There’s no shortage of great events in Melbourne, but sometimes a flight out interstate can put you in the crowd for a big match, a food and wine festival, or a creative event that only comes around once a year.

If you're thinking of flying out, it helps to have the practical details sorted early, like where to park at the airport. With our onsite parking options, you can head off on your own time. Just park near your terminal, take your bags, and make your way to check-in without the usual back and forth.

Not sure where to go yet? Here are some of the best events in Australia that are worth planning a trip around, each one just a short flight from Melbourne.

If you're planning your next trip around something cultural, there’s plenty happening beyond VIC. A short flight from Melbourne can take you to events that combine performance, visual art exhibitions, and storytelling in ways worth seeing up close.

Here are a few to keep on your radar:

• Tarnanthi Art Fair (October): Part of the Tarnanthi Festival, the fair runs across one weekend in central Adelaide, with everything from painting and weaving to ceramics and sculpture. Presented by the Art Gallery of South Australia, it brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. You can meet with them, hear their stories, and buy artwork directly. It’s a rare chance to engage with First Nations visual arts up close.
• Desert Mob (September to October): If you’ve been looking for a reason to visit the Northern Territory, this is a rare opportunity to experience First Nations art and culture in the place it comes from. Held in Alice Springs, it features a large group exhibition, a busy outdoor marketplace, and talks where you can hear directly from artists from some of the most remote parts of Central Australia.
• National Multicultural Festival (February): This three-day event fills the centre of Canberra with food stalls, music, dance, and performances from communities across Australia. It’s one of the biggest cultural gatherings on the calendar, with streets packed from morning to night. If you’re looking for something energetic, social, and built around shared experiences, this is a good one to plan a summer weekend around.

PRO TIP: Artist talks and limited-run exhibitions often happen on opening weekends. Lock in your flight and book parking early if you want to be there for the best of the program.

Melbourne has its share of headline matches, such as the AFL Grand Final, the Australian Open, and the Melbourne Cup. But there are a few big moments each year that are worth the flight out of Victoria. These events draw fans from across the country and make a good excuse to take a few days off and catch the action in a different state.

• State of Origin (May to July) and NRL Grand Finals (October): Rugby league’s loudest nights happen in Queensland and NSW, with packed crowds at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane and Accor Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park. The State of Origin series and NRL Grand Finals are two of the biggest fixtures of the year. They’re well worth planning a trip around if your team’s in the mix, or you just want to be part of the atmosphere.
• Santos Tour Down Under (January): Australia’s biggest cycling race kicks off the international season each year in Adelaide. It’s a full week of racing, local events, and outdoor energy that takes over the city and surrounding regions. You don’t need to follow every stage. Just flying in for the weekend is enough to catch the buzz.
• Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race (December): Starting each Boxing Day in Sydney Harbour, this is one of the most iconic sailing events in the world. If you’ve never seen it in person, it’s worth the trip. Thousands line the harbour as the fleet sets off for Hobart in a race that’s as much about tradition as competition.
• ICC World Cup Matches: When Australia hosts the ICC World Cup, matches are played across the country, from Melbourne and Sydney to Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. If you’re planning to catch a game, keep an eye on which cities are hosting and time your trip around a group-stage blockbuster or knockout match.

PRO TIP: Big sporting events often release tickets months ahead, and flights and parking can fill up fast once fixtures are confirmed. Sort both early, especially if you're chasing a finals seat or planning to travel with mates.

From creative city-wide takeovers to music weekends and food festivals with a local spin, these events are easy to build a trip around. And with many falling close to public holidays, you won’t need to take much time off.

• Vivid Sydney (May to June): As one of New South Wales’ biggest annual events, Vivid Sydney is as much about atmosphere as it is art. Expect large-scale projections across Circular Quay and custom installations throughout the CBD. The Sydney Opera House lights up each night, and the city stays busy well past dark.
• Brisbane Festival (September): This is one of those community events where the whole city gets involved. The program includes everything from riverside fireworks to theatre, outdoor gigs, and roving performances in parks and laneways. There’s plenty of live music, and the warm nights make it easy to stay out. If you’re looking for something that blends art with energy, this is a good reason to fly to Queensland.
• Adelaide Festival (February to March): Here’s one for those who want to see something different. The lineup spans theatre, opera, dance, and visual art, often with international acts debuting in Australia. The shows are ticketed, the crowds are considered, and the feel is more world-class than carnival. Fly in for a headline show, or stay a few days and take in a full program.
• Taste Bundaberg Festival (September): If you’re flying in for something slower, this food festival focuses on growers, producers, and shared local meals. Think farmers’ markets, distillery tours, and long-table dinners with a regional lens. It’s not big-scale, but that’s part of the appeal.
• SXSW Sydney (October): A new addition to the calendar, SXSW Sydney brings together tech, gaming, screen, and music across venues in central Sydney. The days are packed with panels, launches, and talks, while the evenings roll into gigs and club shows. If you work in digital or just want to catch new ideas early, it’s worth timing a trip around the festival dates.

PRO TIP: Early morning flights the day after a big festival sound efficient until you’re standing in line at security on three hours’ sleep. If you can, give yourself breathing room and fly home later in the day. Your future-you will thank you.

Flying out for a major event usually means working around fixed times, such as kick-offs, curtain calls, and check-in windows. The right parking option can make the lead-up to your trip a lot smoother. Melbourne Airport has a range of onsite parking solutions to match how long you’ll be away and how you like to move through the airport, including:

Value car park

If your event stretches over a few days or you’re making the most of a long weekend, the Value car park keeps things simple and budget-friendly. Access the car park via Airport Drive or Mercer Drive, park your car, and jump on the free shuttle. The service runs every 15 minutes, day and night, with stops at Terminal 1 and 4. This open-air car park is an easy option if you don’t mind a short ride before check-in.

Planning a trip around peak travel periods? Book Value Express. It’s a valet-like service that lets you drop the car off so you can get moving even faster. This service is available only during school holidays.

Terminal car parks

If you want a quicker route to your gate, the Terminal car parks put you a few minutes’ walk from check-in. The Terminal T123 car park connects directly to Terminals 1, 2, and 3 via a covered link bridge and is great if you’re flying with Qantas or Virgin Australia (or internationally).

Flying from Terminal 4? The Terminal T4 car park is just 100 metres from the entrance and is ideal for Jetstar, Rex, or Link Airways passengers, but also a great choice for travellers flying Virgin Australia. Both offer a mix of open-air and undercover spaces, making them a solid choice if you want to park close and move quickly, no shuttle needed.

Premium Self Park

Located on Level 1 of both the T123 and T4 car parks, this parking option gives you the closest self-parking bays to the terminals, all undercover and extra wide for easy access. This makes moving bags and gear quick, whether you’re travelling for a festival, heading out early, or coming home late. You’ll stay under cover from the car to the terminal, so there’s no weather worries on the way to the check-in counters.

Premium Valet

Want to get from your car to check-in as quickly as possible? Premium Valet is located right on Level 1 of the T123 car park, so you just drive in, hand over your keys, and walk to the terminal entrance. It’s the go-to for travellers flying from Terminals 1, 2, and 3, especially if you’re carrying extra bags. If you’re on a tight schedule for a finals match, concert, or need a smooth early morning departure, this makes the lead-up simple.

Qantas Valet

Located on Level 1 of the T123 car park, Qantas Valet is the closest parking option for Qantas domestic flyers, but you don’t have to be a Qantas passenger to use it. No need to book ahead here, too. Just drive up, hand over your keys, and walk into the terminal. You can ask for car cleaning while you’re away, and Qantas Frequent Flyers earn points for every dollar spent. When you’re back in Melbourne, your car is ready and waiting, so you can be on the road within minutes.

You don’t need to book parking before you arrive at Melbourne Airport, but doing so takes the guesswork out of the lead-up and means you can focus on your trip. You also get:

• Better rates: Online bookings are cheaper than driving up to the car park on the day.
• More parking choices: Booking in advance means you can choose the car park that best matches your trip, whether you want long-stay parking, undercover, valet, or options closest to check-in.
• Faster entry and exit: Your booking details are in the system, so getting in and out is more straightforward via the QR code. No need to pay at the gate.
• Grace period built-in: All online bookings include a grace period. That’s 1 hour before and after your booked time for bookings under 4 hours, or 2 hours before and after for bookings of 4 hours or more. This gives you some extra time if your event starts early, runs over, or your plans change on the day.
• Option to add Overstay Guarantee: For extra peace of mind, you can add the Overstay Guarantee when booking online. With this, you won’t have to pay extra if your flight is cancelled or delayed due to airline changes, illness, or border issues.

Already parked and plans have changed? You can extend your booking online through Manage My Booking. Just make any changes at least two hours before your scheduled exit time. Want the latest online offers? Subscribe to our Parking Deals newsletter for exclusive rates and updates straight to your inbox.

National events, festivals, and big sports matches are a great reason to break routine and take a trip. With so much happening across Australia each year, planning ahead makes everything run more smoothly, from booking your flights to sorting parking near your terminal.

If you’re building your next trip around an event, you can book parking at Melbourne Airport up to a year in advance or as little as two hours before you arrive. But why wait? Take the guesswork out of your travel day and book your parking online now so you can focus on making the most of your event.