Driving into Melbourne’s CBD is about to get a little easier, with Collins Street introducing what is believed to be Australia’s first valet parking service available across an entire retail and dining precinct.
From Monday, 3 August, visitors can pull up to the designated valet bays outside Novotel Melbourne on Collins at 270 Collins Street, hand over their keys and have their vehicle securely parked off-site for a flat rate of $80 per day. When they’re ready to leave, the car will be returned to the same location.
Unlike traditional valet parking linked to a single hotel or restaurant, the new trial is open to anyone spending time in the Collins Street precinct. The aim is to remove some of the frustrations of visiting the city, including searching for parking, rushing back to feed a meter or making the long walk back to a distant car park late at night.
Collins Street Precinct Group president Luke Harris said the initiative was part of the group’s broader plan to improve the visitor experience and make the precinct easier to access.
“By giving people a simple way to drive in, hand over their keys and have their car returned when they are ready to leave, we hope to remove one of the barriers to spending more time in the precinct and support our local economy,” he said.
The trial forms part of the Collins Street Precinct Group’s five-year strategy and is supported through the City of Melbourne’s Voluntary Co-investment Pilot.
Lord Mayor Nick Reece said Collins Street had long been recognised as Australia’s premier luxury shopping destination and the new service was a natural fit.
“This is the first time this service has been offered on a retail street in Australia, and it’s only fitting that it’s kicking off from the Paris End of Collins Street,” he said.
If the trial proves successful, additional valet locations could be introduced along Collins Street, stretching from Spring Street to Docklands.
