toward children was particularly appalling, treating them with clear contempt, which made the atmosphere very uncomfortable for families.

    Adding to the frustration, the boat left significantly later than scheduled, with no explanation or apology provided. This lack of professionalism and respect for customers’ time only added to the overall disappointment.

    I would not recommend this experience to anyone, especially families with young children. A serious overhaul in staff training and management is desperately needed.
    Written 30 December 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hello, Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We apologize that our service did not meet your expectations. We are looking into the issue and hope to resolve it promptly. Please do not let this isolated incident stop you from giving us another chance. We really want to make things right. Please feel free to reach out to us at 03 8610 2600 so we can discuss this further. Thank you.
    Written 2 January 2025
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Stephanie9313
    Killcare, Australia31 contributions
    2.0 of 5 bubbles
    This was disappointing. I don’t like to leave negative reviews but I have to be honest. Firstly, the cruise arrived 40 minutes late which made us miss our dinner reservation we were really looking forward to. No apology or explanation.
    The seating on the boat is basic office chairs, poorly stacked together, when we got on they were strewn everywhere from the last trip. It looked untidy. The roof above our seat was dripping water on us the whole time. It also smelt like leftover McDonald’s from someone eating on the last trip, I know that’s not the companies fault but it wasn’t a pleasant experience. Children were running around screaming.
    For a “sightseeing” cruise, there is not a lot of sights to see. You can see the MCG and Rod Laver Arena from afar, apart from that the tour guide only spoke about sights off in the distance. Truly, the most we saw was graffitied bridges and rubbish catchments along the river.
    Also if you’re into 80s rock music, you’re in luck because this played very loudly the entire time.
    On the way home we stood on the back deck despite the rain which was far better than sitting inside. We were supposed to disembark at Southgate again but got off early at Flinders Street as we’d had enough.
    Sorry but I won’t be recommending this to anyone.
    Written 18 April 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    River Gardens Melbourne Sightseeing Cruise provided by Melbourne River Cruises

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