Yarra River Cruise: Every Melbourne River Cruise Compared, From US$25

A Yarra River cruise in Melbourne costs from US$25 a person for a 45- to 50-minute express trip to US$147 for a four-course dinner, as of October 2026, and the standard sightseeing cruises sit between US$28 and US$53. The most reviewed is Melbourne River Cruises’ two-hour City Highlights trip, with 2,006 reviews at 4.1; the cheapest full sightseeing cruise is Yarra River Cruises’ from Federation Wharf. Prices are GetYourGuide’s, in US dollars.

Every Yarra River cruise, side by side

GetYourGuide’s US-dollar starting prices per person and ratings as of October 2026. The brunch and dinner cruises cancel free up to three days ahead; the others up to 24 hours.

What is the best Yarra River cruise?

For a first look at the city from the water, the City Highlights cruise. It runs two hours downriver past Docklands, Crown, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the historic Polly Woodside and Southgate, with commentary, and with 2,006 reviews it is the most reviewed cruise on the river on GetYourGuide. One condition in the listing: if river levels stop it going downriver, it runs upriver only and Melbourne River Cruises refunds 50%.

Check City Highlights dates →

For less time and money, the City Views Express from Federation Wharf covers both directions in under an hour, downstream to Queens Bridge and Southbank and upstream toward the sports precinct and the Botanic Gardens, from US$25. Yarra River Cruises’ sightseeing cruise, also from Federation Wharf, passes the Eureka Tower, Southbank and the Royal Botanic Gardens from US$28.

For the evening, ON A BOAT’s sunset cruise leaves Southbank on a covered boat through the city and Docklands and catches Crown’s fire show on the way back; it has six reviews, all at 5.0. Melbourne River Cruises’ sunset cruise with a bar runs only on Friday to Sunday evenings in summer: from 26 December to 31 January it departs at 7:45 pm, then earlier as the evenings shorten, until early April.

Which cruise suits you

Pick by how long you have and what you want from it:

Prices are GetYourGuide's US-dollar starting prices per person as of October 2026; they change by date, so treat them as the shape of the market, not a quote.

How much do Yarra River cruises cost?

As of October 2026 on GetYourGuide: US$25 for the express, US$28 to US$53 for the sightseeing cruises, US$42 to US$46 for the sunset cruises, US$95 for the bottomless brunch and US$147 for the four-course dinner with drinks. The brunch and dinner carry peak-season surcharges on some dates between November and January. Dinner and brunch cruises goes through what the food and drink include.

Is a Melbourne river cruise worth it?

Yes, if you want the skyline, the bridges and Southbank in an hour or two without walking it, with someone explaining what you see. It is the easiest way to see the river for one or two people, and the simplest way to get commentary without paddling for it.

For a group of four or more, compare it with hiring a boat yourselves. GoBoat’s self-drive electric picnic boat for eight starts at US$69 for the whole boat, which is cheaper per head than any cruise above for a group of three or more, and you set the route and bring the food. Electric picnic boats explains how it works, and Yarra boat hire compares every boat you can have to yourself.

Where the cruises leave from

Most city cruises board at Federation Wharf, below Federation Square on the north bank, or along Southbank and Southgate opposite. The departure map marks each one alongside the self-drive boats.