Melbourne cruise port guide

Arrival & Getting Ashore

Getting to the centre: From Station Pier, walk to Beacon Cove for tram 109 into Melbourne, with city stops near Collins and Spencer streets.

• Public transport: tram 109 from Stop 129 Beacon Cove/Light Rail, a short walk from Station Pier.

Cruise ships dock at Station Pier. Passengers leave through the Gatehouse into Waterfront Place. Before heading into town, establish your ship's return entrance and any pier-access instructions with staff. If someone is collecting you, arrange to meet in the car park at the pier entrance.

Passengers who need help reaching the car park should arrange assistance with the ship's customer service team. A driver collecting someone who needs assistance can ask at the Gatehouse.

About this port

Australian art at Fed Square or a few hours in Melbourne's botanic gardens make two quite different port days. Both start with the journey from Station Pier in Port Melbourne into the city. Tram 109 connects the pier area with central Melbourne. Choose your main visit around the time you have ashore, keeping the tram journey and the final walk back to your ship in mind.

Getting Around

The tram and cruise bus share a route number but have different boarding arrangements. Tram 109 leaves from Beacon Cove. The separate bus 109 service leaves from Station Pier when provided for the visit. Establish whether it is running for your call and where to catch it back before relying on it.

The port lists a myki customer service desk in the International Cruise Ship Terminal where you can buy a myki ticket. Ask there about payment for your city journey before leaving the terminal.

A taxi rank may be set up on the pier on cruise visit days. Private pickups use the car park at the entrance. For either a tram or taxi outing, keep Station Pier's address with you: 6 Waterfront Place, Port Melbourne.

Things to Do

• The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Fed Square: choose this for Australian art, including work by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. The collection spans the colonial period to the present day, so you can build a visit around the art that interests you. Flinders Street Station is beside Fed Square, a useful landmark for finding the gallery. General collection entry is free, with charges possible for special exhibitions, checked 2 November 2026. Use the gallery's visitor information for opening hours and holiday exceptions.
• Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne: choose an outdoor visit at the Melbourne Gardens on Birdwood Avenue. General entry is free, apart from special ticketed events, checked 2 November 2026. The visitor centre is near Observatory Gate. If you arrive by tram at Stop 19, Shrine of Remembrance/St Kilda Road, the gardens give a 650 m walk to that gate. This is a separate city connection from tram 109. Use the gardens' map and getting-here page to choose your entrance and check seasonal hours before setting off.

Getting back to your ship

Getting back: take tram 109 back to Stop 129 Beacon Cove/Light Rail, then return along the short approach to Station Pier's Gatehouse. Follow the ship's re-entry instructions and staff directions onto the pier. Count back from your ship's all-aboard time, allowing for waiting for the tram, the ride and the walk from the Gatehouse to your ship. If you use the cruise bus, keep the return pickup and service details given for your visit with you during the day.

Practical Information

Luggage: Station Pier has no luggage storage, and bags cannot be left unattended. If your cruise ends here, settle your luggage arrangements before setting off for a city visit.

Joining a cruise: the cruise line controls embarkation access. Private vehicles and taxis may be allowed onto the pier to drop off embarking passengers when the line approves it. Have boarding documents ready at the Gatehouse.