At a glance
- Cost
- First 3 hours free each day, then $8.00 for 3 to 3.5 hours up to $40.00 for 8 hours or more (as of October 2026)
- Cinema
- Up to 5 hours free when you scan your movie ticket at the exit
- Hours
- Car park open 4.30am to 12.30am, 7 days a week
- Time limit
- 3 free hours is a daily total; you can leave and return the same day
- Height limit
- 2.0m North and South car parks; 2.1m Metro Garden St; 2.5m Metro Young St
- How to pay
- Card only: credit card or PayWave at the exit barrier or one of three pay stations
- Entry
- North or South entry off Marine Parade, Southport
Parking at Australia Fair in Southport is free for the first 3 hours each day. After that the charge starts at $8.00 for 3 to 3.5 hours and rises to $40.00 for 8 hours or more. The car park is ticketless, cashless and open from 4.30am to 12.30am, seven days a week. All prices on this page are as of October 2026, taken from the centre’s parking page.
Australia Fair describes its parking as a simple ticketless system, so there is no ticket to keep. If you stay past 3 hours you pay by card at the exit barrier or at a pay station before you leave. The centre says it does not take cash. Full rules are on the centre’s parking page, and directions are on its Getting Here page.
How much does it cost after 3 hours?
These are the customer daily parking rates published by Australia Fair:
| Time parked in a day | Charge |
|---|---|
| Up to 3 hours | Free |
| 3.0 – 3.5 hours | $8.00 |
| 3.5 – 4.0 hours | $10.00 |
| 4.0 – 4.5 hours | $12.00 |
| 4.5 – 5.0 hours | $16.00 |
| 5.0 – 5.5 hours | $20.00 |
| 5.5 – 6.0 hours | $25.00 |
| 6.0 – 8.0 hours | $30.00 |
| 8 hours or more | $40.00 |
If your plans are open-ended, you can check your entry time at a pay station before you head back to the car (see below). Comparing centres? See Pacific Fair parking: rates, all-day rule and height limits.
Does leaving and coming back reset the 3 hours?
No. The 3 free hours are a daily total, not a per-visit allowance. Australia Fair says you can leave and return on the same day without being charged, as long as your total parking time for the day does not go over 3 hours. Once the total passes 3 hours, the rates above apply.
How do I pay?
If you stay longer than 3 hours, you have two options:
- At the exit: pay with a credit card or PayWave directly at the exit barrier.
- At a pay station: enter your licence plate details at one of three pay stations. They are on the Ground Floor opposite Mister Mint, on the Basement Level opposite Canterbury Technical Institute near the travelator, and on the Ground Floor of the Metro Garden St car park above Metro Market Seafood & Butcher.
The system is cashless, so only card payments work. You can press the receipt button at a payment point to get a receipt. If you are unsure how long you have been parked, you can look up your entry time with your licence plate at any pay station, either as you arrive or when you leave.
Can I get longer free parking for the cinema?
Yes. The centre says you can get up to 5 hours of free parking by scanning your movie ticket when you exit the Australia Fair car park.
What are the height limits?
Check your vehicle’s height before you enter. The centre lists these clearances:
| Car park | Entry | Height clearance |
|---|---|---|
| Australia Fair North and South car parks | Off Marine Parade | 2.0m |
| Australia Fair Metro, Garden St car park | Garden Street | 2.1m |
| Australia Fair Metro, Young St car park | Young Street | 2.5m |
If your vehicle is taller than 2.0m, the Young Street car park at Metro has the highest clearance at 2.5m.
Which entry should I use?
Australia Fair has one main car park with two entry points, a North entry and a South entry, both off Marine Parade. Australia Fair Metro has two separate car parks, one reached from Garden Street and one from Young Street.
The centre gives these directions for drivers:
- Gold Coast Highway northbound: exit the highway about 2 minutes north of the Southport Bridge, turning left into Marine Parade.
- Gold Coast Highway southbound: exit immediately after Nerang Street, turning right onto Marine Parade.
- From the M1: take Exit 66 (signposted Smith Street, Southport and Seaworld), continue to the Gold Coast Highway and follow the southbound directions.
When is the car park open?
The car park opens at 4.30am and closes at 12.30am, seven days a week. That is longer than the shops. The centre trades 9am to 5:30pm Monday to Wednesday and Friday to Saturday, 9am to 9pm on Thursday and 10:30am to 4pm on Sunday, according to its trading hours listing on 12 October 2026. Check the centre’s site for public holiday changes.
Is there free parking for people with disability?
Parking is free for up to 8 hours per day for authorised disabled parking permit holders. The centre asks permit holders to contact the Car Park Office, whose details are on the parking page, to set this up.
What about staff and EV charging?
Staff of Australia Fair, 36 Marine Parade and Australia Fair Metro, and office staff, can register for a staff rate of $4.60 per day. They must use the designated staff areas, which are the Level 5 rooftop of the North car park or Level 2 of Metro Garden St. Staff who park elsewhere pay the standard customer rates, and no refunds are given.
For electric vehicles, there is a charging station on Level 4 of the North car park, managed by Elanga. It has two double-sided public high-speed chargers, so four cars can charge at once.
Can I skip the car and take the G:link?
Yes. The centre says you can catch the Gold Coast light rail to Australia Fair. The closest stops are Southport Station on Nerang Street and Southport South Station on Scarborough Street. Bus timetables are available from the Customer Service Desk on Level 1, and Translink’s journey planner and phone line (13 12 30) cover the rest of the network. Taxi ranks are opposite the Nerang Street entrance and on Marine Parade outside the centre.
More guides: Gold Coast parking guide
Sources
- Australia Fair — Parking (rates, payment, cinema parking, heights, opening hours; checked 12 October 2026)
- Australia Fair — Getting Here (directions, tram stops, taxis, trading hours; checked 12 October 2026)
Featured image: Australia Fair Shopping Centre, Southport (photo: Shiftchange / CC0)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Australia Fair or Translink. Parking rates and conditions can change; check the centre’s parking page and the signs at the entry before you park.