Eden awaits in the must-see cultural capital of the Land Down Under: Melbourne. More than 5 million Melburnians call Australia’s Garden City their home.
Melbourne lays claim to a host of outstanding sites, both natural and man-made. Spend a day soaking in the sun at Brighton Beach, just a few hours drive from the iconic 12 Apostles. Take a stroll down Hosier Laneway to see an ever-changing world of graffiti art. Or, head to the markets for a day of shopping!
In Melbourne, there’s no shortage of exciting experiences to be had. If you want to enjoy yourself to the fullest, then you’ll need to find somewhere to store your luggage safely. To find out where you can securely stash your bags during your trip to Melbourne, continue reading below.
Airports
Melbourne lays claim to the oldest continuously operating military airfield globally, RAAF Point Cook Airport. In addition, the city has six other airports that serve travellers in and out of Melbourne. Let’s go over the two Airports you’re most likely to fly in or out through, Melbourne Airport and Avalon airport.
Melbourne Airport
Locally known as Tullamarine Airport, Melbourne Airport is the main international airport in the city. The airport is located 23 kilometres (14 miles) northwest of Melbourne city centre, just outside the Tullamarine Suburb.
The airport serves 20 million domestic and 10 million international travellers each year. Actually, the airport is so large that it has its own postcode and suburb of 104 permanent residents.
Melbourne Airport has four terminals and serves as the Melbourne Airspace Control Centre. This is the air traffic control facility responsible for keeping aircraft safe in Australia’s most congested flight information region.
Yes, there are lockers at Melbourne airport Terminal 2, just near the international arrivals on the ground floor before the security offices. The lockers are available Monday through Sunday from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm and cost (for 24 hours) $11 for small items, $15 for medium items& $21 for large items.
Avalon Airport
The second busiest airport in Melbourne is the Avalon Airport. The airport serves passengers in the capital and is just outside Melbourne city limits. Tiny yet mighty the Avalon Airport only has one helipad and a single runway. Despite its small size, Avalon Airport is the second busiest airport in Melbourne after Melbourne Airport.
Avalon Airport is, perhaps, most recognizable as the host of the biennial Australian International Airshow. Catering to international and domestic flights, the airport links up to Geelong and Melbourne via Princes Freeway, allowing passengers to easily flag down a taxi or catch the Skybus from the airport.
Avalon Airport offers luggage storage and lockers during the regular operating season in the baggage claim area. The typical cost is $2 – $6+ depending on luggage size & rental time. Currently, international flights are paused, making baggage wrapping and luggage storage unavailable.
Train Stations
With over 210 stations currently in operation, it’s no exaggeration to call Melbourne a mecha of mass transport. While riding the rails of Melbourne, you’ll likely use one of the two busiest stations, Flinders Street & Southern Cross.
Flinders Street Railway Station
One of Melbourne’s most celebrated landmarks is the Flinders Street Railway Station. The architectural wonder first opened in 1854 and takes up more than two whole city blocks. Take the opportunity to see Flinders Street Station during the day and when fully illuminated after dark.
Located in the middle of the CBD, Flinders Street Railway Station is an intrinsic piece of Melbourne’s history and culture. With that said, it’s no surprise that more than 77,00 travellers use the station each day. Making it the busiest train station in all of Melbourne. The locals frequently use the station as a meeting point “under the clocks” or “on the steps”.
There is a left luggage facility operated by Travellers Aid at Flinders Street Station. It is located on the main concourse between platform 9 and platform 10. The cost is $6.50 per day for small bags and $10 per day for large bags (over 56 x 45 x 30 cm).
Southern Cross Railway Station
Another railway station in Melbourne is the Southern Cross Railway Station. It is the second busiest railway station in the Melbourne metro network. It was previously named Spencer Steet Station (in reference to the city street that it connects with). The station serves 18 million passengers each year, not including V/Line services. Southern Cross Station has 16 platforms and 22 tracks for 19 lines.
The Southern Cross Railway Station also has its own shopping centres and coach terminal. The Spencer Outlet shopping complex is above the station, while the Skybus airport shuttle operates from the lower level. This station is truly a hub of transportation and commerce for the city of Melbourne. The station also offers various car rental options through Thrifty, Europcar, Budget, and Avis vehicle services.
The Southern Cross Railway Station has a dedicated Luggage Hall for interstate train and V/Line train passengers, directly opposite Travelers Aid, between the train and bus terminals. For travellers who prefer to use luggage lockers to store their baggage, the station offers multiple sizes of lockers throughout the station. The cost ranges from $6 for 3 hours, $12 for 24 hours, $24 for 2 days with a fee of $12 for each additional day up to 7 days.
Stadiums
Believe it or not, there are a whopping 40 stadiums in Melbourne. Whether it’s your favourite artist or your team is playing a ball game, there’s an event for everyone.
AAMI Park
The Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, now known as AAMI Park, is Melbourne’s first large, outdoor, purpose-built rectangular stadium. Set as the stage for the upcoming 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, AAMI Park features a bio frame design, and a programable LED light-covered exterior. And, in June of 2012, the stadium was celebrated with an award at the 2012 World Stadium Awards for the most iconic and culturally significant stadium.
Suitable for all manner of sports events, some of AAMI Park’s main tenants are the Super Rugby team Melbourne Rebels, the National Rugby League team Melbourne Storm, the A-League teams Melbourne City Football Club and the Melbourne Victory Football Club.
No, AAMI park doesn’t have any locker or cloakroom facilities. The stadium ask’s that visitors refrain from bringing any items or bags that are too large to fit underneath their seats at the stadium. However, you should note that bag conditions and rules of entry may differ depending on the event.
Marvel Stadium
Serving as headquarters for the Australian Football League offices, Marvel Stadium is a multi-purpose entertainment and sports stadium capable of seating more than 56,000 people. Being the second-largest stadium in Melbourne, Marvel Stadium is mainly used to host Australian rules football games. Notably, the stadium features movable seating to accommodate oval and rectangular configurations, as well as a retractable roof.
Formerly known as Colonial Stadium, Telstra Dome, Etihad Stadium, and Docklands Stadium, the arena is now named Marvel Stadium. Yep, that’s right, it’s named after a franchise from a comic book company. It may interest you to know that Marvel Stadium was used in the superhero movie _Ghost Rider_ with Nicholas Cage.
While some cloaking facilities are available at Marvel Stadium, availability depends on the event, so it’s recommended to call in advance for operating hours and costs. Visitors can bring bags and prams into the stadium; however, the size of bags allowed in may differ depending on the event. Marvel Stadium recommends visitors avoid bringing in any items that do not fit beneath the seats. When available, the cost for cloaking items is $4-$6 depending on the size and rental time.
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Known to Melbourne locals as ‘The G’ or MCG, the Melbourne Cricket Ground is the largest stadium in the entire southern hemisphere. The 11th largest stadium globally, and the 2nd largest cricket ground by capacity, The G was first built in 1853 and even hosted the 1856 Summer Olympics.
Since its construction, the MCG gained prominence as the home of the first Test match in 1877 and the first One Day International in 1971. In addition to its direct role in developing cricket internationally, The G is primarily associated with Australian rules football as the primary venue for Australian Football League (AFL).
If you’re heading to Melbourne Cricket Ground to catch a game, be sure to stop in at the two cloaking facilities available at Gate 1 and Gate 3. While there are some lockers at the stadium for use, availability and cost depend on the event, so it’s recommended to call ahead before you go. Cloaking Desk, Gates 1 & 3. $2 – $6 depending on luggage size & rental time.
Tourist Attractions
Melbourne is chock full of exciting tourist attractions for visitors, but to truly experience all that they have to offer, you may want to consider checking your bag for the duration of your visit.
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
Founded more than 150 years ago in 1846, the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria stretches over 38 hectares (or 94 miles) of pristine vegetation. The lush gardens are made up of almost 50,000 individual plants, including a variety of garden beds, trees, and lawns that slope towards the Yarra River.
The State Botanical Collection in the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria holds the prestigious honour of representing the most extensive herbarium collection in the country and wider Oceania. Representing over 8,500 different species in 30 living plant collections, the Royal Botanic Gardens are constantly undergoing research by staff at the National Herbarium of Victoria base in the gardens.
Perhaps the most celebrated area of the Royal Botanic Gardens is the Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden. Designed to inspire exploration and discovery, the 5,000 square meters (approximately 1.23 acres) Children’s Garden is a truly magical space for children of all abilities and ages.
There’s currently no luggage storage available through the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. However, you may be able to leave your bags with staff at your hotel or the gift shop.
Brighton Beach
There’s nothing quite like a day spent by the sea, and nowhere delivers more fun, sun, and sand than Melbourne’s Brighton Beach. Nestled along Port Phillip Bay on a strip of Dendy Street Beach, Brighton Beach is most famous for its vibrant bayside bathing boxes.
In addition to its more than 80 bright and beautiful beach cabins, Brighton Beach has some of the most expensive homes in Melbourne. The average home price as of July 2020 in Brighton was a whopping AU$2.7 million (or USD 1.9 million). That’s more than double the national median house price for most Aussies, who pay around $955,000 for their homes.
Unfortunately, there currently isn’t any luggage storage available for the public at Brighton Beach. However, there are several hotels in the area where you may be able to stash your stuff for the day; just be sure to ask the front desk staff if they charge any fees.
Queen Victoria Market
Smack dab in the centre of Melbourne’s central business district sits the largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere, Queen Victoria Market. Colloquially called Queen Vic and Vic Market, Queen Victoria Market offers more than seven hectares (17 acres) of land dedicated solely to shopping.
Queen Vic opened its doors to the public in 1878, ten years after construction began in 1860. One of the last Victorian-era markets still operating in Melbourne, Vic Market is open every day of the week except for Mondays and Wednesdays.
Are you visiting during the summer months? The Wednesday night market jas amazing dining, live entertainment, bars, and all the shopping you can handle.
While there is no ‘official’ luggage storage available at Queen Victoria Market, there are some luggage storage businesses in the area like Vertoe. And, as recently as 2020, local officials announced that new facilities, including locker storage, are currently in the development stages of construction.