Arrived a little too early to pick someone up at Melbourne Airport? Use our Wait Zone near the Tullamarine Freeway for up to 30 minutes—absolutely free! It's perfect for pick-ups without the rush.

• Park free for the first 30 minutes.
• Affordable rates after the first half-hour.
• Located conveniently on Mercer Drive near Tullamarine Freeway.
• Ideal for short waits to pick up friends or family.
• No need to rush with hassle-free parking.

Melbourne Airport’s pick-up areas have a strict 1-minute standing time limit. If you’re too early or your passenger is held up at the security lines or the baggage carousels, you may need somewhere to wait for them. That’s where the Wait Zone comes in handy.

The Wait Zone is a designated area at Melbourne Airport where you can park your car and wait for arriving passengers. It's not close enough to walk to the terminals, but it’s within the airport vicinity. So it's best suited for those who arrive early for pick-up and want to avoid circling the airport. When your passenger is ready, you can simply drive to the airport pick-up zone and collect them.

The best part? Parking for the first 30 minutes is completely free! So you can relax in your car, catch up on emails, or read a book without any worries. After 30 minutes, there's a small fee, but it's significantly cheaper than the standard parking rates at offsite parking facilities.

Wait parking at Tullamarine can be your secret weapon for smoother airport runs. Here's how it makes things easier:

• It's located conveniently near the Tullamarine Freeway and Airport Drive, making it easy to reach.
• You can park for free for the first 30 minutes, which is perfect for timing your pickup right when your friends or family arrive.
• The area is designated specifically for waiting in your car, so you don’t have to circle around the airport or park far away, and its safer than stopping on the side of the freeway.
• It reduces stress by providing a designated spot to wait, away from the busy terminal areas.

Melbourne Airport’s Wait Zone is located on Mercer Drive, just off Tullamarine Freeway or Airport Drive.

From Melbourne CBD, head south on Elizabeth St. and then turn right onto Queen Street. Keep following signs for the Tullamarine Freeway (M2) and take the Citylink ramp to merge onto it. Keep right and follow signs for Melbourne Airport/Hume Freeway. Finally, take exit 18 towards Airport/Freight/Business Park and continue onto Mercer Drive. There, you will find the Wait Zone on your left.

Parking at Melbourne Airport’s Wait Zone is free for the first 30 minutes. If you stay longer, from 30 minutes up to an hour, it costs $4. Any time beyond an hour, you'll pay the standard Terminal Car Park drive-up rates.

For even longer stays, you may consider pre-booking short-term parking at one of the Melbourne Airport car parks. There are heaps of parking options to choose from, whether you’re after low-cost, self-park, or Valet Parking services. Except for the Value Car Park, our onsite parking spaces are just a short walk from the airport terminals, making pick-ups a breeze.