Discover Boat Hire in Melbourne
Goodbye 2025, NYE on Melbourne’s Most Fun Boats
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For boat hire in Melbourne, several options stand out depending on your needs. We offer self-drive and skippered cruise on the Yarra River with picnic, BBQ options and BYO welcome.
For larger groups from 12 to 24 guests we have our yacht charter service on VooDoo and HQ for Yarra river and Bay cruising. Our Spaceship boats provide easy to self-drive luxury boats. We also have a range of fishing boats suiatable for bay fishing outings for keen anglers as well as deep sea fishing charters.
At Boat4hire, we provide a variety of boat hire Melbourne experiences for all occasions. Whether you’re planning a romantic sunset cruise, a wild party boat event, or a peaceful day on a self-drive boat, our rental boats are easy to book and fun to enjoy. No boating license? No problem! Want a boat ride in Melbourne we have a Captain Service.
Melbourne River Boat Hire Compare our BBQ Party Boats and Be AmazedBook NowParty Boat HireSelf-Drive BBQ Boats on the waterways up to 12 Guests No License. on a Spaceship
“Huge Space for Entertaining”Book NowFishing Boat HireGo Fishing in the Bay or Tow AwayBook NowVIP Yacht Charter ServiceLuxury boating for any occasion up to 25 Guests Book NowAquadonutsHave the ultimate Chin Wag with your Besties form $19 pp. Up to 10 Guests,
BBQ and BYO WelcomeBook Now
Top Boat Hire Locations Around Melbourne
- Yarra River – Cruise through the heart of Melbourne
- Docklands – Enjoy waterfront dining and city views
- St Kilda -Watch the kite surfers at play while having a bbq
- Port Phillip Bay – Great for scenic exploration and adventure
- Mornington Peninsula – Ideal for relaxing coastal escapes
Our wide range of vessels caters to different needs and preferences. We have different activities for everyone, like crusing the river, hosting a BBQ boat party , fishing trips, in the bay. Party on a Yacht in style up to 24 guests
Enjoy scenic experiences such as a Melbourne City Cruise
We also prioritize safety. All our boats are well-maintained and equipped with safety gear.
Moreover, our competitive pricing and flexible rental durations make boating accessible to everyone. Whether you want to rent a boat for a few hours or a few days, we’ve got you covered.
From Polycafts to Spaceships to Hire
No Experience? No Problem!
Safety First: Our Commitment to Your Secure Journey
Booking Made Easy: Online and In-Person
Competitive Pricing and Exceptional Value
Additional Equipment and Accessories for Your Trip
Flexible Rental Durations to Fit Your Schedule
Self-Drive Yarra River Party
Cruising
Snapper Fishing Boat
Hire
VIP Yacht
Charter with a Skipper
Testimonials
Boating REFERENCES
Awesome boat hire experience a regular customer great staff
Gary was an absolute gentleman. Didn’t try to upsell me – in fact helped me find an option that suited my needs…and then surpassed them on arrival! Thank you. And Jeremy at the dock was relaxed and helpful and friendly. We were a bit of a nightmare customer, booking last minute and then turning up late. These guys treated us like royalty. The boat ride through the city – which we’d done before on the ones that start closer in – was way better. Coming in from Docklands is much more fun and you still get to go all the way through the city, even with only one hour. We’ll come back with friends and do a two hour – we had a great time.
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Summoore
FANTASTIC AMAZING !! Took my son and daughter for a two hour cruise – for my sons 21st birthday. The staff were excellent, explanations perfect and we had a fabulous time.
Lisa
Highly recommended
We hired the self driving Spaceship for mother’s day. We were late as we underestimated the walk from the train station. Despite this Boats4hire generously only started the clock from when we boarded the boat. What friendly staff and what a lovely day out. They boat was luxurious and we felt like the queen of the river passing other self-driving boat companies with inferior vessels! Will definitely will do this again.
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Katherine A
New Years Eve Experience A family trip New Year’s Eve was spectacular watching the Fireworks on the River near Federation square. The best spot to watch the fireworks and the boat4hire team were great.
Bazza
New Years Eve We hired the boat at nigh to watch the Fireworks. Truly spectacular being in the Riverat New Years Eve .A unforgettable experience. The team at Boat4hire were great. Having a marine license they don’t restrict where you can go.
Robin
Best New Years Eve on the Boat
I booked an 8 passenger boat (back on 20th October) for a ‘day to remember’ with my 2 daughters and their partners who were visiting from England for Christmas. Less than 24 hours before I was due to collect the boat I received a text message saying the boat was ‘currently out of action’. I called them and was told there was an electrical issue and that their engineer was on holiday. When I asked what the fault was he started waffling as it was clearly a big lie. I was offered a smaller boat, which would have meant one of my family missing out on the adventure. Therefore I had to cancel and my daughters were really upset. To add insult to injury I have only been offered a part refund with my Mastercard charges being deducted from the refund. I would look elsewhere before using this company as other reviews show this is not a one off. You can contact me on SM if you want confirmation this is a genuine review. Ray Cunliffe
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R3YGC
Great service
Family friendly, looking for a day out to entertain the kids. We had no boat license and received a comprehensive safety briefing. Bought the experience for a gift for my Hubby. Stopped of at Anglers Tavern then to St Kilda. A great day out
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Shaz
Great day out fishing Highly recommend we took the boat on a trailor to lake Eildon for the holidays. The 100hp capacity was great for a large family and has plenty of get up and go. Where a repeat customer
TheBoatie
Lovely day out Thank you to all the team for a beautiful day out. I enjoyed it so much with my family, and would use you again and again
crazyfortrips509
Wow – Awesome day out with the family and dog!
Wow – Awesome day out with the family and dog! Absolutely brilliant day out! Until a few days ago we had no idea one could hire power boats on the Yarra/Docklands and after speaking to the very helpful and friendly Gary from ‘Boat 4 Hire’ on the phone we booked (online) for an 8:30am start the following morning – with an SMS booking confirmation received shortly after.
The weather on the day was outstanding with no wind and not a cloud in the sky all day – although the autumn air was a little chilly to start. All staff encountered were very helpful, friendly and attentive both in the office on arrival and down at the pier for the engine/river briefing. Maps and emergency equipment were all supplied – as was an extra fuel container which we didn’t need even after almost 4.5hours of motoring. Our blue 4.1m ‘Poly’ boat was spotless and in exceptional condition with a canopy and a new(?) 8hp motor that could get the boat along at up to 11km/h – which was more adequate to leisurely explore the Yarra.
Note: No boating licence is required for these 8hp boats and they can take up to 5adults – although I’d imagine that 4 adults would probably be more comfortable. I’ve never driven a motor boat before but these boats are great in their simplicity and ease of
use.
After carefully reading and understanding a condensed form of the obligatory rules and regulations of boating the river provided – presented in a relevant but concise point form – then diligently acknowledging and signing them them all off – we were on our way. Too easy!
The Yarra river on a glorious autumn morning was completely deserted except for us – until about 10:30am when we sighted a couple of tourist/scenic cruises slowly chugging around. We cruised past Victoria Harbour, Crown, Southbank, the CBD, Birrarung Marr, past the Botanic Gardens and the sporting precinct (RodLaver, MCG and Vodaphone) – then later stopped up at Herring Island to view the sculptures.
On the return leg we stopped at the Botanic Gardens jetty for the dog to take a toilet stop and then the SouthBank pier for an early lunch. After this we decided to continue on down towards the Westgate Bridge to further explore the river, passing helicopters taking off/landing up close from their floating helidecks and then further down to the Port of Melbourne to see the massive container ships and mighty car carriers busy loading/unloading their cargos. We passed under the Westgate Bridge then continued a little further before turning around and returning to Docklands just before 1:00pm with about 15mins to spare of our allocated time.
Although the wife and daughter were initially reluctant to even come out today – once on the boat they couldn’t stop smiling and commenting on what an awesome day it was!
The dog just loved it too. Hey – you can the family on a short $50 ‘Scenic Yarra Cruise’ (done that before… zzzzz) – but I reckon Boat4Hire boats for $150 half day was a MUCH better experience and really great value for the money, the freedom and for the great memories of cruising the Yarra with family and/or friends!
Next time we’ll actually plan ahead a little better and bring a picnic hamper, refreshments etc. and stop at one of the several BBQ/picnic areas along the river banks up near the Botanic Gardens – landing jetties are right next to the picnic tables. Even just having fish and chips while motoring around would be brilliant.
We will definitely return again soon for another day out on the river!
Thanks Boat4Hire 🙂
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GenkiSudo1
BOAT4HIRE a great way to see the Yarra
Last minute we wondered into boat hire place without booking on new quay promenade at Docklands. The staff were terrific and gave us a safety briefing before we headed up the river. It’s great value at $150 for the five of us highly recommend.
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Pamela P
At boat4hire, we are immensely proud of the glowing reviews we get from our clients. Their endorsements and feedback are a testament to our dedication to delivering an outstanding boating experience. Check Out our Latest Google reviews
Our customers, whether new or experienced, like our many boat options, great service, and affordable prices. Their satisfaction is our greatest reward.
Boat4hire
Boat CRUISE Options
Embarking on your boating adventure with boat4hire is simple. Visit our website or come to our location to explore our wide range of self-drive boat rental options.
Whether you’re planning a fishing trip or a leisurely cruise, our team is ready to help you find the perfect boat. Join us on a boat cruise adventure!
Visit our website to book a craft online. Choose your rental duration and boat type. You can also give us a call or visit our location in Docklands, speak with one of our friendly team members.
No boat licence required and no need to bring your own boat – we’ve got everything ready for you!
We will help you with renting a watercraft and ensure you have everything necessary for a safe and enjoyable trip. We will guide you through the rental process.
We will provide you with everything necessary for a secure and enjoyable boat ride. So, what are you waiting for? Begin orchestrating your upcoming adventure with boat4hire now!
Call us now
Frequently Asked Questions
Self-Drive Boat Hire RULES
How much to hire a boat in Melbourne
The cost to rent a boat will depend on the duration of your cruise. Our starting rate is $120 @hr for our Speed boats to $299 for two hours on our spaceship boats.
Our best value backages is 4 hrs providing enough time to enjoy the water ways. To review our baot rentals rates go to “bookings“
Do you need a recreational boat license?
To self drive our Boats has an engine capacity under 10hp or governed down, there’s no need for a boat license. To drive one with an engine capacity of over 10hp, we will govern down our Speed Boats which have 100HP motors to 8 knots. Our Speed boats can reach 20 knots unrestricted. Note that the speed for BOTH licensed and non-licensed drivers in the Yarra River is 5 knots.
Yes, our boats are permitted to go cruising in the Bay. No licensed drivers can go to St Kilda Marina. If you have a boat license no more than 2NM off the coast, Maps show where the boundaries are.
For bay cruising guests must have installed Navionics or an equivalent app for safe navigation. We provide instructions on how to use the app. A free 7-day trial license is available. The advantage of this app:
- Provides info on where there shallow areas are
- You can mark your favourite fishing spots
- You can put your destination in and follow a safe route avoiding grounding and expensive repairs
Our safety briefing covers how to drive our boats safely. We also provide maps where you can and can’t go. The skipper must pay full attention to the briefer.
The briefer may determine the skipper is not suitable to drive the vessel and a skipper will be provided at the expense of the hirer.
The skipper must have speak english and be understood. Poor verbal communication and not understanding the briefer will disqualify the hirer.
Note all required safety gear is provided. Kids under 10 years must wear a life jacket at all times
Bad Weather Guarantee & Refund Policy
Money-Back Guarantee, Weather & Booking Changes
Weather-Related Cancellations
For safety reasons, Boat 4 Hire reserves the right to cancel a booking if adverse weather conditions are forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology Marine Forecast. This includes (but is not limited to) strong wind warnings, storm warnings, or unsafe conditions in Port Phillip Bay or local waterways.
If a booking is cancelled by management due to weather, the booking may be rescheduled to an alternative date, subject to availability.
Refunds
Refunds are not provided for cancellations due to weather or personal circumstances. Instead, eligible bookings may be deferred in accordance with the terms below.
Booking Changes (Personal Circumstances)
Bookings may be changed to another date if at least 24 hours’ notice is provided prior to the scheduled departure time. Changes are subject to availability.
No-Shows
Failure to arrive for your booking on the day (“no-show”) will result in the booking being forfeited. No refunds or rescheduling will be available in these circumstances.
Security Bond Requirement
Failure to pay the required security bond prior to departure will result in the booking being voided. In such cases, the booking will be treated as a cancellation by the hirer, and no refund or rescheduling will be available.
There is no fuel charge for 1 or 2 hr sessions. However for for 4 and 8 hr sessions fuel charges apply on our Speed and Fishing boats
Do we provide with our Boat Hire Service?
We recomend our Spacehips offer delux roomy River boating experience. Up to 12 guests welcome. No License. Optional BBQ facilities. Ages welcome from babies to Grandparents. Plus your fure baby.
Do you provide training and instruction?
Yes, we do. Driving our self-drive boats in Docklands is easy to learn.
A licensed and unlicensed self drive boat driver must be under 0.05 the state limit.
Drivers must be over 21 years of age for the 0.05 rule to apply. Failing to do so may disqualify your car license. The skipper is responsible for their passengers any loss of life due to alcohol is a criminal offence and risks jail time. Passengers may drink with moderation at the skipper’s discretion.
How many passengers can our watercraft take?
It can carry five adult passengers on our 4.5m Bow Rider and for a “Speedy” max of 10 and Mary max of 8. For the Bow Rider, the capacity is up to ten passengers. A passenger is any age over 12 months old.
Our Spaceship Pontoon boats can comfortably take 12 passengers.
Are the rates quoted per person or for the boat?
Rates are quoted per boat, not per person.
Do they come with safety gear?
Our hire boats come with all the safety gear, which includes paddles, safety jackets, etc. The hire boats are in commercial survey, which means they are licensed by AMSA for commercial hire use.
Our hire boats are very stable; kids can have a great time onboard. For kids under 10 years old, we were required to wear our provided life jackets.
Bring a hat, bottles of water and a big smile! We recommend a warm weatherproof jacket as the conditions can change quickly. (We provide the water as well if needed.)
Can I drive the hire boat into the bay?
Yes! You can go to Williamstown or Hobsons Bay without a boat license.
However, a license is required for 40hp and 90hp boat engines. That enables anyone to go to Westernport, Phillip Island and all inland waters such as Gippsland Lakes, Eildon, etc. You may not go more than 2 NM off Shore or cross the imaginary line between Point Cook and Modiolloc.
What do I need to acquire a boat license?
Very easy! Go to www.boatschool.com.au and mention BOAT 4 Hire. They offer a four-hour night course. Just pass the test and pick up your license.
Can I tow the boat away?
Of course! We can provide a trailer, too! Boats can be hired for multiple day.
Can I drive the hire boats at night?
Polycraft Joy is restricted to daylight hours only. The Bow Rider is authorized for night use if you’re a licensed driver and have had previous experience driving at night. You can get to your favourite spot ahead of the pack if you have a marine license.
We provide a nightly Yarra Rver Cruise outings with our Captain service. Optional BBQ facilities available and BYO is welcome.
Yes, dogs are welcome. But, it’s your responsibility to clean up any mess.
Is there affordable parking close by?
Plenty of affordable parking in Docklands. We recommend Care Car park. Corner of Waterfront Way and Docklands Drive
Drinks and Entertainment Options
BYO food and drinks are welcome on our vessels. We have BBQ packs available that include the BBQ, Gas and all eating and cooking utensils to make your cruise more enjoyable. We also have a slection of food platters available for parties. We cater for Xmas, NYE, Birthday parties in Melbourne
For entertainment we have BT stereo all you need to bring is your phone, pair with our stereo abd play your favourite music on board our vessels
Are there guided tours on the boats or puely self-drive?
We can arrange boat tour rides with our captain services no need to self drive if you dont want to.
How long can I rent a boat for, are there horly or full dayu options?
Our minimum duration is 2 hrs to rent the boat. Our self-drive boats are available in docklands for a day and we also have a tow away service on our fishing boat rentals.
Create Memorable Moments
Unwind, Relax, and Make Lasting Memories on the Water
Escape the stress of everyday life and experience the freedom of being on the water. Whether you’re cruising, fishing, or celebrating, there’s nothing quite like the serenity of the open water.
Did you know some of the greatest minds, like Albert Einstein, found inspiration while out on the water?
