Headout logo. Link to home.
Help

Top experiences in Melbourne

Free cancellation
Guests enjoying the Melbourne River Cruise with city skyline views.
Sightseeing Cruises
4.4(947)
Rated 4.4 out of 5.0 from 947 ratings.
AU$70
Free cancellation
Cruise boat on Yarra River with Melbourne skyline in the background.
Sightseeing Cruises
4.5(3,048)
Rated 4.5 out of 5.0 from 3048 ratings.
AU$41
Free cancellation
Melbourne skyline view from Yarra River cruise with people enjoying the cityscape.
Combo
4.4(4,288)
Rated 4.4 out of 5.0 from 4288 ratings.
from
AU$80
Free cancellation
Cruise boat on Yarra River with Melbourne skyline in the background.
Selling out fast
Couple enjoying champagne on a Melbourne brunch cruise with city skyline in background.
Cruise boat on Yarra River with Melbourne skyline at sunset.
Sightseeing Cruises
4.1(15)
Rated 4.1 out of 5.0 from 15 ratings.
AU$70
Free cancellation
Couple enjoying wine on the Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise with city skyline in the background.
Dinner Cruises
4.7(23)
Rated 4.7 out of 5.0 from 23 ratings.
AU$195
Free cancellation
SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium tunnel and river cruise boat with city skyline.
Combo
4.4(1,097)
Rated 4.4 out of 5.0 from 1097 ratings.
from
AU$79
Free cancellation
Self-drive boat on Yarra River with cityscape and palm trees in Melbourne.
Free cancellation
Cruise captain checking guest tickets on Yarra River sightseeing cruise in Melbourne.
Sightseeing Cruises
4.5(308)
Rated 4.5 out of 5.0 from 308 ratings.
from
AU$35
  • A unique, highly recommended experience to try in Melbourne is a cruise. With several popular cruise destinations such as the Yarra River and Phillip Island, tourists and locals alike look for a relaxing time on a cruise. During a city cruise, soak in Melbourne's wonderful skyline, while on cruises outside the city at locations such as the Bass Strait, Tasmanian Sea, and the Coral Sea, not only are you completely immersed in nature, but can enjoy activities such as watching seals, dolphins, and whales.
  • The main boarding point for cruises in Melbourne is Station Pier. Southbank Promenade is the main boarding point along the Yarra River, while at Phillip Island, the Esplanade Cowes jetty is where most cruises depart from. The accurate location will be on your confirmed ticket.
  • The top cruise options in Melbourne are: 
    • Phillip Island Dolphin & Whale Cruise: A 3-hour cruise along Phillip Island’s picturesque coastline and Cape Woolamai cliffs where you will be greeted by  Humpback, Southern Right Whales, and playful dolphins. 
    • Phillip Island Seal Watching Cruise: Catch the sight of thousands of seals at one of Australia's largest colonies of Fur Seals at the lap of your 2-hour cruise along Phillip Island along with a hot beverage. 
    • The Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise: A perfect way to experience Melbourne's iconic landmarks by night. The cruise provides a four-course dinner with vegetarian options and lets you cruise across Melbourne at your own leisure.
    • Wilsons Prom Full-Day Cruise with Lunch: A 9-hour cruise day along with the Wilsons Promontory lighthouse and glide under Skull Rock, while you enjoy tea, snacks, lunch, a walk to the Refuge Cove, a visit to Kanowna Island seal colony, and more. 
    • River Gardens: 1 Hour Up River Cruise: 1-hour of cruising across the Yarra River, Federation Square, the Government House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Olympic Parks,  AAMI Park, and Herring Island
  • On a city cruise along the Melbourne River, you can see attractions such as: Eureka Skydeck Royal Botanical Gardens Crown Casina Melbourne CBD Dockland Stadium Herring Island
  • The cruise you opt for can depend on various factors such as time available, budget, meal preferences, occasion and more. A sightseeing cruise is ideal for those on a budget, looking to catch a unique view of popular attractions and experiences around. From the Eureka Skydeck on a city cruise to admiring glimpses of seals, dolphins and whales, sightseeing cruises offer a memorable tourist experience. If budget is not a criteria and you have time on your schedule, a dinner cruise is ideal. Over the course of 2-4 hours, indulge in delicious multi-course meals under the clear sky and enjoy the surrounding landscape as it serves as the perfect backdrop for your evening.
  • You can go for a sightseeing experience cruise during the day if you want to see sea animals such as dolphins, seals or whales. Day cruises are best experienced in cooler months between April to October to avoid the hot sun. Similarly, dinner cruises or evening sightseeing cruise are also best experienced during the cooler months. During the summer months of November to March, you can go for dinner cruises since the harsh heat would not be bothersome due to the cool sea breeze during evenings.
  • Sightseeing cruises generally last between 60-90 minutes, depending on the cruise type and location. Dinner cruises extend up between 2-4 hours. The exact timings would be mentioned on your confirmed ticket.
  • Yes, several cruises in Melbourne include live commentary from either the captain or an on-board guide. Throughout the duration of your cruise, your guide will inform you about the city, all the attractions around, sea creatures around, common trees, and more.
Download app section background

Millions love heading out with us

Lyndl Nanos
AU

Lyndl

Australia
Oct 2025
5/5

review-image
The scenery was lovely and the commentary was informative On our return, the boat lost power and the crew were fantastic, turning into a really fun experience. It was very memorable

1-Hour Yarra River Parks & Gardens Cruise

Amanda Kerrison
AU

Amanda

Australia
May 2025
5/5

review-image

review-image
It was awesome to see an all female crew and thank you for an amazing experience It was better than my swimming with seal in WA as I saw more on this trip

Seal Watching Afternoon Cruise at Phillip Island

Michelle anderson
AU

Michelle

Australia
Nov 2025
5/5
The staff were friendly and informative. After a glitch in the system thay let us book a short tour thwy upgraded upls to a longer tour and when i had double booked they changed our tickets with no ussues.

1-Hour Yarra River Ports & Docklands Cruise

Simon Dalton
AU

Simon

Australia
Sep 2025
5/5
The day was great - attentive staff who communicated well. Everything ran on time and the crew really searched out the whales in choppy conditions.

Wilsons Prom Whale Adventure Cruise with Lunch

Sagar Rai
AU

Sagar

Australia
Jul 2025
5/5
Cruise was alright but the highlight for me was the penguin parade it was adorable to see little penguins waddle towards their nest and headout app was really easy to use just needed to show the barcode to the staff!

Cape Woolamai Morning Cruise at Phillip Island

Heather Atkins
AU

Heather

Australia
Jul 2025
4/5
The ticketing experience was very disappointing I had so much trouble trying to downsize my group booking . It took so long to get any real answers & help as AI didn't understand my request. It was very frustrating and took so long to get answers that we ran out of time . The real person was very helpful explaining , however it was too late to change the booking by the time I got any sense in how to do it. Not her fault .. the company needs to improve their website re:!ticket changing and refunds.. I was frustrated and annoyed with the whole process ....but we did have a good trip even though the weather wasn't the best.

Cape Woolamai Morning Cruise at Phillip Island

Stephen Adgemis
GR

Stephen

Greece
Oct 2025
5/5
Great trip to see the Melbourne skyline and surrounding sites. Having spent the day discovering Melbourne, this was a perfect way to end our day.

1-Hour Yarra River Sightseeing Cruise

Amy Welch
AU

Amy

Australia
Oct 2025
4/5
The river was blissfully smooth and peaceful, I did find the commentary didn't always match where we were which was challenging to follow but otherwise it was a nice trip.

1-Hour Yarra River Sightseeing Cruise

We've served 44 million+ guests and we are here for you

44 million+

Happy customers across 10,000+ experiences

In the media

Featured and recommended by the best brands

24 x 7 help center

Have a question? Live chat with local experts anywhere, anytime