At a glance
- Walk from the CBD
- About 10 minutes via Birrarung Marr or Tanderrum Bridge
- Tram
- Route 70 to Stop 7B (Rod Laver Arena), 7C (John Cain Arena) or 7D (AAMI Park)
- Stations
- Richmond, Jolimont, Flinders Street and Town Hall
- Parking
- Eastern Plaza Car Park (Entrance D, Olympic Boulevard): event days $20 pre-booked, $30 drive-up; non-event days $7.50 flat
- Booking
- Pre-book by midnight the night before and save 30%
- Drop-off
- 20 minutes to drop off or pick up; longer may be charged
- Taxi rank
- Next to Melbourne Park Oval on Olympic Boulevard
Melbourne Park says public transport is the quickest and easiest way to reach Rod Laver Arena and the other venues, and tram route 70 stops at Rod Laver Arena at Stop 7B. If you drive, the Eastern Plaza Car Park costs $20 pre-booked or $30 drive-up on event days, and a flat $7.50 on non-event days.
Melbourne Park is a 10-minute walk from the CBD via Birrarung Marr or Tanderrum Bridge. This guide pulls together the getting here and parking pages of Melbourne & Olympic Parks, checked on 23 October 2026. It does not cover the special arrangements for the Australian Open in January.
Which train, tram or bus goes to Melbourne Park?
| Mode | What Melbourne Park lists |
|---|---|
| Train | Richmond Station, Jolimont Station, Flinders Street Station and Town Hall Station |
| Tram 70 (Waterfront City Docklands to Wattle Park) | From Flinders Street or Richmond Station; Stop 7B for Rod Laver Arena, Stop 7C for John Cain Arena, Stop 7D for AAMI Park |
| Trams 48 and 75 | Stop at the MCG on Wellington Parade |
| Bus 246 (Elsternwick to Clifton Hill) | Stops at the corner of Olympic Boulevard and Punt Road |
Melbourne Park advises you to plan ahead and allow extra travel time for any major disruptions. Public transport in Victoria is half price until 1 January 2027, as set out in our myki fares guide, and our MCG guide covers the stations and trams on the other side of Wellington Parade.
How long is the walk from the city?
Melbourne Park says it is a 10-minute walk from the CBD via Birrarung Marr or Tanderrum Bridge. Flinders Street Station and Town Hall Station are both on its list of nearby stations.
How much is parking?
Parking is at the Eastern Plaza Car Park, Entrance D on Olympic Boulevard. Melbourne Park strongly recommends pre-booking, because drive-up spaces are subject to availability, and bookings close at midnight the night before the event.
| Day | Pre-booked | Drive-up |
|---|---|---|
| Event day | $20 | $30 |
| Non-event day | $7.50 flat rate | |
Melbourne Park says you save 30% by pre-booking by midnight the night before the event. To find out which rate applies to your visit, check the upcoming events schedule on its site, because the rate depends on whether it is an event day.
How does licence plate recognition work?
When you pre-book, the car park uses licence plate recognition to let your vehicle in and out. The system activates your booking from the plate number you entered. If you did not pre-book, it records your plate on entry and uses it on exit to calculate the fee, based on the fees displayed in the car park at the time.
- Different vehicle: log in to your account and update the registered plate up to one hour before your scheduled arrival.
- Plate not recognised: speak to an attendant or press the help button at the entry gate.
- Grace period: you may arrive and leave within one hour of your nominated booking time.
- Re-entry: not allowed; a booking covers one entrance and one exit.
- Cancelling: log in to your account; you can cancel up to 24 hours before the event.
- Overstay: you are charged for the additional time under the car park terms and conditions.
- Booking problems: call (03) 9286 1575.
Where can I park if the car park is full?
If parking is sold out or unavailable, Melbourne Park lists several nearby private operators: Yarra Park (MCG), Secure Parking and Wilson Parking. It adds that limited on-street parking is available along the Yarra River at the Royal Botanic Gardens. Our Royal Botanic Gardens guide has the gardens’ own parking advice.
Where do I get dropped off or picked up?
All visitors have 20 minutes to drop off or pick up guests, and exceeding that may result in parking charges. Guests with reduced mobility going to Rod Laver Arena or Margaret Court Arena can be dropped off or picked up at the Northern Car Park (Entrance A, Batman Avenue). Those going to John Cain Arena or AAMI Park use the Eastern Plaza Car Park (Entrance D, Olympic Boulevard). Accessible parking bays in front of John Cain Arena on Olympic Boulevard can also be used.
- Taxi: the rank is next to Melbourne Park Oval on Olympic Boulevard, close to all venues.
- Rideshare: the pick-up point is outside John Cain Arena on Olympic Boulevard. Melbourne Park asks guests not to order a ride until they reach the pick-up point, to avoid congestion.
- Bicycles: bike parking is on Olympic Boulevard outside Rod Laver Arena and John Cain Arena; bring your own lock. Management is not responsible for loss or damage to bikes parked on site.
How do I book accessible parking?
Melbourne Park says AXS is its new Official Ticketing Partner, and new accessible parking bookings are made through AXS. On your event page on AXS, select Accessible Parking under Available Offers; if it is not shown, call AXS on 1800 316 964. Accessible parking bookings made through Ticketek before 22 August 2026 for upcoming events remain valid.
Some events continue to use Ticketek for accessible parking, and Melbourne Park names PAW Patrol Live!, The Songs of John Farnham, Jason Derulo, Dan Does Footy Live and Iron Maiden. For those, Ticketek’s Accessible Bookings Hotline is (03) 9286 1208. Melbourne Park notes that on-site parking is limited and recommends booking in advance.
Quick plan
- By tram: route 70 from Flinders Street or Richmond Station to Stop 7B (Rod Laver Arena), 7C or 7D.
- On foot from the CBD: about 10 minutes via Birrarung Marr or Tanderrum Bridge.
- By car: pre-book the Eastern Plaza Car Park by midnight the night before; $20 on event days.
- Collecting someone: 20 minutes at the drop-off point before charges may apply.
- Taxi or rideshare: taxi rank by Melbourne Park Oval; rideshare outside John Cain Arena.
Sources
- Melbourne & Olympic Parks — Getting Here (checked 23 October 2026)
- Melbourne & Olympic Parks — Parking (checked 23 October 2026)
- Transport Victoria — Public transport now half price for everyone (22 May 2026)
Featured image: Rod Laver Arena at dusk during the 2023 Australian Open (photo: Gracchus250 / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Melbourne & Olympic Parks, AXS or Ticketek. Rates and conditions can change; check the official pages above and the signs on site.