Planning a long trip and need to park your car at Melbourne Airport? You’ve landed at the right place. This guide has everything you need to know about long-term parking at Melbourne Airport.

From knowing your parking options to comparing the differences between short-term and long-term parking rates and how to get the best rates, this blog zeroes in on the basics. We’ll also walk you through booking your long-term parking at Tullamarine Airport easily.

Whether you’ll be gone for a week or going on a months-long vacation, here’s what to keep in mind for a smooth start to your journey.

To make sure we’re on the same page, let’s first define how long is long-term.

In general, long-term parking applies to situations where you park for more than 24 hours. If you plan to leave your car for several days to weeks, you're looking at long-term parking.

At Melbourne Airport, in particular, anything beyond a day’s parking moves into the long-term category. This is more cost-effective for travellers needing extended parking as the rates are usually charged per day, not per hour. So, if your trip is longer than a day, long-term parking is your best bet.

Melbourne Airport offers a variety of onsite parking options to suit every traveller's needs, especially when it comes to long-term stays. Here's a quick look at what's available:

• Value Parking: Ideal for travellers looking for low-cost options, our open-air Value Car Park offers competitive rates for long-term stays. It's a little further from the terminals, but a free shuttle bus service runs every 15 minutes. So, you’re never far away from your check-in counter.
• Terminal Parking: Our Terminal Car Parks are perfect if you’re in a hurry or just prefer the convenience of parking closer to the terminals. It offers direct access to Terminals 1, 2, and 3 via a link bridge and just 100m from Terminal 4.
• Valet Parking: If you’re looking for the most convenient long-term parking experience, this is for you. Simply drive up and hand over your keys. We’ll park your car and find it for you when you get back.
• Premium Parking: Our Premium Car Parks are closest to the airport terminals, making it a breeze to get to your flight. These parking bays are also undercover, protecting your car from the elements while you’re away.
• Business Parking: Just 50m away from Terminal 1, it’s ideal for Qantas travellers looking for easy access to the check-in counters. 
• Qantas Valet Parking: With direct access to Terminal 1 and a car cleaning option, it’s the ultimate parking experience. Plus, with the chance to earn Frequent Flyer points just for parking, it’s ideal for Qantas travellers who value convenience and peace of mind.

The best part? You can save even more on your parking when you book online! . Booking online gives you a discount on drive-up rates, and the earlier you book, the more you can save. So, if you book your parking online now, you’ll get to lock in the cheaper rate and stretch your travel dollars even further!

As mentioned, long-term parking rates are typically calculated daily. Short-term parking, on the other hand, is charged by the hour. To give you an idea of the cost difference, here’s a quick comparison of long-term and short-term parking charges based on our drive-up rates:

While our Value Car Parks charge a fixed daily rate, our hourly and daily rates for Terminal and Premium Parking Services differ significantly. So, if you’re just in the airport for a quick pick-up and drop-off, short-term parking might be more economical. However, if you expect to be away for days or months, booking a long-term car park makes much more financial sense.

Note that these are our drive-up rates. To lock in the best rates, we recommend booking online.

While our Value Car Parks charge a fixed daily rate, our hourly and daily rates for Terminal and Premium Parking Services differ significantly. So, if you’re just in the airport for a quick pick-up and drop-off, short-term parking might be more economical. However, if you expect to be away for days or months, booking a long-term car park makes much more financial sense.

Note that these are our drive-up rates. To lock in the best rates, we recommend booking online.

While it can be tempting to leave your car in your garage, there are heaps of reasons why booking long-term parking at Melbourne Airport just makes sense. Opting for long-term parking gives you:

• Convenience: When you park at the airport, you drive yourself at your own pace, avoiding the rush or the wait for public transport or rideshares.
• Peace of Mind: Our parking facilities are monitored with CCTV and regular patrols, offering peace of mind while you’re away.
• Ease of Transport: Coming back to your own car means a straightforward trip home without the need to arrange for pick-ups or navigate public transport after a long flight.
• Value for Your Money: If you live far from Tullamarine Airport, taxi fares and ride-share costs can be more expensive than long-term parking fees.
• Flexibility: You don’t have to worry about sorting airport transfers for late-night or early morning departures and arrivals. You can drive yourself to the airport and back home no matter the time of day or night.

One of the best perks of parking onsite at Melbourne Airport is our Overstay Guarantee. It’s especially useful for travellers needing long-term parking.

If your travel plans get a bit tangled and you find yourself parking with us longer than you thought, our Overstay Guarantee has you covered. With this, you don’t need to worry about extra parking costs if the delay is due to certain circumstances.

So, how does it work?

It's pretty simple. When you book parking online, the Overstay Guarantee is offered as an optional extra for a small upfront fee. If you add it to your booking and your trip gets extended for reasons covered by the guarantee, you can claim a refund for those extra parking days.

The refund process is also pretty easy. Simply visit our refunds page and provide your personal information, vehicle registration, booking reference, and any supporting evidence. If you qualify, you’ll get your refund in around 8-9 business days.

Booking a parking space at Tullamarine is now easier with our online booking platform. Here’s how it works:

1. Head Over to the Melbourne Airport Parking Page. Then click on the “Book Parking Online” button.
2. Select Your Entry and Exit Date and Time. We suggest allowing up to two hours extra to account for custom checks, baggage claims, and potential flight delays.
3. Choose the Terminal You’re Flying From. T1 is reserved for Qantas, and T3 is for Virgin Australia. Jetstar and all the other airlines fly from Terminal 4.
4. Choose Your Parking Option. All our parking options cater to long-term stays.
5. Pay for Your Booking. We accept credit cards, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.

After your booking is confirmed, you’ll receive an email with a QR code. You can use it to enter and exit the car park. We also have help buttons at all entries and exits if you need help getting in or out.

The best part? You can amend your booking for up to two hours before your arrival. Plus, you get to compare options and parking charges in real time and choose the best one for your budget and needs.

All online bookings also come with a 1-hour grace period (for bookings less than 4 hours) before and after the confirmed booking time. This means you can arrive an hour before and leave an hour later than your booked time without incurring additional charges. Bookings longer than 4 hours have a grace period of 2 hours.

It’s not only convenient but also cost-effective. Talk about a win-win, eh?

1. What happens if I stay beyond the booked exit time?

If your parking extends past your booked time, we offer a 1-hour grace period both before and after your confirmed entry and exit time for bookings less than 4 hours. Bookings longer than 4 hours enjoy a 2-hour grace period. Should you exceed these grace periods, extra parking time will incur charges at the overstay rate applicable to your car park.

2. How long can I park my car for?

Online bookings can be made for parking for up to 45 days. If you're just driving up without a booking, you can park for as long as you need. Just inform us if you plan to stay longer than 60 days.