Melbourne Airport Parking Guide
Terminal parking at Melbourne Airport explained
T123 Terminal Car Park · T4 Terminal Car Park · Walk to check-in
Compare T123 and T4 car parksTerminal Parking is Melbourne Airport's on-site product, split between the T123 Terminal Car Park and the T4 Terminal Car Park. You park in a multi-level building and walk to your terminal instead of waiting for a shuttle bus. If your priority for melbourne airport parking is the shortest walk from car to check-in, this is the product to look at first.
This page compares the two locations, shows which terminals each one serves, and helps you decide when the higher rate for airport parking close to the doors is worth paying.
Find your terminal
Which car park matches your terminal
Melbourne Airport has four terminals, and terminal parking is grouped two ways. Book the wrong one and you add a walk or a transfer you did not need. Check your airline's terminal on the booking confirmation before you choose, because the entrance signage follows this exact split for parking melbourne airport visitors use every day.
T123 Terminal Car Park
Terminal 1 for Qantas domestic, Terminal 2 for international departures, Terminal 3 for Virgin Australia domestic. Direct access on foot.
Walk-in · no shuttle
T4 Terminal Car Park
Terminal 4 for Jetstar and Rex. Positioned about 100 metres from the Terminal 4 doors.
100 m walk · no shuttle
How to choose
Match the car park to the terminal on your ticket. Qantas, international and Virgin Australia go to T123. Jetstar and Rex go to T4.
Check confirmation first
If you are unsure, open your airline email and look for the terminal number next to the flight number. That one line decides the whole parking choice.
You leave the car, take a lift, and reach the terminal precinct on foot
Inside the T123 Terminal Car Park
T123 is part of the airport's multi-level terminal parking network and is directly accessible from Terminals 1, 2 and 3. That direct access is the whole point of melbourne airport parking at the terminal: you leave the car, take a lift, and reach the departures level on foot.
It suits international departures at Terminal 2 where you may be hauling checked luggage, and it suits domestic flyers who want to skip the shuttle entirely. Because it serves three terminals, it is the busiest of the terminal options, so pre-booking matters more here on peak mornings and school-holiday weekends.
Good for · Qantas · International T2 · Virgin Australia
T4 Terminal Car Park and the 100-metre walk
The T4 Terminal Car Park sits roughly 100 metres from Terminal 4. That short distance makes it a genuine walk-in option for Jetstar and Rex passengers, with no shuttle and no waiting at a bus stop with bags.
It is a smaller operation than T123 because it serves one terminal, which also means fewer competing bookings on most days. The same QR code entry applies, so the process is identical whichever terminal car park you use. If you fly T4 regularly, compare this option against Value parking before defaulting to the lowest rate.
Good for · Jetstar · Rex · Short T4 turnaround
Walking from T123 or T4 to check-in takes minutes. A shuttle from a value lot adds a wait for the bus plus the ride, and the wait is unpredictable at peak. On a short trip or an early flight, the walk wins comfortably.
The shuttle trade-off · time saved against cost saved
The link between car park and terminal · night
Booking terminal parking and QR code entry
Terminal parking is booked through the official Melbourne Airport flow, which opens up to 12 months ahead and closes as late as 2 hours before arrival. Your confirmation email contains a QR code for boom gate entry and exit.
Google Pay works in the payment flow and can hold the code for fast scanning. There is no paper ticket to keep track of, which is one fewer thing to lose between the car and the departure gate.
Short-term parking near the terminals
A few hours, an overnight, or a same-day return does not justify a shuttle. For a quick airport meeting or a short domestic hop, T123 or T4 terminal parking is the practical pick. Longer stays push the total cost up sharply, which is the point at which Value parking becomes the sensible alternative.
Read the QR code booking guideWalk from car
Minutes
T123 connects directly. T4 sits about 100 metres from its terminal. No bus to time.
Booking window
12 months
Book up to a year ahead, as late as 2 hours before arrival. QR code clears the boom gate.
Drive-up option
Ticket
Available without booking at a separate drive-up rate. Pre-booking secures space and rate.
Drive-up at the terminal car parks
You can drive up to the terminal car parks without a booking and take a ticket at the boom gate. The airport publishes separate drive-up rates, and they are not the same as pre-booked rates.
On a peak morning, the bays closest to the terminals can be full by mid-morning. If your plans are fixed, pre-booking secures both the space and the online rate. Drive-up is a reasonable fallback for an unplanned trip, less so for a booked flight on a busy day.
When terminal parking is the right call
Pick terminal parking when your trip is short, your flight is early, or you are travelling with luggage that makes a shuttle awkward. Pick it when you fly Qantas, Virgin Australia, or an international carrier out of Terminal 2 and want to walk straight in.
Skip it when the trip runs a week or more and the daily rate difference becomes material. The decision is about trip length, terminal, and how much you value the walk, in that order. For longer holidays, compare Value parking before you lock in airport parking for the full stay.
Terminal parking answers
Three questions travellers ask before choosing between T123 and T4. If yours is not here, contact the guide team and mention your airline and terminal.
Does T123 Terminal Car Park serve Terminal 2 international departures?
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Yes. T123 provides direct access to Terminals 1, 2 and 3, and Terminal 2 is the international terminal. Follow the T123 signs after the entry boom and take the lift to the terminal level.
How far is T4 Terminal Car Park from Terminal 4?
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The T4 car park is positioned about 100 metres from Terminal 4. It is a short outdoor walk with no shuttle, suited to Jetstar and Rex departures.
Do I need to book terminal parking in advance?
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It is not compulsory, but official guidance favours booking online over drive-up because booked QR code entry clears faster at the boom gate. Booking also locks the online rate, which differs from the drive-up rate.
Short trip · early flight · heavy bags — walk
Park at the terminal. Walk in.
Level 2, Terminal 2, Departure Drive, Melbourne Airport, VIC 3045, Australia · Open 24 hours, 7 days a week · Contact the guide team