Melbourne airport parking compared
Value, Terminal, Premium or Valet parking?
Four car park types, one airport, and a decision that depends almost entirely on which terminal you are flying from and how long you leave the car. Here is how each option actually differs.
The one comparison that matters first
walk first, rate secondCost per day is the number everyone looks at, and it is the least useful on its own. What changes your trip is the distance from the car to the check-in desk and whether you can walk it with luggage.
A lower-cost bay that adds a transfer and a long walk can cost more in time than it saves in dollars, especially before an early flight. Set your terminal and trip length first, then read the prices for airport parking against those two facts.
How to read this page
- Match the car park to your departure terminal, not to the headline price.
- Count the walk with bags. That is the real difference between parking Melbourne Airport options.
- Multiply by nights stayed. Small daily gaps grow quickly over a fortnight.
Four products side by side
Melbourne Airport parking as depth bands
Read top to bottom, closest to furthest. Each band names who it suits and what to check in the quote before you pay.
TERMINAL — at the door
Terminal Car Park: closest to the buildings
Shortest walk from car to check-in. Right for early starts, tight schedules and short trips where the daily gap is small.
walk: minutes · keep keys · covered bays
PREMIUM — middle water
Premium Car Park: the middle path
Sits between Terminal and Value on price and convenience, with a terminal-specific option at Terminal 4 for domestic Jetstar flights. Also covers Rex and Link Airways departures from T4.
T4 Jetstar fit · shorter walk than Value
VALUE — open field
Value Car Park: the low-cost, open-air option
Open-air parking at the budget end. You park, keep your keys and make your own way to the terminal. Suits longer trips where the daily saving adds up.
open air · keep keys · longer walk
VALET — alongside
Valet Parking: hand over the keys
Drive to the terminal, hand the car over and walk in. Built for business travel and schedules that do not allow a transfer.
forecourt drop · no walk · no levels
VALUE SOUTH · T3 / T4 SIDE
Value South and the T3/T4 side
Value South is part of the Value Car Park system, aimed at travellers using Terminal 4 and Terminal 3. Official guidance says it stops at the T4 Transport Hub only. That single line decides whether Value South works for you.
Jetstar and Rex travellers out of T4 are the natural fit. Virgin Australia passengers at T3 should plan the final stretch carefully and allow extra minutes with bags.
Terminal index
Start from where you fly. The ledger below links each terminal to its natural car park fit.
Terminal and Premium, up close
T1–T4
Terminal Car Park is the option for people who want the shortest possible walk from car to terminal. It is the right call for early departures, tight schedules and short trips where the daily difference is small. On a four-day domestic trip, the gap between Value and Terminal is often less than people assume. On a fortnight, it is not.
Premium sits between the two on price and convenience. If you are flying Jetstar, Rex or Link Airways from T4 and want more than Value, Premium is the logical step — check that your quote names the T4 premium area before you confirm.
Valet when time is the constraint
Valet means you drive to the terminal, hand the car over and walk in. No car park, no walk, no remembering which level you left it on. It is not the low-cost option, and it is not meant to be. Choose it when convenience is the point of the booking.
Value vs Terminal on cost
A weekend away rarely justifies a long-stay mindset. A two-week holiday rarely justifies Valet.
Most travellers settle into Value or Value South for long trips, Terminal for short ones, and Premium when the airline routes them there.
Trip length rail
Matching trip length to product
Think in nights, not headlines. The longer the car sits, the more the daily rate decides the total. The shorter the trip, the more the walk decides the day.
1 – 4 NIGHTS · SHORT TRIP
Stay close to the terminal
Terminal Car Park keeps the walk short and the timing simple. The total gap over Value stays modest, while an early departure feels far easier.
5 – 9 NIGHTS · MID RANGE
Weigh walk against weekly saving
Premium earns its place here, especially from T4. Compare the full quote for your exact entry and exit times rather than the nightly headline.
10+ NIGHTS · LONG STAY — CHECK ACCESS
Let Value do the heavy lifting
Longer trips usually favour Value or Value South, where the daily rate matters more than the walk. If you fly from Terminal 3, confirm how you will reach the building from Value South first.
BEFORE YOU PAY — THREE CHECKS
- Car park name on the quote matches what you chose.
- Terminal served covers your airline and flight.
- Entry and exit times cover delays. Query surprises before travel, not at the barrier.
Parking Help Centre handles changes and entry problems on +61 3 9297 1318 via the contact page.
Parking questions, answered plainly
Straight answers on Value, Terminal and T4 access, plus where to go when plans change.
Is Value Car Park always the cheapest?
Value is the lower-cost open-air option, but the total depends on trip length and which terminal you are using. Compare the full cost of your dates rather than the headline rate, and include the walk or transfer time.
Can I use Terminal Car Park for a Jetstar flight from T4?
Terminal 4 has its own premium car park option, which the airport names as the fit for domestic Jetstar departures. Check the car park named in your quote before confirming, so you are routed to the T4 side.
Which option works best for a two-week holiday?
Longer trips usually favour Value or Value South, where the daily rate matters more than the walk. If you are flying from Terminal 3, confirm how you will reach the terminal from Value South first and allow extra time.
What if my confirmation names a car park I did not expect?
The booking flow asks for your airline so it can route you correctly. If the confirmation names a different area, query it before you travel through the Parking Help Centre rather than sorting it at the barrier.
READY WHEN YOU ARE
Book the bay that fits your terminal.
Start with your dates and airline, check the car park name in the quote, and keep the Help Centre number handy. Or compare the walk from each terminal first.
Departure Drive, Tullamarine VIC 3045 · Open 24 hours, 7 days