Dining Cruises in Perth

Dining cruises in Perth put a meal on the water, whether that is a buffet dinner with the city lights on the Swan River, a lunch sailing up to the Swan Valley or a seafood feast on the canals at Mandurah. They sit within Perth cruises and the wider dining cruises across Australia range. This guide covers how they work, the main styles and how to choose.

How dining cruises work in Perth

Perth dining cruises are guided sailings with food and drink built into the trip. Swan River departures leave from the Barrack Street Jetty piers in the CBD, while Mandurah cruises leave from jetties near the city centre. Meals are served on board, with views of the river or the estuary, and the commentary often points out local landmarks and wildlife as you go.

Cruise times vary with the season, and some run only on certain days of the week, so the calendar on each cruise page is the thing to check before you book.

Dinner cruises on the Swan River

An evening cruise suits a night out in the city. The Perth Swan River dinner cruise sails from Barrack Street Jetty at 7pm on a Saturday night and returns at 9.30pm, with a hot and cold buffet, a dessert buffet and live entertainment. The city lights reflect off the water, and with reserved seating you have your place on board, although individual tables cannot always be guaranteed.

Lunch and wine cruises

Daytime sailings turn lunch into a trip. A wine cruise such as the Swan Valley wine cruise with Mandoon Estate tastings leaves Barrack Street Jetty at 10.30am, serves a shared platter lunch with a glass of wine, includes a tasting at Mandoon Estate and returns about 5pm, with live entertainment from the crew. Summer weekends are busy, so book a fortnight or more ahead.

On the Peel Inlet side, a lunch cruise like the Murray River scenic cruise with lunch is a 4.5-hour trip with a two-course buffet, local commentary, wildlife and a guided stop at Coopers Mill, weather permitting. Bring your own keep-cup for the tea and coffee.

Seafood and hands-on dining cruises

Mandurah has a more hands-on style. On the Mandurah wild seafood cruise with lunch, guests help haul the cray pots, then an onboard chef cooks a seafood banquet while you cruise the waterways. It departs from Stingray Point Jetty and has an upper sun deck and a lower BBQ deck.

How to choose a dining cruise

Pick the meal first. An evening cruise is the choice for city lights and live entertainment, a lunch cruise suits a slower day on the water, and a wine cruise adds a tasting trip to the Swan Valley. Check the length, the departure jetty and the days it runs, and keep any dietary needs in mind when you book. Guests need to move around the vessel independently on some Mandurah cruises, so read the access notes on the cruise page.

For more choice on the water without a meal, see more Perth cruises, and for meals on the water around the island, see dining cruises at Rottnest Island.

Frequently asked questions

Where do Perth dining cruises depart from?

Swan River dining cruises leave from the Barrack Street Jetty piers in Perth CBD, and Mandurah dining cruises leave from jetties in Mandurah, such as Stingray Point Jetty for the wild seafood cruise.

Are there dinner cruises in Perth?

Yes. Dinner cruises on the Swan River sail in the evening from Barrack Street Jetty, with a buffet, dessert and live entertainment, and times and days vary, so check the calendar.

Are there lunch cruises in Perth?

Yes. Lunch cruises in Perth include a buffet lunch on the Swan River, a shared platter lunch on the Swan Valley wine cruise and a lunch on the Murray River from Mandurah.

Do Perth dining cruises include drinks?

It depends on the cruise. Wine cruises include wine on board and a tasting at Mandoon Estate, the wild seafood cruise includes local wine, beer and soft drinks, and each cruise page lists what is included.

Can children go on a Perth wine cruise?

The Swan Valley wine cruise no longer permits infants aged 0 to 3 years, so check the cruise page for age notes before booking.

Choose the meal and the water that suit your day, from Swan River dinner to a Mandurah seafood lunch, and book your Perth dining cruise from the list above.