At a glance
- Summer fee
- $10 an hour or $40 a day from 1 October to 30 April; $8 an hour or $35 a day from 1 May to 30 September
- When you pay
- At various times between 6am and 9pm every day; the signs and the meter at each car park say which
- How to pay
- The EasyPark app, a virtual meter (a phone held to the meter for about three seconds), or a pay-by-plate meter with Visa or Mastercard
- Run by
- Northern Beaches Council
- Who it’s for
- Anyone driving to a Northern Beaches beach or reserve this summer, and residents who hold a beach parking permit
- What to do now
- Read the sign and the meter at the car park, and pay by number plate; no ticket goes on the dashboard
- Last checked
- Saturday 7 November 2026, against Northern Beaches Council’s beach parking pages
- Not yet confirmed
- The exact paid hours at each car park, which differ and are shown only on site
Parking at a Northern Beaches Council beach or reserve car park costs $10 an hour or $40 a day between 1 October and 30 April, and the summer rate is in force now. Payment is by number plate, using the EasyPark app, a virtual meter or a pay-by-plate meter, and drivers no longer put a ticket on the dashboard. This guide sets out the fees, the payment options and the beaches where a council beach parking permit gives free parking, as read on 7 November 2026.
The figures come from the council’s beach and reserve paid parking page, its beach parking permits page and its Pittwater Park, Palm Beach page.
How much does beach parking cost?
| Season | Dates | Per hour | Per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak (summer) | 1 October to 30 April | $10 | $40 |
| Off-peak | 1 May to 30 September | $8 | $35 |
Rowland Reserve at Bayview has its own rates, and they are for 24 hours rather than a day:
| Rowland Reserve | Per hour | Per 24 hours |
|---|---|---|
| Peak (1 October to 30 April) | $8 | $30.50 |
| Off-peak (1 May to 30 September) | $6.50 | $27 |
The council says payment applies at various times between 6am and 9pm every day, and it tells drivers to check the signs and the machine at each car park for the time limits and conditions. It also says the rule covers motorcycles: every vehicle must pay or display a valid permit at permitted sites, and a motorcycle permit goes in a special holder secured to the vehicle, which is the rider’s responsibility.
How do I pay?
| Option | How it works (council page) |
|---|---|
| EasyPark app | Download the free app, pay for the time you park, with no top-up or wallet and no extra service fee; pay by credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay; get a notice before your session ends; extend if the time limit allows |
| Virtual parking meter | Hold your smartphone against the meter for about three seconds, then follow the prompts in the web portal to start and pay; no app download; available in selected car parks |
| Pay-by-plate meter | Pay with Visa or Mastercard by inserting or tapping the card; rates and instructions are on the meter |
The council says your registration acts as your ticket, so you do not display anything on the dashboard. It says the old meters have reached the end of their life, which is why it is adding digital options, and that physical meters stay available. A smartphone is needed for the virtual meter.
Who gets free beach parking?
A valid Northern Beaches Beach Parking Permit gives free parking in the council’s beach and reserve paid areas listed on the permit page. The permits are now digital and linked to your car registration. The council says existing physical permits expired on 31 August 2026, so a sticker from before that date no longer works and you need to apply for a digital permit.
| Who | What the council says |
|---|---|
| Ratepayers | Two free permits per rateable property; apply once, then not again for 3 years unless the vehicle or circumstances change; owner occupiers can buy up to 2 more |
| Residents who are not ratepayers | Up to 2 permits per property at $250 a year each, with proof of residency; valid for 12 months |
| Landlords | Expected to give at least one of their permits to a tenant, and tenants are encouraged to ask for it in the rental agreement |
Permits are non-refundable, not transferable and not for resale. Free permits allow a maximum of 6 vehicle changes over the 3 years, and paid permits allow a maximum of 2 changes a year. Permit holders must enter their number plate correctly.
Which beaches accept the permit?
The council lists these permit locations. Permit holders must follow the posted time limits, except along North and South Steyne at Manly, where they can park for up to 4 hours.
| Area | Permit locations |
|---|---|
| Palm Beach to Newport | Governor Phillip Park (Palm Beach), Ocean Road (Palm Beach), Pittwater Park south (Palm Beach), Whale Beach, Avalon Beach, North Avalon Beach, Bilgola Beach, Clareville Beach, Newport Beach, Bilarong Reserve, Birdwood Park, Jamieson Park, Winnererremy Bay Reserve |
| Pittwater and Bayview | Bayview Baths, Bayview Park |
| Mona Vale to Narrabeen | Mona Vale Beach, Warriewood Beach, North Narrabeen Beach, North Narrabeen Rockpool, Middle Creek Reserve (North Narrabeen), Narrabeen Beach (mid), Narrabeen Street Beach car park, Robertson Street Beach car park (Narrabeen) |
| Collaroy to Dee Why | Collaroy Beach north, Collaroy Beach south, Long Reef Beach, Dee Why Beach, Dee Why Headland, Fisherman’s Beach, Devitt Street Beach car park |
| Curl Curl and Freshwater | North Curl Curl, Curl Curl Beach (mid), South Curl Curl Beach, Freshwater Beach, Gore Street (Freshwater), Moore Road (Freshwater, beach end) |
| Manly and the harbour side | Manly Beachfront including North and South Steyne and Queenscliff (4-hour limit), Shelly Beach, Manly Dam, McKillop Park Reserve, Sandy Bay, Clontarf, Spit Bridge (Battle Boulevard only) |
The groupings in the left column are ours, so use the council’s permit map for exact boundaries.
Where is the permit not valid?
- Rowland Reserve, Bayview.
- Church Point Reserve, to the top of McCarrs Creek Road above Holport Marina.
- The boat trailer parking area at Woorak Reserve and Iluka Park, Palm Beach.
- Pittwater Park north, Palm Beach.
- Council-operated parking stations, residential parking precincts and 1-hour metered or ticketed areas.
- All National Parks, including North Head, West Head and Davidson Park. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service lists the fee-collecting parks.
The council runs five paid parking stations, four in Manly and one in Dee Why. Our guide to the Manly parking stations has the fees for the four in Manly.
What is the parking rule at Palm Beach?
The council says the best way to visit Palm Beach or take the ferry is by public transport. If you need to drive, it suggests leaving the car at the seasonal car park at the Careel Bay playing fields and catching the 199 bus to Palm Beach. At the Pittwater Park south car park, spaces are limited to four and eight hours on weekends and public holidays, when you display a beach parking permit or buy a P Ticket. Monday to Friday the conditions are unchanged, but a longer stay can buy P Ticket parking for a maximum of five days up to the Friday of that week. Two P5 (five minute) spaces near the ferry wharf let you unload and then move the car.
If you are camping at the Basin or visiting Currawong this summer, the council asks you to drop your gear at the ferry wharf and leave the car at the Careel Bay long-term parking. For enquiries, it gives 1300 434 434 and the email transport@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au.
Sources
- Northern Beaches Council: beach and reserve paid parking, read 7 November 2026
- Northern Beaches Council: beach parking permits, read 7 November 2026
- Northern Beaches Council: Pittwater Park, Palm Beach parking, read 7 November 2026
- Northern Beaches Council: parking, read 7 November 2026
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Northern Beaches Council or EasyPark.
Featured image: Long Reef Beach (photo: Dietmar Rabich / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)