2022 Melbourne International Boat Show returns to the water

The new-look boat show format will take to Newquay Promenade fronting Victoria Harbour, in the shadow of Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, over four days from October 20 to 23.

It is the first time since 2008 that the showcase event has been staged on the waterfront rather than its regular indoor venue at Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre. A smaller summer boat show was held for a number of years on the site of this year's event.

It's also the first time the Melbourne-based show has been held since the 2020 event was cancelled in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hosting the event on the water also provides an opportunity for the bigger boats – think bluewater motor yachts and luxury cruising catamarans – to make an appearance.

While tickets to the event are free, visitors will need to pre-register before attending – a plan that proved very successful for the organisers behind the Sanctuary Cove Festival of Boating, a smaller, more intimate event held late in 2020 after the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show was cancelled in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event will also have the latest in boating accessories designed to make a day on the water easier and more enjoyable. More than 100 exhibitors are expected to be on site for the event.

A key focus of this year's event will be visitor experiences and lifestyle aimed at enticing and encouraging current and new boaters to get out on the water.

One of the highlights of the 2022 Melbourne International Boat Show’s on-water displays is expected to be the Cetera 60, an 18.3-metre motor yacht sold in Australia via Premier Yachts.

Joining it on the large boat display will be the classically styled but Australian-built Cape50, US sports yacht brand Cruiser Yachts, Polish sports yacht group Parker, Australian motor yacht maker Riviera represented by R Marine Jackson, Brazilian brand Okean, catamaran specialist Aquila, and US sports yacht brand Cruiser Yachts.

Other brands locked in to attend include Euro-chic dayboat brand Axopar, alloy boat brand Anglapro, the Finland-made Bella and Flipper dayboats, US pontoon boat specialist Bennington, Canadian lifestyle boat brand Campion, US lifestyle boating-focussed brand Chaparral and centre console specialist Pursuit, Jeanneau’s Merry Fisher range, RIB makers Highfield and Italboats, and more.

The Australian trailer boat line-up – always a popular part of Melbourne’s event – will include displays from Anglapro, Adelaide-based ski boat specialist Camero, Formosa, Fabcraft alloy plate boats, Haines Hunter, Stacer, Savage, Quintrex and Yellowfin Plate, Revival, rotomoulded boat-maker Polycraft, Seajay, Stacer, Stejcraft, Stessco and Whittley – which should have its new XS 2000 bowrider on show.

Also attending will be one of Australia’s oldest boat brands, Caribbean.

Moose Marine is expected to have the first boat in Australia fitted with a Cox CXO 300 diesel outboard engine, fitted to a New Zealand-made Hurley Elite but kitted out for a local owner.

Speaking of our cousins across the ditch, brands including Stabicraft and Extreme will make an appearance.

Sail brands are expected to include Dufour, Jeaneau and Lagoon.

Tickets for the event are expected to be available for people to book soon.