The Yarra River (also known as Birrarung) flows through Melbourne, Victoria, offering a wide range of paddling experiences from flatwater urban sections to moving whitewater in the upper reaches. The river's character shifts dramatically depending on location: the lower urban stretches through Melbourne's city centre are tidal, calm, and busy with rowing clubs and commercial traffic, while the upper reaches near Warburton and the Homestead Road area offer Grade 1-3 whitewater dependent on rainfall and snowmelt.

The most popular urban access points include Boathouse Drive opposite Federation Square, which provides a large boat ramp in the heart of Melbourne with paid parking and public transport access at Flinders Street Station approximately 200 metres away. Hawthorn Rowing Club offers a boat ramp with ample parking and proximity to public transport. St. Kevin's Rowing Club, located beneath the M1, provides river access with limited on-street parking, though the walk from the road involves a winding path requiring a trolley. The Library at the Dock features floating boat ramps but limited parking. Yarra Bend Park offers a concrete stepped launch point from which paddlers can travel downstream approximately 3 kilometres to Dights Falls, or upstream to Bellbird Park (approximately 6 kilometres return), or further to Fairfield Boathouse (approximately 10.5 kilometres return), where food and drink are available.

Just below Dights Falls, the Turner Street portage provides a put-in that bypasses the rapids at Dights Falls. Paddlers should be aware that the river constricts near Johnston Street Bridge, where small rapids can form at low tide, making upstream travel challenging. The tidal influence on the lower Yarra is an important factor to account for when planning trips in this section.

In the upper catchment near Warburton, approximately 75 kilometres from Melbourne's CBD, the river offers Grade 2-3 paddling suitable for beginners and intermediates. River levels depend on rainfall and snowmelt, with a water level of 1.5-2 metres considered the sweet spot. Paddlers should be alert to riverbank hazards, particularly after storms, which can deposit large branches and create sieve dangers.

The Studley Park area provides flatwater paddling close to central Melbourne, with the Fairfield Boathouse offering food and refreshments along the route. The White Horse Canoe Club is based in Yarra Glen. Rowing club activity at several access points means paddlers may encounter restricted ramp access at certain times of day. Paddlers on the lower river must adhere to river rules given the volume of other waterway users.