Let us take you on a serene cruise around the islands of the picturesque Ornamental Lake in Melbourne’s stunning Royal Botanic Gardens.
Settle back in an elegant wooden punt to enjoy a unique view of one of the world’s finest gardens as our professional guide tells you about it’s history and wild life.
Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, taking the family out, or just catching up with friends, punting on the lake will be a memorable occasion.
(5-15 years)
(0-4 years)
1-2 Adults + Up to 3 Children (5-15years)
(Maximum 6-8 passengers)
Boat can hold Maximum 6-8 passengers.
Online bookings = Private Tours and you’ll have a guide to push the boat for you.
If you need more than 1 boat, please contact us.
Are you planning your wedding or function in the Royal Botanic Gardens?
Guest of all ages will enjoy the diversion. Punts depart and return to the landing in front of the Terrace Restaurant, picking up and dropping off guests approximately every 10-15 minutes.
(Maximum 6-8 passengers)
Punting on the Lake is located in the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Melbourne Gardens close to the busy central business district and other attractions such as the Shrine of Remembrance, the Yarra River, the Arts Centre, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MGC).
Tours depart from in front of the Terrace Cafe, 200m from “Bridge Gate” (Gate A) on the corner of Alexandra Avenue and Anderson Street, South Yarra. Follow the directional signs for “Bridge Gate (Gate A)” or “Terrace Cafe”.
A punt is a flat-bottomed boat with a square-cut bow, designed for use in small rivers or other shallow water. Punting refers to boating in a punt. The punter generally propels the punt by pushing against the river or lake bed with a pole. A punt should not be confused with a gondola, which is propelled by an oar rather than a pole. (Wikipedia).
Although we think of punting as English, from Oxford and Cambridge universities, punts are found all over the world, anywhere there was shallow water and a need for transport.
A punt is the easiest form of boat to build, and became the most popular way of crossing a river before a village could afford to build a permanent bridge. The word punt is related to pontoon, and out of pontoons you build a bridge. “Punt Road” in Melbourne takes its name from the ferry punt that took passengers and their horses across the Yarra where the bridge now stands.
Our three river punts are based on a traditional design from punts that are used on the Cam river in Cambridge, England, and adapted to modern boat building standards and Australian conditions.
Our punts are named ‘Victoria’ after the state, ‘Yarra’ after the river that flows through Melbourne, and ‘Charles’ after the founder of the Royal Botanic Garden, Lieutenant-Governor Charles La Trobe.
Being flat bottomed craft, the punts are very stable and comfortably seat 8 passengers on luxurious velvet cushions. They come equipped with blankets for cold weather and elegant white parasols for protection from the sun.
Please find below the list of Frequently Asked Questions. If you have any other questions or need any information, please give us a call on 0481 455 410 or click here to email us.
We have umbrellas and waterproof blankets for light showers, but we don’t operate in heavy rain or extreme heat. If we have to cancel, we can re-schedule or refund. See our Terms and Conditions for more details.
Yes! If you book online in advance, it’s always a private punt with a guide.
Our punts comfortably seat 6 people. If you would like to go on a tour with more than 6 people, please contact us and we can make arrangements for your group.
Yes! You are welcome to bring your own food and drink on board, we can provide a small table on the punt. Please ask for a table on the day!
We are not able to provide food and drink, however you are more than welcome to bring your own.
Yes! Well-behaved bogs are always welcome on board! Dogs need to be on a lead in the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Yes! We have plenty of parasols to use while you are on the punt.
Yes! If you want to let us know beforehand, we will talk less during the ride to give you ample time to pop the question.
We recommend you book online through the “Book Now” button on our Home Page and receive your tickets via email. You can also buy tickets at our ticket desk, but we strongly recommend booking in advance in summer and on weekends. We accept cash, Visa, MasterCard, and EFTPOS cards.
Tour times and frequency vary according to the season. We suggest you check available times on our website (via the “Book Now” button) for the day you wish to come. You’re welcome to arrive at our ticket desk and check the next available tour, but sometimes we are fully booked, and we strongly recommend that you book in advance in summer and at weekends as there is often a long wait – or we are fully booked – at those times. The best way to buy tickets is through the “Book Now” button on our Home Page.
Yes, you can purchase a gift voucher here or from our ticket desk.
Gift vouchers purchased on Redzy can be redeemed by clicking “Add promo code / voucher” when booking. To redeem other vouchers, please call us on 0481 455 410.
We cruise around the islands and bays of the Ornamental Lake so you can see parts of the Gardens that you don’t usually see when you walk around. There is a lot of bird life on the islands, and if you’re lucky you might also get a close-up view of turtles sunning themselves on the partly submerged logs in summer. Sitting close to water level, you’ll get a completely different perspective on our beautiful surroundings, not to mention some unique photo opportunities. Your punter will give you a guided tour as you go around. Have a look at some of the photos in our Gallery.
Yes, a punt is a very stable, flat-bottomed boat. However, children must remain seated during the trip and must be under the supervision of an adult. Our operating licence requires children under 10 years old to wear a lifejacket (we supply these). There are no age restrictions for the tour.
We generally advise that the mobility required to get in and out of a punt is about the same as for getting in and out of a car. You will need to be able to negotiate three or four steps to the punt, then sit on a low seat. Our staff will assist, in accordance with your instructions. We allow plenty of time to board and disembark, particularly for elderly passengers or customers with limited mobility.
Only children under 10 are required to wear a life jacket. However, each of our punts is equipped with life jackets and you are welcome to use one if you feel more comfortable doing so.
No. Our punts are licensed to carry 6 adult passengers, and are extremely stable.
“Wonderful, relaxing, a must-see, tranquil, romantic, a hidden gem…”
Read what our visitors thought on Trip Advisor.
We are a dog friendly team of energetic guides who enjoy taking our customers on a slow relaxing cruise around the Ornamental Lake in the Botanic Gardens. We are happy to give an entertaining commentary on the wildlife, plants, floating islands that we see on the way, or remain silent for the more romantic rides.
We welcome canine customers and even provide hats and ties for doggy dress ups. Check out the dedicated Insta @dogsonthelake
Have a question? Ready to book? Contact us via the enquiry form or give us a call.
From Flinders St Station, take a tram down St Kilda Road and get off at the Shrine of Remembrance stop. Walk through the Shrine grounds, and enter the Royal Botanic Gardens on Birdwood Avenue. Walk downhill towards the lake, following the directional signs for “Bridge Gate/Gate A”. Please allow at least 20 minutes to walk this route.
Please note that the Domain Interchange has now been closed for the construction of the metro tunnel, and trams no longer run along Domain Road.
Take a train to Richmond Station. Exit onto Swan Street, cross diagonally on the intersection with Punt Road and follow the path through “Gosch’s Paddock” (an elite sports training field). Then, walk over Morell Bridge and enter the Botanic Gardens at Bridge Gate/Gate A. Keep walking down to the lake and the Terrace Cafe. We are approximately 150 metres inside Bridge Gate (Gate A).
Street parking is available on Alexandra Avenue and Anderson Street.
Tour bus parking is available on Anderson Street, near Bridge Gate/ Gate A of the Botanic Gardens.
