Central Geelong Parking: How to Pay at the Meters, Where to Park and Public Holiday Rules (Geelong, VIC)

In central Geelong you pay at the meters with a Visa or Mastercard or a pay-by-phone app such as EasyPark, because the City of Greater Geelong is phasing out coin payments from 9 March 2026. The City lists more than 4,700 off-street and 5,400 on-street car spaces in the central area, with all-day on-street parking at $10.30 and free all-day spots near Eastern Beach. Prices are as of 22 October 2026, from the City’s parking pages.

How do I pay at a Geelong parking meter?

The City’s parking meters page (last updated 13 October 2026) says the meters in the Geelong area are all the same type, and that signs show the time limit and whether a fee applies. It gives these payment options:

Method	What the City says
Credit card (Visa or Mastercard)	The fee for paying by credit or debit card is 0.25 per cent
Pay-by-phone apps	Available
EasyPark, subscription	$1.99 a month plus 2.25 per cent commission per transaction
EasyPark, casual	The parking fee plus 11.5 per cent commission

With EasyPark you can extend your stay from your phone and pay only for the time you use. The City describes the subscription as best for regular visitors to central Geelong.

What changed with coins?

From 9 March 2026 the City began phasing out coin payments at parking meters across central Geelong and moving to digital-only transactions. It says coin payments had fallen to under 5 per cent after seven years of decline, that collecting the money costs ratepayers more than $275,000 a year, and that more than 95 per cent of drivers to central Geelong already use digital methods. Do not rely on carrying coins for a meter in the central area. The City lists the benefits of the change as more reliable meters with no paper or coin jams, fewer printer and mechanical faults, and more control over your stay through the EasyPark app, which lets you extend a stay and pay only for the time you use.

The City also warns about scams that use the EasyPark brand, including fake QR codes, text messages and emails. It points to the EasyPark website for more information.

Why are there time limits and fees?

The City says parking fees and time limits are in place so that spaces turn over during busy periods and more people can reach shops and businesses each day. In general, time limits are shorter in the inner core of the city and longer as you move further out. Parking meters regulate parking in high-demand areas, and the City asks you to read the signs for the time limit in the area before you pay.

Where can I park all day?

The City’s parking options page lists “good spots to look for a car space”:

Location	Cost
Garden Street, Eastern Beach end	Free all day
Hearne Parade, above Eastern Beach	Free all day
Brougham Street (Yarra to Bellerine, middle of the road; and centre road from Gheringhap to Mercer)	$10.30 all day
Bellerine Street (east side, Corio Street to Eastern Beach Road)	$10.30 all day
Ritchie Boulevard, beyond Geelong Yacht Club	$10.30 all day
Western Beach Road (north side, Gheringhap to Cavendish Streets)	$10.30 all day
Haymarket Car Park, Myers Street	Metered bays: $15.90 all day or $3.80 an hour
Western Beach Car Park, beside Cunningham Pier	3 hour parking at $3.80 an hour
Busport Car Park, Level 2	$15.90 a day, EasyPark only, 6am to 11pm, half price on Fridays

The Busport car park has 124 casual spaces on Level 2, and the $15.90 is plus EasyPark fees. The City says you can also take a train or bus, or carpool. Our Melbourne to Geelong train guide covers the train.

How big are the central car parks?

The same page tables the spaces in the main car parks, marking the private ones with a P:

Car park	Spaces	Operator
Westfield Geelong	1,700	Private
Market Square	600	Private
Civic Centre	487	Private
Haymarket	274	Includes permit and casual spaces
Ritchie Boulevard	248
Hearne Parade	230
Cunningham Pier	199	Private
Promenade	170
Little Ryrie Street	157	Includes permit and casual spaces
Little Malop Street	141
Busport	124	Includes permit and casual spaces

The page does not give prices for the private car parks, so check the signs at each one.

Is parking free on public holidays?

The City says its parking meters are programmed for free parking on public holidays, but some of Geelong’s major car parks on its map are privately provided and may not be free. It advises checking the nearest meter before you leave your vehicle. In general Victorian public holidays apply, but Melbourne Cup is not a local public holiday, so parking limits and fees apply on Tuesday 3 November 2026. Geelong Cup Day, held each year in mid to late October, is a free parking day; this year it was Wednesday 21 October, and our Geelong Cup guide has the race-day details.

Where do I park near Geelong Hospital?

The City’s parking near hospitals page lists zones near Geelong Hospital and Geelong Private Hospital:

Limit	Where
2 hours	Swanston Street (east side, Ryrie to Myers Streets); Bellerine Street (both sides, Ryrie to Myers Streets)
3 hours	Myers Street (north side, Bellerine to Swanston Streets)
4 hours	Myers Street (south side, Bellerine to Swanston Streets); Swanston Street (west side, Myers to Ryrie Streets)

The City says appointments can run longer than expected, so choose a spot that leaves a reasonable amount of time. If you get a ticket at Geelong Hospital or St John of God Hospital during a medical emergency, the City says to complete a Statutory Declaration with details and evidence and submit an appeal on its online appeal page.

What happens if I overstay or a meter breaks?

The City says you can be fined if you park in a metered space for longer than the permitted maximum time, even if you put more money in the meter, and you need to move your car when the maximum time has expired. If a meter will not accept your card or shows a fault, the City asks you to request machine service as soon as possible by text message or by phoning its Customer Service team; the contact details are on the meters page.

The City also says you may stop in a No Parking area for up to two minutes if you are setting down or picking up a passenger or loading or unloading goods. The time limits across the central area vary: it lists 1P, 2P, 3P and 4P zones, and quarter-hour and half-hour spaces near quick-visit shops such as milk bars and drycleaners.

Sources

• City of Greater Geelong — Parking options in central Geelong (checked 22 October 2026)
• City of Greater Geelong — Parking meters and payments (last updated 13 October 2026)
• City of Greater Geelong — Parking near hospitals
• City of Greater Geelong — Parking

Featured image: Eastern Beach, Geelong (photo: Mattplaysthedrums / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)

OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the City of Greater Geelong or EasyPark. Parking rates and conditions can change; check the signs, the meter and the official pages above.