Melbourne's Docklands will be transformed from Thursday to Sunday this week, 16 to 19 October, as New Quay Promenade and Harbour Esplanade play host to the Melbourne Boat Show 2025. Spanning five marinas, the event draws together more than 100 exhibitors on the water, placing it among the largest boating events in Australasia.
A thread running strongly through this year's show is the close relationship between New Zealand and Australian boating. Kiwi builders Purekraft, Senator, McLay, Extreme, Stabicraft, Surtees, Makaira, White Pointer, and Rayglass all have a presence, sitting alongside well-known Australian names including Palm Beach Motor Yachts, Haines Hunter, Bar Crusher, and Evolution Boats.
New Zealand boats make the trip to Melbourne through a mix of direct factory stands and partnerships with Australian dealers such as Warragul Marine Centre, Inverloch Marine, MY Marine, Geelong Boating Centre, and JV Marine. The range takes in alloy hardtops, offshore sport-fishers, and family cruisers, each built around the practical, seaworthy thinking that has given New Zealand builders broad appeal on both sides of the Tasman.
Among the bigger displays, Palm Beach Motor Yachts is celebrating its 30th anniversary with the
Palm Beach 45
, a model that speaks to the brand's approach to design and craftsmanship. European influence enters the mix through Jeanneau Power & Sailing and Axopar, with Inspire Marine and Eyachts presenting the new
Axopar 29 Cross Cabin
and 45 XC.
Technology and tradition share dock space throughout the event. Raymarine, Icom, Volvo Penta, and Altex are displaying new marine systems, while heritage tall ships Alma Doepel and Enterprize give visitors a tangible connection to Melbourne's maritime history.
The open-air waterfront layout, harbour views, and evening atmosphere lend the Melbourne Boat Show 2025 a character well beyond that of a standard trade exhibition. Innovation, heritage, and community come together in a way that reflects the boating culture shared across these two neighbouring nations, celebrating the people, ideas, and craftsmanship that keep the sport alive on both shores.
