Sailing times current as at 24 September 2026; the days of operation follow the operator's seasonal rule below. · Representative services only — check the operator for today's full timetable
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~60 min
Operator
Melbourne River Cruises
Map – Williamstown Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult, one way | $39.00 |
| Adult, hop-on-hop-off return | $55.00 |
| Concession, one way | $36.00 |
| Concession, hop-on-hop-off return | $48.00 |
| Child (3-16), one way | $22.00 |
| Child (3-16), hop-on-hop-off return | $34.00 |
| Family (2 adults + 2 children), one way | $110.00 |
| Family (2 adults + 2 children), hop-on-hop-off return | $145.00 |
Fares are per leg, not zone-based like Melbourne's trains and trams, and this is not a myki-ticketed service - Transport Victoria's own ferries page lists only the Western Port Ferry, Westgate Punt and Port Phillip Ferries as services it oversees, all explicitly non-myki, and doesn't mention this route at all. Children 2 and under travel free, and concession fares require an entitlement card. Group rates apply for parties of 15 or more, who must book ahead. These are the fares live on Melbourne River Cruises' own booking pages on 22 September 2026, which run higher than an older 2025 PDF still linked from the site. All fares in Australian dollars (AUD).
The Williamstown Ferry is Melbourne River Cruises' passenger service down the Yarra River from Southbank to the historic port town of Williamstown, on the western side of Hobsons Bay. Unlike a point-to-point commuter run, it's sold as a sightseeing cruise with onboard commentary, taking passengers past Crown Casino, the Exhibition Centre and the Westgate Bridge before the river opens into Port Phillip Bay for the final stretch to Williamstown's Gem Pier, directly in front of the HMAS Castlemaine naval museum ship.
Melbourne River Cruises is a separate company from St Kilda Ferry, the smaller operator that also links Williamstown to St Kilda and Port Melbourne across the bay - the two services use different boats, different piers in Williamstown and different fares, and neither honours myki; both are private commercial operators outside Victoria's public transport network, unlike the state-run Western Port Ferry or Port Phillip Ferries that Transport Victoria does oversee.
Which days it sails depends on the calendar: the service runs every day during summer and Victorian school holidays, Friday to Sunday plus public holidays for the rest of the year, and only at weekends in winter. There are three return sailings a day, each taking roughly 45 to 60 minutes one way depending on tide and river traffic, with an extra midday departure on holiday days. There's no scheduled weekday service outside those peak windows. Fares are set per leg rather than zoned like Melbourne's trains and trams: a one-way adult ticket costs $39, with hop-on-hop-off return tickets, concession, child and family rates also available, and under-3s travelling free.
Williamstown itself grew up as Melbourne's first seaport, and small ferries have crossed this stretch of water on and off since 1873 - though those earlier services, including the car-carrying Newport Steam Ferry that sank in 1976, ran across the river mouth near Newport rather than up to the city, and stopped running decades ago. Today's Southbank-to-Williamstown run is a newer, tourism-focused route rather than a direct descendant of that old ferry.
- Arrive at the terminal a few minutes before departure; vehicle boarding usually closes earlier.
- Check the operator's service alerts before travelling — weather, tides and river levels affect services.
- Confirm accepted payment methods and whether a booking is required for vehicles.
Frequently asked questions
$39 one way for an adult, or $55 for a hop-on-hop-off return. Concession is $36/$48, child (3-16) is $22/$34, and a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) is $110/$145. Children 2 and under travel free.
Roughly 45 to 60 minutes one way, depending on tide and river traffic - it's sold as a scenic cruise, not a fast commuter service.
Only in summer and during Victorian school holidays, when it sails daily. The rest of the year it runs Friday to Sunday and on public holidays, dropping to Saturdays and Sundays only in winter.
Southbank Promenade in the Melbourne CBD, arriving at Gem Pier in Williamstown, right in front of the HMAS Castlemaine museum ship.
No. It's a private commercial operator, not part of Victoria's myki network - buy tickets directly from Melbourne River Cruises online or at the pier.
No, they're different companies. Melbourne River Cruises runs this Southbank-to-Williamstown route up the Yarra River; St Kilda Ferry runs a separate service between St Kilda, Williamstown and Port Melbourne on Port Phillip Bay.
Booking is recommended and prepaid tickets let you skip the queue; groups of 15 or more must book ahead to get the group rate.
The HMAS Castlemaine naval museum ship right at Gem Pier, plus the Seaworks Maritime Museum, historic waterfront buildings and Williamstown's cafes and shops.