A kitchen changes a family trip. You can make breakfast, warm a bottle, do a load of washing and avoid paying restaurant prices for four. Near Melbourne Airport there are a few places that offer it, and they work differently from an airport hotel.
What you will find
| Option | Kitchen | Distance | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quest Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) | Laundry and a full kitchen in the one to three-bedroom apartments. Studios may have a kitchenette | 4.8 km, under 10 minutes | Free airport shuttle Monday to Friday 6am to 8pm and weekends 7:30am to 12:30pm. 24-hour check-in. A two-bedroom apartment sleeping four was from about A$408 a night |
| Airport Tourist Village (Attwood) | Self-contained cabins, villas and apartments. A standard two-bedroom cabin sleeps four and has a kitchen | A 10 to 15 minute drive | Shuttle runs 24 hours but must be booked at least 24 hours ahead. Free if you book direct, A$30 per room each way via some booking sites. Two-bedroom cabins from about A$168 a night |
| BIG4 Melbourne Holiday Park (Coburg North) | Villas with a private kitchen | About 20 minutes by road | Further out, with a pool and playground |
Quest and Airport Tourist Village details come from their own pages, read on 23 October 2026. Prices are sampled nights, so check them for your dates. Shuttle times can change.
What about the airport hotels
Most of the hotels at the terminals have family rooms but no kitchen. Mantra Melbourne Airport has family suites that sleep four, and one guide describes it as an apartment hotel, but we could not find a listing that confirms a kitchen. Ask before you book if a kitchen matters. The hotels closest to the terminals suit a short stay, an early flight or a tight connection better than a longer family stay.
Which suits you
- One night before a flight: a hotel by the terminal is simpler. A family room and a short shuttle beat packing for a drive.
- Two nights or more, or a long layover with children: an apartment or cabin with a kitchen and laundry saves money and effort.
- A very early flight: stay close. Neither is walkable. Quest's shuttle starts at 6am on weekdays and 7:30am at weekends, so a dawn flight means a taxi. The holiday park's shuttle runs 24 hours, but you have to book it at least a day ahead.
Ask before you book
- Is the shuttle free, and when does it run? Quest's is free but stops at 8pm on weekdays and at lunchtime on weekends. The holiday park's runs around the clock and is free if you book direct, but it costs A$30 per room each way through some booking sites, and you book it through reception 24 hours ahead.
- What kind of kitchen is it? A full kitchen and a kitchenette are very different if you plan to cook.
- How many does it sleep, and is bedding for children included? Cabin and apartment sizes vary, and a cot may cost extra.
- What time does reception open? A late arrival can mean a key box and no help.
- Is parking included? Matters if you are leaving a car while you travel.
Where to start
See Quest Melbourne Airport and Airport Tourist Village. Our family short lists show the airport hotels with the walk or ride and the cost: Terminal 2 and the domestic terminals. For more, see all stays at Melbourne Airport or browse stays for a family trip.