MEL-Spot2
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October 28, 2018Melbourne Intl. Airport – Spotting Guide
- last modified on August 1, 2026
Melbourne Airport, also known as Tullamarine, opened in 1970 replacing Essendon Airport and is now the second largest and busiest airport in Australia with around 36 Mio passsengers in 2017. The airport has 56 gates spread around 4 terminals. Three of the terminals form a single major building housing the majority of the airport’s operations. Aircraft use two intersecting runways but usually all traffic use 16/34, the longest runway at MEL. Thats why the airport is very interesting for plane spotters as its never quiet, except during the night.
MEL is a hub for Qantas/Qantas Link including several intl. destinations to Asia and USA. Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia and Regional Express Airlines are carriers that using Melbourne as a hub too. Furthermore you will see a nice mix of traffic mainly from Asia and the Pacific. Qantas Freight and Toll Aviation are the major freight operatores at this airport.
The airport authorities are going to build two new runways, parallel to the existing runways 16/34 and 09/27. Therefore its possible that a few spots are sooner or later no longer accessible due to the ongoing constructions works.
Written by Max Getley (local spotter), Jan Seba and S. Hackenberger. Last Update August 2022 (all spots checked).
| Rating | |
| Movements |  |
| Airline Variety |  |
| Photo Locations |  |
| Weather | |
| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 09/27 | 2.286 m (7.500 ft) |
| 16/34 | 3.657 m (11.998 ft) |
| Terminals | |
| Terminal 1 | Qantas, Qantas Link |
| Terminal 2 | All international Operations |
| Terminal 3 | Virgin Australia |
| Terminal 4 | Domestic flights opb. Tigerair Australia, Regional Express Airlines, Jetstar and Airnorth |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Just needed at 7 for ground photos and partially at spots 5 and 6. |
| Car/Public Transport | Car is needed as there is no public transport to the locations. You can park directly at every spotting location. |
| Restrooms | Throughout terminals. Nothing around the spots. |
| Drinks/Food | Throughout terminals. Nothing around the spots. |
| Season | Best to go there during the australian summer due to the north/south direction of the main runway. You will have less rainy days and much more sun hours like in the winter months. |
| Runway Usage | |
| 09/27 | Less in use and mainly for smaller aircraft. If so then mainly 27 is used, 09 just once every few months. |
| 16/34 | Due to its length this is the major runway, used in both directions and usally by all heavy departures. |
 |
Spot #1 – Terminal 1 and 3 |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Terminal 1: Qantas’ terminal has two piers and allows access to the piers through security with a security check. No boarding pass is required.
Terminal 3 Pier A: Virgin’s terminal has two piers and allows access to the piers through security with only a security check. Best is Gate for spotting is Nr. 10. No boarding pass is required. The international Terminal 2 is only accessable with a valid boarding pass! To reach terminals by public transport, take the 24/7 Skybus from Southern Cross Station in the city. It runs every 10 minutes and stops 2-3 times at the airport (first stop for T4 Carpark, last stop for T1). Tickets are required, but under-18s can often ride free by showing ID to the driver. |
| WHAT | Terminal 1: You can get up close to Qantas and Jetstar aircraft at their gates and pushing back through the various windows that look out onto the stands.
Terminal 3 Pier A: From here you have the most action. You can get up close to Virgin aircraft at their gates and pushing back through the various windows that look out onto the stands. All Regional Express and Tiger Airways aircraft pass the pier and you can get a view of runway 16/34 at its end. |
| TIME | Best in the morning. There is reflection at all times but decent shots can still be had through the glass with care. |
| MISC. | Everything you need within the terminal. There are multiple obstructions plus the ever present problems of photographing through glass and with heat haze but reasonable shots can be taken with patience. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-150 mm |
 |
Spot #2 – Car park Terminal 4 |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Located at Terminal 4 Carpark, Level 6 or 7 is best for getting a good height over the aircraft on the tarmac at T4 or T3. If you arrive by car parking fee is 51 AUD for 24h.
To reach terminals by public transport, take the 24/7 Skybus from Southern Cross Station in the city. It runs every 10 minutes and stops 2-3 times at the airport (first stop for T4 Carpark, last stop for T1). Tickets are required, but under-18s can often ride free by showing ID to the driver. |
| WHAT | Most aircraft on tarmac and all traffic on Runways 16 and 34 |
| TIME | Early Morning and late night |
| MISC. | Everything you need within the terminal. Be aware with the security. You either meet a guy with good common sense or a guy on a power trip and will be likely to move you on. The airport had openly says that it is fine for photographers to take some snaps from the carpark but the security company might not getting the information. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | A380=150mm; 788=230mm |
 |
Spot #3 – Operations Rd |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This spot is located by the roadside of “Operations Rd” near Qantas and Jetstar Maintance. The easyiest way to get there (from the city and airport) is to follow “Airport Drive”, then turn into “Link Rd” and then into “S Centre Rd”. After around 200 meters exit the roundabound at the 3rd exit and follow “Operations Rd” for about 500 meters. Park at a car small lot on the side of the road, right next to Melbourne Airport Golf Course entrance. and walk along the road for your favourite spot – this depends on the angle you wanna have and the time. |
| WHAT | All arrivals on runway 34 and some heavy 16 departures. |
| TIME | Usually the whole day, except midday. |
| MISC. | The nearest facilities are the BP Roadhouse at the intersection of Airport Drive and Link Road. It has everything you need in the way of takeaway food and drinks, plus toilet facilities. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-350mm A330 = 110mm / Saab340 = 320mm / B738 = 160mm |
 |
Spot #4 – Link Road |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Located in the cargo area use same direction as #3 but continue on Link Road and drive till the end at the front of a truck station. Park on the side of the road. |
| WHAT | Runway 34 arrivals only. |
| TIME | Time is good from sunrise till (late) midday. |
| MISC | The nearest facilities are the BP Roadhouse at the intersection of Airport Drive and Link Road. It has everything you need in the way of takeaway food and drinks, plus toilet facilities. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100-250mm |
 |
Spot #5 – Operations Road |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This spot is along Operations Road. Just continue from #3 for a kilometer. Park your car on the side of the road . |
| WHAT | Best for arrivals on RWY34 and aircraft holding short for 34 take off. Smaller aircraft don´t use the full length of the runway and using an earlier entrance. |
| TIME | From afternoon till sunset. |
| MISC | The nearest facilities are the BP Roadhouse at the intersection of Airport Drive and Link Road. It has everything you need in the way of takeaway food and drinks, plus toilet facilities. Ladder recommend for line up photos. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | A332=100mm; A350 line up = 260mm |
 |
Spot #6 – Airport View Point/Operations Road |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This spot is another official aircraft viewing point for Melbourne Airport located on Operations Road. Just continue from #5 until you see a parking lot to your left. This spot is great to chill back in the car and watch the planes takeoff and land on the main runway at Melbourne. The green box have been topped off with a triangular shape tip, meaning that you couldn’t stand on it anymore. Either you shoot through the fence or you bring a ladder higher than 1.5m or you stand on the wooden poles at the carpark (which is risky in windy conditions) to clear the fence. |
| WHAT | All Runway 16 and 34 action. |
| TIME | From afternoon till sunset. |
| MISC | The nearest facilities are the BP Roadhouse at the intersection of Airport Drive and Link Road. It has everything you need in the way of takeaway food and drinks, plus toilet facilities. Ladder recommend for ground photos. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 150 mm for A320 |
 |
Spot #7 – Gellibrand Hill Summit |
|---|---|
| WHERE | From the airport get on highway 39 and drive northwards, turn left at corner Swain St. Park the car at beginning of the Woodland Historic Park (sign)/Swain St, away from no standing bays and walk up Swain Street. Then take the first left onto Fire Track Acc. Walk through the gate and up the path to the top of the hill past the satellite tower. |
| WHAT | It is the best spot for Runway 27 arrivals. RWY 16/34 can be seen in the far distance, but not good for photography. |
| TIME | Due to the distance heat pop up quick. Best is to go out in the winter, when the sun is behind you all day long. |
| MISC. | It is publicly accessible, however especially in the morning, it can be filled with kangaroos who can be very territorial. They won’t do anything unless you try and go close to them so its best to just not pay attention to them and walk up the path quickly and quietly. It is also a very grassy area at times so best to go in colder months as in the summer months there’s a good chance there will be some snakes around on the path up). Great view of the airport and filled with plenty of people cycling up to the top to enjoy the view. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Around 250-300mm for a heavy. |
 |
Spot #8 – Old Bulla Rd |
|---|---|
| WHERE | From the terminals drive northwards on Sunbury road, pass the official viewing area spot #9 and then take the next left into the Old Bulla Rd. The last part of the road is closed with an iron chain, so check out your favourite position, where you can shoot between the trees (example Qatar 380, Ethiad 787, Sichuan 350). |
| WHAT | RWY 16 arrivals only. Better angle for afternoon arrivals compared to spot 9. |
| TIME | From afternoon till sunset. |
| MISC. | Nothing nearby. Don’t pass the iron chain, as the residents of the nearby house don’t like spotters there. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 250 mm for A320 |
 |
Spot #9 – Airport Viewing Area |
|---|---|
| WHERE | There is an official viewing area north of the terminals directly under the approach of runway 16 located at the roundabout Sunbary Rd / Oaklands Rd. Park directly at the park. The park itself is not the best place for photography as you are directly under the aircraft but its a nice place to have a break and relax. But from there you can walk on the grass a bit to the east along Sunbury Rd. and west till the Bulla Uniting Church (you can park there too) to gather a perfect angle. |
| WHAT | All Runway 16 Arrivals and 34 heavy takeoffs. |
| TIME | Usually the whole day except midday. |
| MISC. | The park has some benches to sit down and sometimes a food truck appears. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 738/A320=200mm; |
From the viewing area:
East side (morning):
West side (afternoon):
 |
Spot #10 – Sunbury Rd. |
|---|---|
| WHERE | From the terminals just continue northwards for two kilometer on Sunbury Rd. This spot is located on the side of the road with a small gravel surface for cars, where the railing is ended. Its also within the walking distance from the official viewing area. |
| WHAT | RWY34 heavy departures. |
| TIME | For RWY34 from sunrise till (late) midday. |
| MISC. | All you need within the terminals which are very close. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 300-400mm for RWY34 |
Spots 3, 4, 5, and 6 – the information for Misc. is wrong. The nearest facilities are the BP Roadhouse at the intersection of Airport Drive and Link Road. It has everything you need in the way of takeaway food and drinks, plus toilet facilities. Much closer than doing battle with traffic around the terminals!
Thanks, adjusted it.
Regards
Sev
Hi,
Slight update, I’m a local spotter and ever since covid hit the 5 star movements is no longer current. I would say a 3 star movement is more accurate now
Thanks
do you have to pay to enter the t4 carpark?
only if your driving
would it be cheating to park in value then walk to T4 ahahah
Can the carpark behind the park royal be used?
not really. your better off going into the terminal of use t4 which my usaul spot
Is a 250mm lens suitable for the Terminal 4 car park spot? Wishing to photograph everything from Saabs to A380s.
Definitely not anything smaller than a 788 on the runway, Saabs are not possible since they are parked quite near the taxiway.
danny is mostly right. i use the canon 55-250 with an 80d 1.6x crop factor and its alr. it holds up but something like a 100-400 would be more suitable
Hi, I have an update for YMML.
I visited the airport today (oct 2) and it appears that a contractor is installing double (second) fence along Operations Rd, currently progressing aroung the round corner road of runway 34. This may affect all spotting locations along Operations Rd that require spotters to shoot through fence if they dont have ladder.
When deciding to spot from along the road including the Aircraft Viewing Area, be aware of trucks passing to/from construction zone to the north, when they pass they carry a lot of dust and may ruin your shot so plan ahead when taking shots.
If you’re a spotter with no private transportation and you’d like to use public transports, keep in mind that walking from the nearest bus station in T4 Carpark isn’t very advisable. Bus to Link Rd (closest bus stop to Ops Rd) from T4 operates around 8x a day only. It may take 75 minutes just to walk to the start of Operations Rd (the best location for spotting). Pedestrian walk is limited. Calling online taxi might be a good idea to get you there and back but make sure you start at a permitted location and check the fare.
Also just look out for (and if they meet you, follow all instructions from) the patrolling aviation security or police to keep clear of 3 metres from the original fence.
Hi! I have a little bit of update! At spot 5, 6 the green box have been topped off with a triangular shape tip, meaning that you couldn’t stand on it anymore. Either you shoot through the fence or you bring a ladder higher than 1.5m or you stand on the wooden poles at the carpark (which is risky in windy conditions)
Spot 7 have now been closed to public due to construction
At spot 2 please be aware with the security. You either meet a guy with good common sense or a guy on a power trip and will be likely to move you on. The airport had openly says that it is fine for photographers to take some snaps from the carpark but the security company might not getting the information. I’m still seeking confirmation
Please update the info! Thank you in advance!
Hi, thanks for the news from MEL. I have updated the guide. If anything has changed, please let us know.
-Julian
This is not quite true, if you drive there and pay for a ticket you will not have any trouble but if you are walking there you may or may not be questioned by security.
I just went there yesterday and spend quite sometimes in Terminal 4 between Virgin and Jetstar terminal. Very good position in the morning, when the aircraft Take Off on RWY 34.
https://youtu.be/Mc6Q1OHJPJc Air NZ aborted landing
I have a video of an aborted landing at Melb Airport. Is there someone or someplace I can submit it?
youtube?