At a glance
- Mooloolaba Central
- First 4 hours free; $5 at 4 to 5 hours, $10 at 5 to 6, $15 at 6 to 7, $20 daily maximum
- Lightning Lane, Maroochydore
- First hour free; then $4.50 to $14 by the hour, with a $16 daily maximum
- Both car parks
- Open 24 hours, 7 days; height clearance 2.3 metres; rates from 1 July 2026
- Metered streets
- Caloundra and Birtinya, where the sign says METER
- Stop distances
- 10 metres from an intersection without lights, 20 metres with lights, 20 metres behind a bus stop
- Fines
- Pay online via MyCouncil or on (07) 5475 7272
Sunshine Coast Council runs two PARKnGO multi-deck car parks, and as of October 2026 the first four hours at Mooloolaba Central and the first hour at Maroochydore’s Lightning Lane are free. On the street, the same sign rules apply everywhere on the Coast, and paid meters currently operate only in Caloundra and Birtinya.
The council’s How to park legally page sets out the road rules drivers must follow, and the PARKnGO site publishes the car park rates. This guide brings the two together and was checked on 22 October 2026.
How much does PARKnGO Mooloolaba Central cost?
PARKnGO Mooloolaba Central is at the corner of Smith Street and First Avenue, Mooloolaba, with 700 parking spaces, 54 motorcycle spaces and 50 bicycle spaces. PARKnGO says it is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with a height clearance of 2.3 metres. You can enter from Smith Street, at the intersection of Smith and Muraban streets, or from Brisbane Road, next to The Colombian Café.
| Time in the car park | Rate (from 1 July 2026) |
|---|---|
| 0 to 4 hours | Free |
| 4 to 5 hours | $5 |
| 5 to 6 hours | $10 |
| 6 to 7 hours | $15 |
| 7 hours or more (maximum daily charge) | $20 |
PARKnGO says the free period applies 7 days a week, including public holidays, and that daily charges are based on a 24-hour period from the time of entry. The pay stations are on level 1 (the ground floor) near the lifts. The four free hours are part of the Mooloolaba Business Activation Plan, a collaboration between Mooloolaba businesses and the council, and PARKnGO says terms and conditions apply. It says the promotion will conclude when the Stage Two Central Meeting Place and Southern Seawall are completed, and it gives no date for that.
The car park has two electric vehicle charging stations on level 2, near the Brisbane Road entry, and a free bicycle parking area on level 1.
How much does PARKnGO Lightning Lane cost?
PARKnGO Lightning Lane is at 4 Lightning Lane, Maroochydore, in the Maroochydore City Centre. The council says it offers almost 300 parking spaces, and PARKnGO lists six accessible spaces, 39 motorcycle spaces and 28 bicycle spaces across eight storeys. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with a height clearance of 2.3 metres.
| Time in the car park | Rate (from 1 July 2026) |
|---|---|
| 0 to 1 hour | Free |
| 1 to 2 hours | $4.50 |
| 2 to 3 hours | $7.50 |
| 3 to 4 hours | $11 |
| 4 to 5 hours | $14 |
| 5 hours or more (maximum daily charge) | $16 |
The free hour applies 7 days a week, including public holidays, and the pay stations are on each floor near the lifts. PARKnGO lists four EV charging stations on level 1 and a free bicycle parking area on the ground floor.
What do the street parking signs mean?
The council’s parking signage page explains the signs. The ones people most often misread are these:
- No stopping: a driver must not stop on the length of road the sign covers. A yellow edge line also means stopping is not allowed.
- No parking: vehicles may stop for up to two minutes to drop off or pick up passengers or goods, and the driver must stay within 3 metres of the vehicle.
- Loading zone: unless the sign says otherwise, up to two minutes for passengers or up to 20 minutes for goods. Buses, trucks and vehicles with a council commercial vehicle sticker may stop for up to 30 minutes.
- Bus zone: no stopping unless you drive a bus that seats over 12 adults, and no parking 20 metres before or after a sign indicating a bus stop.
- Disability space: only with a current Australian Disability Parking Permit displayed at the left or centre of the front windscreen, with the number and expiry day visible from outside.
The council says the same loading zone figures on its How to park legally page: 2 minutes for all vehicles to drop off and pick up passengers, 5 minutes for people with a disability, 20 minutes for non-commercial vehicles with goods and 30 minutes for commercial vehicles with goods.
How do the time limits and meters work?
On time-restricted signs, the P stands for parking and the large number tells you how long you can stay. The council says your time starts when you park, not when you leave, and that once you reach the limit you cannot buy another ticket or feed the meter: you must move the car off the length of road or out of the area the sign covers.
Whether the limit applies on public holidays depends on the sign. Where days are stated, the council says time restrictions and payment requirements do not apply on public holidays unless the sign says so. Where no days are stated, they apply on all public holidays. Outside the hours on the sign, parking is unlimited and free of charge.
Payment is needed only where the sign shows the word METER, which the council says is currently Caloundra and Birtinya.
Where else must I not stop or park?
Unless a sign says otherwise, the council lists these distances: park at least 10 metres from an intersection without traffic lights, at least 20 metres from an intersection with traffic lights, and at least 20 metres behind or at least 10 metres in front of a bus stop. You must not park so that the lane is narrower than 3 metres, because that restricts access by emergency vehicles. Unless a sign says otherwise, you must park parallel to and as close to the left side of the road as possible.
No stopping zones, shown by a yellow line or signs, cover the whole road reserve, including the footpath, and parking next to a yellow line or between no stopping signs is an offence. Cars for sale or hire must not be parked on land or roads under council control. Parking wholly or partly on a road verge can be an offence under state legislation, according to the council.
What about Birtinya and the hospital?
The council manages about 2% of the parking spaces in the Sunshine Coast Health Precinct, with on-street spaces that are metered or time restricted. The meters take coins, credit cards and the EasyPark app, which shows free bays in real time and sends a reminder 15 minutes before time is up. The EasyPark area code on the signs and meters is 61001, and EasyPark’s number is 1300 734 070.
A two hour (2P) limit applies in the residential streets of the Birtinya Regulated Parking Area from 8.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday. Hospital car park charges are separate from the council’s: see our Sunshine Coast University Hospital parking guide.
Where are the parking area maps?
PARKnGO hosts downloadable A4 parking maps for Caloundra, Nambour, Maleny, Maroochydore, Mooloolaba and Birtinya on its parking area maps page. The council says the maps show the marked bays that are signed and time limited.
What happens if I get a fine?
Per the council’s infringement page, you can pay online through MyCouncil with Visa or Mastercard, by phone on (07) 5475 7272, in person at any Customer Contact Centre, or at a post office by the due date. Unpaid fines are referred to the State Penalties Enforcement Registry, which you can contact on 1300 365 635. A payment plan is available only for infringements over $200 and starts with an initial $60.
The council may withdraw a notice in extenuating circumstances such as a medical emergency, a vehicle malfunction or unavoidable circumstances. It says it will not withdraw one for reasons that include financial hardship, not seeing the sign, running out of petrol, not having coins for the meter, or stopping briefly in a restricted zone. A withdrawal request must be lodged within 28 days of the issue date and include supporting evidence.
Quick checklist
- At Mooloolaba Central, leave within 4 hours to pay nothing, and pay at the machines on level 1.
- At Lightning Lane, the first hour is free and the daily maximum is $16.
- Check the sign for the word METER, the hours and whether days are stated.
- Keep 10 or 20 metres clear of intersections and 20 metres behind a bus stop.
- Check the council and PARKnGO pages again before a long stay, because rates and the Mooloolaba promotion can change.
Sources
- Sunshine Coast Council — How to park legally (checked 22 October 2026)
- Sunshine Coast Council — Sunshine Coast regulated parking
- Sunshine Coast Council — Parking signage
- Sunshine Coast Council — Infringement notices and payments
- Sunshine Coast Council — Parking on a road verge
- PARKnGO — Mooloolaba Central rates (checked 22 October 2026)
- PARKnGO — Maroochydore Lightning Lane (checked 22 October 2026)
Featured image: Mooloolaba Esplanade (photo: -wuppertaler / CC BY 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Sunshine Coast Council or PARKnGO. Parking rates and rules can change; check the signs and the official pages above.