Emerald Airport Parking

Looking for good parking deals at Emerald Airport (EMD)?

Keep it right here for the EMD parking guide to end all EMD parking guides.

Because as well as the latest info on stowing your car safely and affordably, there’s lots of guidance on making your pre-flight experience enjoyable – like tips on airport eating and shopping.

And if Emerald Airport is merely a pitstop on a longer journey, you might want to schedule in some time to explore this impressive area.

There’s tons of interesting stuff to see and do. For instance, for some green-fingered inspiration, visit the Emerald Botanic Gardens on the banks of the Nogoa River. With a fantastic selection of flora, a rose garden, bush chapel, sculptures, maze, and rainforest, these gorgeous gardens really do have something for everyone.

Alternatively, if you like your flowers a bit more arty, don’t miss the huge Van Gogh Sunflower mural. At 25 meters high, this replica of Vincent’s famous sunflower painting is a superb background for eye-popping social media photos, and a must-see for all classic art fans.

And for history with a twist, discover the Pioneer Cottage Complex, a fascinating collection of historic buildings that showcase barnstorming tales of the region’s pioneer days. Or stroll through the Emerald Railway Station, a heritage-listed railway station with sublime early 20th-century architecture.

If trying to blast a tiny ball into a tiny hole from hundreds of metres away floats your boat, the Emerald Golf Course is an 18-hole course challenge with a lovely Fairbairn Dam backdrop.

And if you head out of town to the Carnarvon Gorge National Park, you’ll see vertiginous sandstone cliffs, verdant rainforests, secret gorges and amazing Aboriginal rock art.

And should you want to dig for your fortune, try your luck at the Sapphire Gemfields while you learn about the history of this sparkling industry.

If all this history and culture leaves your belly rumbling, The Maraboon Tavern boasts pub classics like steaks, burgers, and pizzas (as well as a wide choice of beers), while Fusion 121 is a modern Aussie joint serving farm to plate favourites. And if you want to spice up your life, don’t miss The Indian Curry Hut, a family-run restaurant that’s a local fave.

When you want somewhere to stay meanwhile, the Emerald Country Motor Inn is located in a quiet area and offers comfy rooms at an affordable price. Meanwhile, Emerald Gardens Tourist Park offers cabins, caravan sites and camping.

Find the best deals at Emerald Airport

We reckon the guide you’re reading right now is the ideal way to find Emerald Airport parking bargains. But here are a few alternatives to explore anyway.

First off, parking comparison websites are often a good shout and there are several that aggregate the best deals from different providers. If you’re willing to try off-site parking (where available), it’s cheaper than onsite, while booking in advance is always advisable – you’ll secure your spot and bag an early bird deal.

Compare parking at Emerald Airport

The trusty Central Highlands Regional Council website tells us Emerald Airport has a total of 254 official parking spaces, so who are we to argue?

And EMD’s great parking provision is just one aspect that sets it apart. With origins that stretch back to the early 1900s when flight was (rightly) regarded as an innovative way for spanning Australia’s huge landmass, it first established a temporary landing strip in 1919, followed by a permanent aerodrome structure in 1939. Big changes followed in World War II when the airport was converted to a military base to the RAAF to train pilots. After switching back to civilian use after the war, EMD became a crucial link for the mining and agricultural industries in the region, growing further in the 1950s and 1960s, with a new terminal and runways added in due course.

Further expansions followed in the 1970s when sapphires were discovered in the area and tourists and prospectors descended to see what the buzz was all about, then growth continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

These days, Emerald Airport is a crucial transport hub for the Central Highlands and connects the area to the rest of Australia big cities via Townsville and Brisbane.

What parking is there at Emerald Airport?

Emerald Airport keeps it simple, with two official airport parking options.

Let’s check them out.

Short-term parking

Perfect for for rapid drop-offs and pickups, the short-term car park at EMD offers the first 60 minutes are free, and you can pay with cash or credit card at the automatic pay machines located onsite.

Long-term parking

The best choice for extended stays, you’ll find the long-term parking lot on the south-eastern side of the airport. Again, you can make payment by cash or credit card at one of the automatic machines peppered throughout the site.

Remember that parking rates vary according to your duration of stay, so please talk to the airport or check the Central Highlands Regional Council website to confirm rates when you’re travelling.

Getting to Emerald Airport

Thankfully, driving to Emerald Airport from nearby towns and cities is reasonably simple.

Check out the directions from nearby towns and cities.

From Emerald, head south on Clermont Street/Gregory Highway (A7), then after around 4.5 kilometres, turn right onto Airport Drive. After this, follow Airport Drive for approximately 1 kilometres to reach the airport terminal.

From Blackwater meanwhile, drive east on Capricorn Highway (A4), after 155 kilometres, then turn left onto Gregory Highway (A7), right onto Airport Drive and follow the finishing directions above.

When you’re rolling in from Rockhampton, drive west on Bruce Highway (A1), after approximately 255 kilometres, turn right onto Gregory Highway (A7), continue on Gregory Highway for 55 kilometres, then turn right on to Airport Drive and you’ll see the airport in around 1 kilometres.

Please remember to plan ahead and allow enough journey time, and check traffic conditions, roadworks, and potential delays.

Facilities at Emerald Airport

Facilities and amenities at Emerald Airport are good and there’s everything you’d expect for a modern airport which is compact and bijou.

For instance, check-in counters in the terminal building cater domestic and international flights, there are baggage claim carousels in the arrivals halls, and security screening is mandatory for all passengers.

There are also plenty of public restrooms throughout the complex (including accessible facilities) and baby change rooms for parents' convenience. When you need to draw cash, you’ll find ATMs permeating the terminal, and public telephones are available are located within the terminal too.

There’s also free WiFi throughout the complex and lots of facilities and support for passengers with accessibility needs

Meanwhile, the information desk in the arrivals staff is always manned by friendly staff ready to assist and if you misplace anything, check the lost and found.

Emerald Airport strives to provide a welcoming and comfortable environment for all passengers, and lots of eating and shopping choices.

For example, vending machines in the terminal building provide easy access to snacks and drinks like well as crisps, chocolates and bottled water.

There’s a newsagent selling all your page-turner bestsellers, glossy magazines and travel essentials, and a souvenir shop selling keepsakes from the region.

Meanwhile, the duty free shop is the best place to buy cut-price cosmetics, fragrances and fancy goods.

Please remember that Emerald Airport is small and some of these businesses might not be open for extended hours, so check beforehand.

Your pre-flight experience here is also enhanced by some spectacular public art pieces. For instance, one of the most iconic is the Emerald Dragon Sculpture, a magnetic piece by local sculptor Jase Moore. Created from scrap metal, this sculpture depicts a highly intricate giant lizard, which is important in Aboriginal legend.

And speaking of which, EMD also showcases the region's Aboriginal heritage with a wide selection of public artworks featuring traditional symbols. These pieces honour the original Australians and their intimate relationship with the land.

As you can see, EMD isn’t a large airport, but it’s perfectly formed nonetheless and there are more than enough bars, restaurants and unusual things to see and do to keep you occupied ahead of your main trip.

Moreover, if you can bookend your trip with a couple of days in the area, you can explore a new and exciting part of the country.

Whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure, have a safe and successful trip.