Spontaneous Trip? Here's Your Airport Parking Plan for Australia Day Weekend

Decided on a last-minute getaway? You’ve picked a good weekend for it. Australia Day often lines up with a long weekend, which makes it a popular time to fly. And if you’ve just locked in flights, it’s worth thinking ahead about where you’ll park.

If you’re flying from Melbourne Airport, you’ll find onsite parking options that work for all kinds of trips. Whether you’re away for two days or stretching it into a longer break, there’s a simple way to park close to your terminal and walk in.

Yes, you can. If your Australia Day weekend plans have come together last minute, you can still book parking online up to two hours before arriving at Melbourne Airport. It’s fast, straightforward and gives you access to better rates than paying on arrival.

That said, booking is open up to 12 months in advance. So even for a spontaneous trip, it’s worth locking in parking as soon as you’ve confirmed your flights. The earlier you book, the more choices you’ll have.

Planning a last-minute trip doesn’t mean leaving everything to chance, especially when it comes to airport parking. Here are a few quick things you can do to help your parking experience go more smoothly this long weekend:

• Confirm which airport terminal your flight leaves from. Qantas uses Terminal 1, international flights depart from Terminal 2, Virgin Australia flies from Terminal 3, and Terminal 4 covers Jetstar, Rex, and Link Airways. Knowing this upfront makes it easier to pick the right car park later on.
• Book parking online. Even if you're planning airport parking just two hours before your entry time, it's still worth doing it online. You'll get the best value that way, with online parking rates that are lower than drive-up prices.
• Save your parking QR code to your phone. You don’t want to dig through emails at the boom gate. With the parking QR code saved to your phone’s wallet or screenshots folder, it’s ready to scan when you arrive.
• Check traffic conditions around Tullamarine. The Australia Day weekend is a busy time on the roads. Ongoing roadworks and lane closures can slow things down, especially during peak flight times. Check for live updates before you leave so you can avoid delays and pick the best route in.
• Leave early to allow extra time for the drive. Traffic can build quickly over the Australia Day weekend. If you’ve booked online and arrive outside your booking window, there’s a grace period to give you some breathing room. Online bookings include up to one hour either side of your entry and exit times for short-term parking under four hours, and up to two hours for longer stays.
• Add the Overstay Guarantee for extra peace of mind. This optional add-on covers the cost of extra time in the car park in specific situations like airline cancellations, illness or border closures.
• Know how to update your booked times. If you haven’t parked yet, you can update your entry time or date through Manage My Booking, as long as it’s done at least two hours before your original booking. If you’re already parked and decide to add an additional day or two to your trip, you can change your exit date and time through Manage My Booking anytime before your scheduled exit.

With more travellers flying over the Australia Day weekend, it helps to pick a parking option that fits how you like to travel. From quick walks to check-in to a more budget-friendly option with a free shuttle service, here’s what’s available onsite:

• Value Car Parks: Planning a longer weekend away? If you’re on a budget, the Value Car Parks give you great value, with open-air parking bays and a free bus taking you to the terminals every 15 minutes, day and night.
  
  Value North Car Park has entrances on Mercer Drive and Airport Drive, with a free bus ride that stops near Terminal 1 for Qantas flights and international departures from Terminal 2, and near Terminal 4 to serve all other domestic flights, including Jetstar, Rex, Link Airways and Virgin Australia.
  
  The Value South Car Park is easy to reach from Airport Drive and is designed for domestic travellers flying through Terminal 4 and Terminal 3, with a direct free bus service to the T4 Transport Hub. When you land back in Melbourne, simply catch the same free bus back to your car for an easy journey home.
  
  If you're flying during peak times like the school holidays, you can book Value Express instead. It’s a seasonal valet parking service located near Value North Bus Stop B, where you hand over your keys and our team takes care of the rest.
• Terminal Car Parks: Located right across from the terminals, the T123 Terminal Car Park and T4 Terminal Car Park put you just a few minutes walk from check-in. The T123 Terminal Car Park links directly to T123 via a covered bridge, making it ideal if you’re flying with Qantas, Virgin Australia or heading to the international terminal. The T4 Terminal Car Park is just 100 metres from T4 and suits Jetstar, Rex, Link Airways and Virgin Australia flights. Both car parks offer a mix of open-air and undercover parking spaces.
• Premium Car Parks: Travelling over the Australia Day weekend means flying out in the middle of summer. T123 Premium Car Park and T4 Premium Car Park gives you undercover parking, so your car stays protected from the heat while you're away. You’ll find it on Level 1 of both the T123 and T4 car parks and offers the closest parking bays to the terminal entrances.
• Melbourne Airport Valet: Don’t want to think about parking at all? Keep things even simpler with Melbourne Airport Valet. Just pull into Level 1 of the T123 car park, hand over your keys to our team, and head straight to your terminal. There’s no searching for a bay or working out extra steps. It’s a quick option that works well for summer departures, early flights or any day you’d rather keep moving.
• Qantas Valet: Flying out without much time to plan ahead? Qantas Valet lets you drive in, hand over your keys and head straight to the terminal, no booking needed. It’s located on Level 1 of the T123 car park and is open to all travellers, not just Qantas passengers. You can even request a car wash while you’re away. If you’re a Qantas Frequent Flyer, you’ll earn points every time you use the service.

Not leaving your car at the airport this time? The Pick Up and Drop Off zones are right outside the terminals for quick handovers, while the T123 Terminal Car Park and T4 Terminal Car Park give you free parking for up to 15 minutes. If you're collecting someone and they’re still making their way through arrivals, the Wait Zone near Airport Drive and the Tullamarine Freeway offers up to an hour of free parking.

Spontaneous trips come together fast, but a little airport parking prep now can make things run a lot smoother. Book parking online now so you can start your Australia Day weekend trip on the right note.

Need more info? Head to our Parking FAQs page for answers or get in touch with our customer service team. And if you’re keen to keep things even simpler next time, sign up to Melbourne Airport Parking Deals newsletter for handy tips, online parking offers and more ways to make your next trip easier.