Wollongong CBD Parking + Transport Guide

Did you know, there are more than 5,000 car spots in the Wollongong CBD? Here's some of our top tips:

• Free on weekday evenings after 4.30pm for on‑street parking and Council car parks.
• Free on weekends (time limits apply 8.30am – 12.30pm on Saturdays) for on-street parking and Council car parks
• Pay easily for Council car parks or on-street parking using the CellOPark app (and only pay for what you use)
• The most you'll pay for Council car parks or on-street parking is $1.10 per hour and as little as 60¢ per hour
• Wollongong Central: first 2 hours free on weekends and free after 5.30pm (except Thursday)
• Secure Parking: 2 hours free at 37 Market St every day, and $6 for 2+ hours on weekends

💡Always check signs for the rules where you park

Dinner‑Goer (evenings)

Head in for dinner and enjoy free on‑street parking after 4.30pm or free parking in Council car parks. Wollongong Central’s P1 undercover car park is a convenient option close to bars and restaurants and offers free parking after 5.30pm daily (except Thursdays).

Errand‑Runner (short visit)

On‑street parking is ideal for quick visits. It's free before 8.30am and after 4.30pm on weekdays and all day on weekends, and during paid times the most you'll pay is $1.10 per hour. Using the CellOPark app, you'll only pay for the exact time you use!

For longer stays, the 37 Market Street car park has 2 hours free parking daily and provides convenient laneway access directly to Crown Street Mall.

Weekend Explorer (longer stay)

Take advantage of free parking in Council car parks and on‑street spots on weekends (time limits apply on Saturday mornings). 37 Market Street car park has 2 hours free parking daily and is only $6 for 2+ hours on weekends. For lots of spaces, try Wollongong Central P3 (enter via Kenny St) with 2 hours free each weekend.

CBD Worker (full day weekdays)

If you need full day weekday parking, there are plenty of options to explore.

• Some of Council's car parks (including George Street, Rawson Street and Stewart Street) have an 8-hour limit, which means you'll only pay 60¢ per hour - this works out to $4.80 for a full day of parking.
• Try the early bird parking at Wollongong Central for $7 a day. It's available in the P3 car park (Keira Street/Kenny Street entry), just enter between 7 - 9am and exit between 2 - 7pm for the early bird discount.
• 37 Market Street also has early bird discounts, enter between 6 - 10am and exit between 3 - 6pm to access full day parking for $11 daily.
• Explore on-street parking options outside of signed areas for free and untimed parking.

Shopping (Crown Street Mall and Wollongong Central)

• 37 Market Street: first 2 hours free every day, laneway access to Crown Street Mall
• Wollongong Central: first 2 hours free on weekends, early bird options available, free after 5.30pm (except Thursdays)
• On-street parking: great for short trips, ticketed during signed hours (only pay for what you use with the CellOPark app) and free outside signed hours
• Rawson Street car park: free weekdays after 4.30pm and free on weekends

Keira Street Dining Precinct

• On‑street parking: free after 4.30pm in all Wollongong CBD areas and free all day on weekends
• Wollongong Central: closest undercover access to Keira St dining, free after 5.30pm (except Thursdays)
• 37 Market Street: 2 hours free parking daily and only $6 for 2+ hours on weekends
• Victoria Street car park: free weekdays after 4.30pm and free on weekends

Arts Precinct and Entertainment Precinct

• Burelli Street car park (access via Stewart Street): free after 4.30pm weekdays and all day on weekends
• MacCabe Park car park: free after 4.30pm weekdays and all day on weekends, short walk to stadium
• Church Street on-street parking: free after 4.30pm weekdays and all day on weekends, short walk to stadium
• 37 Market Street: 2 hours free parking daily and only $6 for 2+ hours on weekends
• Stewart Street East car park: free after 4.30pm weekdays and all day on weekends

There are plenty of options when it comes to off-street parking in the Wollongong CBD, from Council owned car parks to car parks operated by shopping centres. Explore the map or check out the options below.

Council's metered off-street car parks

There are seven Council operated car parks in the CBD. Parking in these car parks is free and untimed before 8.30am and after 4.30pm on weekdays, and free on weekends and public holidays.

George Street Car Park at 8 - 12 George Street, Wollongong
MacCabe Park Car Park at 84 Church Street, Wollongong
Rawson Street Car Park at the Corner of Rawson Street and Railway Parade, Wollongong
Stewart Street Car Park (levels 2-4) at 41 Burelli Street (access via Stewart Street)
Stewart Street East Car Park (larger car park) at 18 Bank Street, Wollongong (access via 13 Stewart Street)
Stewart Street East Car Park (smaller car park) at 17 Stewart Street, Wollongong
Victoria Street Car Park at 12 - 20 Victoria Street, Wollongong

If you are parking during times that fees apply, the most you’ll pay is $1.10 per hour (with some car parks as little as 60¢ per hour). Use the CellOPark app and only pay for how long you stay.

Wollongong Central parking

There are three off-street car parks attached to the Wollongong Central shopping centre.

• Parking in Wollongong Central is free after 5.30pm daily (except Thursday) in the P1 car park (Market Street/Regent Street entry).
• The first 2 hours are free in all car parks on weekends.
• Early bird parking is available daily in the P3 car park (Keira Street/Kenny Street entry) for just $7 a day. Enter between 7 - 9am and exit between 2 - 7pm for the early bird discount.
• You can get 90 minutes free parking in all car parks when you spend $20 or more at Coles (Monday - Friday).
• $3.50 for 3 hours of parking Monday - Friday in all car parks.

Wollongong Central also has Electric Car Charging Stations in their P1 car park (Market Street/Regent Street entry).

Secure Parking

There is a convenient multi-level Secure Parking station in the CBD, located at 37 Market Street.

• 2 hours free parking daily.
• Early bird parking available for $11 a day (Monday - Friday). Enter between 6 - 10am and exit between 3 - 6pm for the early bird discount.
• Great weekend special of just $6 for a full day if you stay more than 2 hours (the first 2 hours are free)

Secure Parking also has an additional location at 94 Burelli Street.

• $10 flat daily rate
• Open 24 hours

Grocery Store parking

There is parking available at the Woolworths car park at 63 Burelli Street, provided by Nationwide Parking.

• 2 hours free parking daily.

Aldi also has parking available provided by Wilson parking.

• 1 hour free daily.

Licenced Council car parks

Council has several off-street car parks in the CBD that are free and available for public use after 5pm on weekdays, and all day on weekends.

Metered parking in the Wollongong CBD is cheaper than you might think, and with the CellOPark app, you only pay for the time you use. This is for all Council car parks and on-street parking.

How affordable is it?

• In longer‑stay areas (like 8‑hour zones), parking can be as little as 60¢ per hour
• In other metered areas, the most you’ll pay is $1.10 per hour
• Fees are pro‑rata, meaning the cost is calculated by the minute - use CellOPark to only pay for how long you stay

Using the CellOPark App

The CellOPark app is the most affordable way to pay for parking in the CBD. You only pay for the time you use, so there's no need to guess how long your visit will take, and you can stop your session when you leave so you never overpay!

It's fast, easy and contactless payment right from your phone, with no need to have a printed ticket displayed on your dashboard. CellOPark works wherever you see ticket signs or parking meters on street.

Paying at a Meter (Pay & Display)

If you'd prefer not to use the app, you can pay for on-street parking or parking in Council car parks using the nearest meter. Make sure to put your printed ticket face-up on your dashboard and observe the time restrictions.

What to do if a parking meter isn’t working:

If a parking meter isn’t working, call the Parking Meter Fault Line on 1300 994 392. You should purchase a ticket from the next nearest working meter.

If you have paid twice because of a faulty meter, you can get the cost of the second ticket refunded if you report the fault. Fill in a Parking Meter Refund Request Form and bring it to the Council Customer Service Centre at 41 Burelli St, Wollongong, along with the original ticket.

Mobility Parking Scheme permit holders can park in Council and on-street metered or ticket parking areas at no charge.

Find more information on accessible bays throughout the CBD and explore the interactive map on Council's website (MPS permit holders only).

You can walk to plenty of CBD locations by getting the train to Wollongong Station! Using public transport is a great way to leave the car at home and get into the Wollongong CBD, to explore timetables and live updates use the Opal Travel app.

Hot tip: Once you're here use the Free Gong Shuttle to make it even easier to get around the CBD!

Regular services operate across the Illawarra with services including Premier Illawarra and Dion’s. Check routes and times via the Opal Travel app or the operators’ sites.

Getting here by car is easy. If you're local, the M1 Motorway, Princes Highway, or Memorial Drive are all common ways to get to the CBD, look for the Wollongong exit.

Coming from Sydney

Wollongong CBD is just 80 km south of Sydney. To get here, choose the scenic, or the express route!

• Take the Grand Pacific Drive and to experience coastal rainforests, quaint seaside villages and the iconic Sea Cliff Bridge all on your way into Wollongong.
• In a hurry? Jump on the M1 Motorway from Sydney and be here in 90 minutes.

Coming from Canberra

If travelling from Canberra, the journey is a cruisy 250 kilometres via the Hume Highway.

Explore all our parking tips above to plan your visit.

The quickest and easiest way to get from one side of the CBD to the other is by jumping on the FREE Gong Shuttle Bus. Simply jump on and jump off at any of the marked bus stops. The route numbers for the Gong Shuttle are 55A (anti-clockwise loop) and 55C (clockwise loop).

The service operates in a loop from Wollongong Station to Wollongong University via Wollongong Mall, Wollongong Hospital, Burelli Street, the Innovation Campus and Fairy Meadow.

Wollongong's network of shared pathways are an easy and picturesque way to get around on foot. They're also great for wheelchairs, prams and scooters.
A visit to the CBD isn't complete without a stroll along The Blue Mile which runs through Wollongong Harbour.

Bike racks are available at the entrances to Crown Street Mall, and inside most private car parks. There are lots of racks available in Wollongong Central's Market Street car park.

There are many off-road bike pathways to explore around the CBD. Plan your route with Wollongong City Council's Cycling Network Map.

Wollongong has been approved as part of the NSW E-scooter Shared Scheme Trial, which will continue until January 2027.

This means you can jump on a Neuron E-scooter and make your way around the CBD. You just need to download the Neuron app on your phone via your app store, and away you go!

There are several options for paid taxi services in the Wollongong CBD and surrounds including the Illawarra Taxi Network, Wollongong Radio Cabs or Uber.