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                    Community information

                    Dragon boats on the Yarra River
                    Get involved with clubs at the community boating hub and discover more things to do on the water including boat hire and fishing in Docklands.

                    ​​Things to do on the water in the city

                    Take to the water and see Melbourne from another perspective. Hire a self-skippered boat, kayak by moonlight, delve headfirst into history with the heritage fleet, cruise on a wildlife tour or catch the ferry to the Bellarine Peninsula. 

                    Under the new Victorian Government restrictions, boating is now permitted.

                    Our community based boating clubs have reopened in line with the latest guidelines. Some of the charter and tour operators are also welcoming new bookings.

                    Find out more

                    ​Hire a boat

                    Explore Melbourne from the water, by jumping on a cruise or hiring a boat. Charters operate all year round along the Yarra River.

                    Community boating hub

                    Get involved with Docklands Yacht Club, Dragon Boat Victoria and the Melbourne Outrigger Canoe Club, all of which are based at Community Hub at The Dock.

                    Kayak access and hire

                    See a unique perspective on the city while working up a sweat. You can launch by kayak at one of several locations including:

                    • community boating hub pontoon
                    • Melbourne City Marina 
                    • Moonee Ponds Creek

                    If you don’t own a kayak, you can hire one through Kayak Melbourne.  

                    Fishing at Docklands

                    Victoria Harbour has a healthy fish population. There has been 19 species recorded in Docklands. Bream is the most abundant but other common species include snapper, mullet, luderick, trevally, salmon, flathead, tailor and mulloway.

                    If you are fishing from a pontoon in Docklands, you must give priority to any vessels attempting to berth. 

                    You need a fishing licence for recreational fishing in all of Victoria’s marine, estuarine and fresh waters. Limits apply to size and number of fish taken. You can buy a licence from most fishing tackle shops or online from the Victorian Fisheries Authority 

                    People who fish in the Lower Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers need to be careful about eating their catch. The risks of eating your catch can be reduced if you make sensible choices about the type and amount of fish you eat. The Better Health Channel provides information about consuming fish caught in urban waterways.

                    The main fishing locations are:

                    • under the Bolte Bridge and mouth of Moonee Ponds Creek (north bank of Yarra River)
                    • old wharfs along Harbour Esplanade (both the north and south basins)
                    • Water Plaza​
                    • old wharfs along North Wharf (where accessible)
                    • under Charles Grimes Bridge
                    • under the Bolte Bridge (south bank of Yarra River)
                    • New Quay Marina (public arms)
                    • Melbourne City Marina (public arms)
                    • Yarra’s Edge Marina (public arms)

                    Swimming

                    Swimming within Docklands is strictly prohibited. Due to the busy, active environment which involves vessels of all sizes navigating the water, it’s not safe to swim in this area.

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