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Car Hire

Situated 14 miles from Melbourne, Australia’s second busiest airport is the main gateway to Victoria, the southernmost state of Australia’s mainland. Public buses run between the airport and Melbourne, as well as other destinations in Victoria, while express buses travel to and from the airport and the city centre, taking around 20 minutes. The most recommended way to access the city and other destinations nearby, however, is with car rental in Melbourne Airport, with Melbourne city centre a 25-minute drive to the southeast.

Who to Book With
There are six car hire suppliers at the airport, including Avis, Budget and Hertz, and Australian firm Redspot. All firms have desks in terminals 1 and 3 though their main offices are located on the ground floor of the short-term car park. This car park, accessible from the terminals by covered walkway, is where hire vehicles are picked up.

Need to Know Essentials
You will need to show the below documents upon vehicle collection:

- Both parts of your UK driver’s licence
- Booking confirmation
- The credit card that was used to make the reservation

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
It is important to abide by parking regulations in Australia to avoid receiving a ticket. Permit zones are designated for vehicles with council permits, while an ‘S’ means there is no stopping allowed. To park, look for a street where spaces have a ‘P’ or a ticket sign. Automatic pumps are commonplace at petrol stations and they accept credit card as payment, but UK-drivers should check with their card issuer beforehand to ensure that the card will work here. Toll roads are indicated by blue signage and payment is taken automatically, with most car hire firms supplying electronic tags with their vehicles.

See our guide to Australia for more tips on driving here.

Transport

Self-drive provides arriving passengers with a quick way to access the city. Express buses reach Melbourne almost as quickly, while public buses lake longer, at around 40 minutes, and stop running after midnight. Taxi and chauffeur services are also available for those that don’t want to take a bus or self-drive.

Trains
There is no direct rail link to the airport though the airport Skybus terminates at Southern Cross Station. From here, Country Link runs trains to Sydney and Great Southern Railway operates trains to Adelaide. The station is also linked to Public Transport Victoria tram and train lines.

Taxis
The Victorian Taxi Directorate (VTD) provides taxi services from Melbourne Airport, which depart from the short-term car park. Fares are pre-paid between 22:00 and 05:00.

Taxi prices:
Melbourne Airport to Melbourne city centre is about £35
Melbourne Airport to Geelong is about £110.

Buses
Bus tickets for the Skybus to Melbourne can be purchased at ticket desks in terminals 1 and 3, electronically at the bus stop or online. The shuttle bus takes passengers from the airport to Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station and operates every 10 minutes from 05:40 to 23:00, every 15 minutes until midnight and then every 30 minutes between midnight and 05:40. The journey takes approximately 20 minutes and costs around £10. The Frankston and Peninsula Airport Shuttle operates shuttle buses between the airport and southern Melbourne. These shuttles run between 06:15 and 20:30, with fares running between around £12 and £25 depending on the destination.

Facilities

Terminals
The four terminals at Melbourne Airport are connected by walkways. Terminal 4 is the smallest and is dedicated to budget airlines, while Terminal 2 is the largest and handles all international air travel. In total, the airport caters to over 28 million passengers each year, with the majority arriving from domestic destinations. International passengers arrive from throughout Asia, New Zealand and the Middle East, as well as from Los Angeles and London-Heathrow.

Parking
Five car parks can be found on site, four of which are accessible to all terminals by walkway, while one is connected by a free shuttle bus. Rates are cheapest at the open-air Long Term Car Park and are most expensive at the Business Car Park that is opposite Terminal 1. Parking rates run from around £20 to £40 a day.

Wi-Fi
Passengers can access wireless internet in all public areas and in lounges in terminals 2, 3 and 4. Charges for use are around: 15 minutes for £2.50, 30 minutes for £4, 60 minutes for £7 and 120 minutes for £12.

Information Services
There are information desks on the ground floor of Terminal 2’s Arrivals hall and in Terminal 1.

Useful Numbers
Airport Information: +61 39 297 1062
General Enquiries: +61 39 297 1600

Accessibility
Melbourne Airport provides facilities for passengers with reduced mobility. On arrival, passengers can get assistance through their airline or at one of the airport’s information desks. All terminals have lifts and toilets that are wheelchair-friendly, while each car park has designated spaces reserved for disabled persons.

Restaurants and Bars
Terminals 2 and 3 have restaurants for passengers, with Nandos (Terminal 2) serving Portuguese-style chicken and Hightide Lounge (Terminal 3) offering a wide range of dishes. Terminal 2 also has two bars, while Terminal 3 has an Irish-style pub as well as a bar. Caés can be found in terminals 2, 3 and 4, as can fast-food counters.

VIP Lounges

Terminal 1:
Qantas Club

Terminal 2:
Qantas First Lounge
Emirates First Lounge
Airline Lounge (Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Malaysian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines and Qantas Business)

Money and ATMs
ATMs are available in all four terminals. There is a bank branch in Terminal 2 Departures that offers currency exchange services. Currency exchange offices can also be found throughout Terminal 2.

Shopping
Most shopping facilities are found in Terminal 2, with everything from mobile phones to fashion stocked. Duty-free items are available in Terminal 2 at F1RST Tax & Duty Free, while souvenirs can be purchased at Australian Way (Terminal 2) and Purely Merino (Terminal 2). Pharmaceuticals can be found at Amcal (Terminal 2), while body care products are featured at the Body Shop (Terminal 2). Reading materials are available in terminals 2, 3 and 4 at branches of Newslink, and labels such as Rip Curl, Sunglass Hut and Swatch have presence in Terminal 2.