30 seconds’ walk from T1–T3, Premium Car Park is MEL’s closest short‑stay option to the main terminals.
This is the airport’s premium multi-level car park for short trips, business runs, and pick-ups near T1, T2, and T3. You park directly opposite the terminals, then walk across via the covered walkways in under a minute for T1–T3, or a few extra minutes if you’re heading to T4. It’s open 24/7 and set up for quick in-and-out stops rather than long-term storage.
Pricing is higher than the long-term and value lots, with hourly rates aimed at stays under 24 hours and day rates that climb quickly after the first day. Pre-booking online through Melbourne Airport usually shaves a noticeable amount off the drive-up price and locks in a spot for peak times like Monday mornings and Sunday evenings.
Entry is via dedicated premium gates on the arrivals-level road system serving T1–T3, so you avoid the extra loop out toward the Long Term car park. Number plate recognition and ticket machines handle access, and payment on exit works with cards and contactless at the boom gate. Lifts in the structure drop you near the pedestrian bridges that feed directly into departures at T1, T2, and T3.
If you’re picking someone up from a flight into T2 or T3, Premium Car Park is usually faster than waiting in the forecourt once you factor in the 10–15 minutes it often takes to get through customs and baggage. For T4 domestic, count on about a 6–8 minute indoor walk from the premium structure instead of using the dedicated T4 parking.
Practical tip: if your stay will run longer than 24–48 hours, price-check the Long Term and Value car parks against Premium Car Park; past about the second day, the cheaper lots usually win by a wide margin.