What To Do If You Board the Wrong Melbourne Airport Value Car Park Bus

Parked at one of Melbourne Airport's Value Car Parks and just realised you're on the wrong bus? Stay on it. The fix is one bus transfer near Terminal 4, and with both bus services running every 15 minutes, you won't be waiting long at any point.

Melbourne Airport’s Value North and Value South Car Parks each run their own free bus service to the terminals. The routes don't overlap. The Value North Car Park bus stops near Terminal 1 and Terminal 4, and the Value South Car Park bus runs directly to the T4 Transport Hub. So if you hopped onto the wrong one, just ride it through to where it stops. The correct bus is a short walk from either drop-off point.

The Value Car Parks offer the most affordable onsite parking options at Melbourne Airport. Both the Value North and Value South Car Parks are open-air, self-parking options within the airport precinct, each with its own courtesy bus service running to the Melbourne Airport terminals every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day. They're great value for longer trips especially, but the flat daily rate means they work just as well for a short-term stay.

Here's what both car parks include:

• The lowest daily rate of all Melbourne Airport's onsite car parks. Whether it's a short-term stay or you're using the Value Car Parks as a long-term car park option for several weeks, the daily rate stays the same either way.
• A free bus running every 15 minutes, day and night. The Value North Car Park bus stops outside Terminal 1 and Terminal 4, with a short walk to Terminal 2 for international flights and Terminal 3 for Virgin Australia. The Value South Car Park bus runs directly to the T4 Transport Hub, just 200 metres from Terminal 4, with Terminal 3 a short walk away.
• Easy to reach from the Tullamarine Freeway. Take Exit 18 to reach either car park. The Value North Car Park has entrances on Airport Drive and Mercer Drive, while the Value South Car Park is accessible via Airport Drive.
• Accessible Parking in both car parks. The Value North Car Park has 89 Accessible Parking bays positioned closest to Bus Shelter A, and the Value South Car Park has 10, positioned closest to Bus Shelter J. A valid Accessible Parking Permit must be displayed to use them, and both buses are wheelchair friendly.

All of this makes the Value Car Parks good value for money, but booking online makes them even more so. You'll pay less than drive-up rates, and the earlier you sort it, the more choice you get.

You can lock in your parking up to 12 months before your trip. If you’re worried about your travel plans changing, the My Bookings page lets you amend or cancel up to 2 hours before your booked arrival and extend your stay anytime before you exit.

If you've accidentally boarded the Value North bus but you’re parked at Value South, stay on it. Ride through to Terminal 4, then walk to the T4 Transport Hub and hop on the Value South Car Park bus back to your car. Both buses run every 15 minutes, so the detour adds a few minutes at most.

Here’s what that looks like step by step:

1. Stay on the Value North Car Park bus. Don't get off at any of the stops inside the car park. The bus will complete its route and return to the terminals.
2. When the Value North Car Park bus drops off at Terminal 4, that's your stop. Get off here.
3. As you exit the bus, turn left and walk towards the T4 Transport Hub.
4. At the T4 Transport Hub, follow the signs to Bus Lane 1, Bay 3. That's where the Value South Car Park bus pick-up is.
5. Board the next Value South Car Park bus. It runs directly back to Bus Shelter J in the Value South Car Park, where your car is parked.

If you've boarded the Value South Car Park bus but your car is at Value North, stay on it. The bus will return to the T4 Transport Hub, and from there it's a short walk to the Value North Car Park bus outside Terminal 4.

Here's what that looks like step by step:

1. Stay on the Value South Car Park bus. Don't get off at Bus Shelter J in the Value South Car Park. The bus will complete its run and head back to the T4 Transport Hub.
2. Get off at the T4 Transport Hub, walk towards Terminal 4 and head outside.
3. Look for the orange Value North Car Park signs next to the SkyBus stop. That's where the Value North Car Park bus pick-up is.
4. Board the next Value North Car Park bus. It runs every 15 minutes and takes you straight back to the Value North Car Park.

Avoiding the wrong bus comes down to knowing which car park you booked before you reach the pick-up point. Both the Value North Car Park bus and the Value South Car Park bus are clearly labelled, and a quick check before you board is all it takes. Here are more tips:

• Check your booking confirmation before you leave home. The two car parks are in different parts of the precinct with different bus stops. Check your confirmation email to see whether you booked the Value North or Value South Car Park.
• Note your section and bay number when you park. When you pull into your bay, take a quick note of the section number before you head to the bus stop. The Value North Car Park has 7 bus shelters spread throughout. The Value South Car Park has just one at Bus Shelter J.
• Read the bus label before you board. Both the Value North and Value South Car Parks’ free shuttle service is clearly labelled. Don't board the first shuttle bus that pulls up. Check the label on the bus and at the shelter before you step on. Better yet, check with the bus driver if it's the right bus for you.
• Know which terminal your airline uses. This matters most for Virgin Australia passengers flying from Terminal 3 and Jetstar, Rex and Link Airways passengers from Terminal 4. Both the Value North and Value South Car Parks have bus pick-up points near Terminal 3 and Terminal 4, which is exactly where the confusion tends to happen. Always confirm which car park you booked, then check the bus label before you board.
• Pull up the car park map before you head to the bus stop. The Melbourne Airport website has car park maps available to view online. Take a look at the Value Car Parks map before you leave home to get familiar with the layout.
• Not sure? Ask our team for help. Our Experience Ambassadors are community volunteers in watermelon-pink jackets at the airport every morning, afternoon and evening. They're easy to spot and genuinely happy to point you to the right bus stop. In Terminal 4, you can also ask any staff member wearing a Melbourne Airport lanyard if you need a hand finding your way.

If you've made it back to the right Value Car Park but can't find your car, don't wander. Head to the nearest HELP button instead. Both Value Car Parks have them at every bus shelter and at the entry and exit boom gates. Press one to connect to our customer service team for on-demand assistance, and we'll send someone out to you.

When you make contact, have your car registration number ready along with the day and time you entered the car park. Those two details give our team what they need to locate your car.

Flights booked? Head to the Melbourne Airport Parking & Transport page to compare options and book now. The Value Car Parks offer excellent value for any trip, but booking online gets you an even better rate than if you drive up and pay at the gate. Every online booking comes with a grace period, giving you a 1-hour buffer on both ends for stays under 4 hours and 2 hours for longer ones. You can also add the Overstay Guarantee at booking, which covers overstay charges if your return is delayed by a flight cancellation, a government-mandated border closure or illness.

Got mobility needs? Accessible Parking is available across all Melbourne Airport car parks. Need a hand between the bus and your terminal? You can arrange free special assistance from our Melbourne Airport Assist team at least 24 hours before you fly.

Got more questions? Visit the Parking FAQs page for quick answers to the most common ones. For parking offers, tips and seasonal deals sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to our Parking Deals newsletter. You can also follow Melbourne Airport on social media to stay across the latest news and updates.