River trips · AUSTRALIA

The 15 Australia River Cruises That Earn the Fare

42 sailings  ·  boarding from $26 a head

This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 australia river cruises worth the fare, each with its price, its passengers’ verdict and the one thing to know before you board.

River Cruise - Port Douglas from the water
Australia River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

River Cruise

1.River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,980 reviews · from $37Our pick

Spend about 90 minutes aboard Lady Douglas with skipper Richard or crew members such as Jay and Jake. Cruise the calm Dickson Inlet, mangroves, marina, and Port Douglas waterfront while watching for crocodiles, birds, mudskippers, and crabs. A drink, snack box, and local commentary are included.

“Excellent way to spend 90 minutes or so on the local river. Reasonably priced (45aud pp) and includes a drink and snack. Even got to see a gator. You will walk past in when being tendered in from a cruise ship.”

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Melbourne: 2-Hour City Highlights River Cruise - Downstream toward Docklands and the modern waterfront
2-Hour Experiences, Australia River Cruises, Melbourne River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Melbourne: 2-Hour City Highlights River Cruise

2.2-Hour City Highlights River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 1,804 reviews · 2 hours · from $49

Cruise upstream and downstream from Southgate with GPS-triggered English commentary, passing Docklands, Southbank, sporting grounds, Herring Island, and the Royal Botanic Gardens. You can sit inside or use the open back deck for photos. The route may pause or change boats, and high water can limit the downriver section.

“It was very relaxed and informative. Staff were helpful. I enjoyed it very much”

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Solar Whisper Daintree River Crocodile and Wildlife Cruise - One hour of searching the Daintree River
Australia River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Wildlife

Solar Whisper Daintree River Crocodile and Wildlife Cruise

3.Solar Whisper Daintree River Crocodile and Wildlife Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,663 reviews · from $25Best value

Spend about an hour on the Daintree River aboard the solar-powered Solar Whisper. Your guide, including experienced hosts such as Mark and Dave, searches the mangroves for crocodiles, birds, snakes, frogs, crabs, and fish. The quiet boat carries up to 24 people, with tea, coffee, live commentary, and a strong chance of seeing crocodiles.

“It is great to be on the quiet boat with a small group. Easy to see the crocs and the guide was very knowledgeable.”

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Blue Mountains Day Tour Including Parramatta River Cruise - Kings Tableland gives you a quieter mountain view
Australia River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Blue Mountains Day Tour Including Parramatta River Cruise

4.Blue Mountains Day Tour Including Parramatta River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,585 reviews · from $68

Spend about 10 hours exploring the Blue Mountains from Sydney with a guide such as Bruce or Les. Visit Sydney Zoo, Kings Tableland, Wentworth Falls or Leura Cascades, Leura, Katoomba, Scenic World, and the Three Sisters. Zoo and Scenic World admission cost extra, while the Parramatta River ferry back to Circular Quay is included.

“This was an excellent, well organized tour that got us around to many different sights and stops. Bruce did an amazing job taking care of our group. You’re in great hands if he is your guide, couldn’t recommend more highly!! The history behind the Blue Mountains is incredibly interesting and there is ample physical activity (not incredibly taxing) throughout the day. Great tour, would do again. 10/10!”

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Gordon River Cruise departing from Strahan - Quiet cruising on the Gordon River
Australia River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Gordon River Cruise departing from Strahan

5.Gordon River Cruise departing from Strahan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,577 reviews · from $111

Board Spirit of the Wild in Strahan for a six-hour cruise through Macquarie Harbour and the Gordon River. Pass Hells Gates, walk Sarah Island with a guide, enjoy a chef-prepared buffet lunch, and listen for the hush of electric motors in the World Heritage wilderness. Main deck and Premier Upper Deck seating are available.

“Absolutely fantastic tour. The entire trip from start to finish was excellent. Couldn’t recommend more highly.”

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Brisbane River Cruise with entry to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - Getting close to koalas and kangaroos
Australia River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Brisbane River Cruise with entry to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

6.Brisbane River Cruise with entry to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,522 reviews · from $82

Cruise from Southbank to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary with commentary from the captain, then spend three hours seeing koalas, kangaroos, platypus, birds of prey, lorikeets, and sheepdogs. The boat has a cafe, and the return cruise ends at Southbank. Koala encounters cost extra and should be booked online.

“Wonderful afternoon spent at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. The boat ride there was also nice and relaxing. The captain and the crew were nice and respectful.”

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Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise on the Yarra River - Four courses, Australian wine, and a lot of table service
Australia River Cruises, Dinner Cruises, Dinner Cruises in Australia, Melbourne River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise on the Yarra River

7.Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise on the Yarra River

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,470 reviews · from $139

Board at Southbank Promenade at 7:30 pm for about three hours on the Spirit of Melbourne. Enjoy a four-course dinner with Australian wine, beer, spirits, soft drinks, port, and cheese as you pass Federation Square, Flinders Street Station, Rod Laver Arena, and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Seating and vessel choice can vary.

“Very casual and relaxed atmosphere with good food and bubbly. I would recommend if one is looking for a quiet evening.”

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Brisbane River Cruise and Koala Sanctuary Visit - The 75-minute cruise to Lone Pine
Australia River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Brisbane River Cruise and Koala Sanctuary Visit

8.Brisbane River Cruise and Koala Sanctuary Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,397 reviews · 5h 30m · from $81

Cruise from Southbank to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary aboard Mirimar II, with river commentary from the captain and crew. You get three hours to see more than 130 koalas, feed kangaroos and wallabies, visit the platypus house, and catch wildlife shows before returning by boat. Food and optional koala encounters cost extra.

“Activity was perfect, a relatively short cruise with a good amount of time at the sanctuary. We went to a few sanctuaries in Australia, and this one was the best.”

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Morning World Heritage Cruise on the Gordon River from Strahan - Hell’s Gates and the entrance to Macquarie Harbour
Australia River Cruises, Historical Tours, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Morning World Heritage Cruise on the Gordon River from Strahan

9.Morning World Heritage Cruise on the Gordon River from Strahan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,193 reviews · from $111

From Strahan, you’ll cruise Macquarie Harbour to Hell’s Gates, visit Sarah Island with a guide, eat lunch aboard a comfortable catamaran, and walk through Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. Guides such as Sarah, Kim, and Kaiah bring the convict and conservation stories to life. Allow six hours and dress for changeable weather.

“Awesome experience on the River and out through Hells Gate. Skipper and crew were amazing. A must do if staying at Strahan”

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Strahan: World Heritage Cruise on Gordon River with Lunch - Into the Gordon River Rainforest
Australia River Cruises, Historical Tours, Lunch Experiences, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Strahan: World Heritage Cruise on Gordon River with Lunch

10.Strahan: World Heritage Cruise on Gordon River with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,143 reviews · 6 hours · from $109

Spend six hours cruising from Strahan through Macquarie Harbour and the Gordon River. You’ll visit Sarah Island with a guide such as Lyle or Maggie, walk the Heritage Landing rainforest boardwalk, enjoy Tasmanian produce at your seat, and see a working Huon pine sawmill.

“nice easy going day... I noticed a lot of passengers from overseas.... I think they need to be warned about the Australian Drop Bear..... 🤔 😅”

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Adelaide River Cruises - Jumping Crocodile Experience - What happens during the one-hour cruise
Australia River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Adelaide River Cruises – Jumping Crocodile Experience

11.Adelaide River Cruises – Jumping Crocodile Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 997 reviews · from $43

Cruise the Adelaide River for about an hour as guides such as Jake, Jack, Dillon, Sean, and John explain crocodile behavior and local wildlife. Food entices large saltwater crocodiles to leap beside the shaded boat, with named animals such as Brutus and Dominator often appearing. The family-friendly cruise carries up to 28 people and returns to the starting point.

“The best cruise and very informative and fantastic experience don’t miss this amazing opportunity 😊”

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Morning Sightseeing Cruise: 10:30am-12pm (90min) - Customs House and Brisbane’s older riverfront
Australia River Cruises, River Cruises, River Sightseeing Cruises, Tour Reviews

Morning Sightseeing Cruise: 10:30am-12pm (90min)

12.Morning Sightseeing Cruise: 10:30am-12pm (90min)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 973 reviews · from $37

Cruise Brisbane River from the Cultural Centre Public Pontoon for 90 minutes, passing Customs House, Story Bridge, South Bank, Brisbane City, and Kangaroo Point Cliffs. Expect onboard commentary, tea or coffee with scones, jam and cream, plus restrooms, a café, and licensed bar. The cruise returns to its starting point.

“Awesome experience. Great staff. Great way to see Brisbane. It is amazing how much it has grown. Highly recommend”

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1-Hour Daintree River wildlife cruise - Reaching the boat at Lower Daintree
1-Hour Experiences, Australia River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Wildlife

1-Hour Daintree River wildlife cruise

13.1-Hour Daintree River wildlife cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 947 reviews · from $25

Cruise the Daintree River for one hour with guides such as Bruce, Ray, Brad, or Griff, watching for crocodiles, kingfishers, tree snakes, and other wildlife. Choose a morning, lunch, or afternoon departure, then enjoy complimentary tea, coffee, or children’s slushies. The cruise returns to its starting point.

“Had an amazing experience with the awesome tour guide Bruce Belcher whose passion for crocs makes the experience even better. Bruce was informative and helpful, friendly and not to forget funny. Definitely would recommend, the beauty of the Daintree river is magical”

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Melbourne: Yarra River Sightseeing Cruise - The first stretch: city views, bridges, and Southbank
Australia River Cruises, Melbourne River Cruises, River Cruises, River Sightseeing Cruises, Tour Reviews

Melbourne: Yarra River Sightseeing Cruise

14.Yarra River Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 889 reviews · 1 hour · from $28

Board at Federation Wharf for a one-hour Yarra River cruise through central Melbourne. An English-speaking captain and crew point out Eureka Tower, Southbank, the Royal Botanic Gardens, bridges, and riverside districts. Tea and coffee are included, while snacks and alcoholic drinks are available to buy onboard.

“Lovely views and good commentary! The boat was comfortable and smooth, lots of seating both inside and out.”

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Sydney: Blue Mountains National Park Tour with River Cruise - The early start and pickup points around Sydney
Australia River Cruises, National Parks, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Sydney: Blue Mountains National Park Tour with River Cruise

15.Blue Mountains National Park Tour with River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 701 reviews · 10h 30m · from $70

Spend 10.5 hours exploring the Blue Mountains from Sydney with an English-speaking Oz Trails guide such as Les, Bruce, or Wayne. Visit Sydney Zoo if you choose, walk to a waterfall lookout, stop at Leura, Three Sisters, Lincoln’s Rock, and Scenic World, then return by ferry along the Parramatta River. Zoo and Scenic World tickets cost extra.

“I had an amazing time. the guide was so funny and made the experience 10 times better. pls keep telling dad jokes🤣🫶🏻”

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Newly added: Australia River Cruises

★ 4.8Margaret River Wine Tour & Wildlife CruiseFrom $1738 reviews
★ 4.8Darwin: Mary River Wetlands Wildlife Cruise with LunchFrom $166324 reviews
★ 4.4Darwin: Kakadu National Park, Yellow Water River CruiseFrom $4244 reviews
★ 4.7Darwin: Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Adelaide River CruiseFrom $38237 reviews
★ 4.8Darwin: Adelaide River Cruises, Jumping Crocodile ExperienceFrom $3879 reviews
★ 4.3Darwin: Jumping Crocodile River Cruise with Shuttle BusFrom $8465 reviews
★ 4.5Daintree: Guided Daintree River Wildlife CruiseFrom $28110 reviews
★ 5.0Discover Cairns: Cairns River Cruise & City Sights TourFrom $1513 reviews
★ 4.5Cairns: Sightseeing River Boat Safari with Soft DrinksFrom $4352 reviews
★ 5.0Cairns: Daintree River Cruise and Mossman GorgeFrom $1907 reviews
★ 4.8Byron Bay: Scenic Sunset River CruiseFrom $498 reviews
★ 4.2Blue Mountains: Private Tour with Wildlife and River Cruise29 reviews
★ 4.6Adelaide: Walking Tour and Popeye River CruiseFrom $705 reviews
★ 4.5Adelaide Hills Tour with River Murray 3 Hour Lunch Cruise.From $13391 reviews
★ 4.7Sunshine Coast: Mooloolaba River Sunset CruiseFrom $38310 reviews

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