Carparks

General parking information

  1. When parking in the squares, don't park facing oncoming traffic.
  2. If the car park appears full, please find a carpark before obtaining a permit.
  3. Motor bikes and vehicles displaying mobility cards do require a parking permit.
  4. You can use a parking permit from any Pay and Display meter in any other parking space with the same tariff and time limit. So you can move from one car park to another on the same permit– if there’s time remaining, of course – as long as you don’t park in a more expensive area. The off-street carparks are 50 cents per hour, while all other metered parking is $1 per hour.
  5. All parking squares have a time restriction, which are applicable at all times.

Public carparks

Buxton Square: three hour maximum limit

Millers Acre: three hour maximum limit

Montgomery Square: three hour maximum limit

Wakatu Square: three hour maximum limit

Buxton Square - entrances off Bridge and Collingwood Streets 

Charging hours

Monday to Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday 8:00am - 1:00pm

Maximum parking

3 hours

Spaces

329

Loading zones

2

Charges

$1 per hour

Mobility carparks

5

Pay and display meter locations

At Collingwood and Bridge Street entrances and either side of the toilet block.

Shared taxi stand

At Collingwood and Bridge Street entrances and either side of the toilet block.

Other facilities

Public toilet

Millers Acre Carpark - entrance off Halifax Street 

Charging hours

Monday to Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday 8:00am - 1:00pm

Maximum parking

3 hours

(Note: In the Millers Acre Carpark there are eight spaces that have 30 minute limits on them to facilitate short term parking for the i-Site. Parking charges do not apply. But you will receive a ticket for staying longer than the 30 minute maximum.)

Spaces

92

Mobility parks

2

Charges

$1 per hour

Pay and display meter locations

At Halifax and Ajax Street entrances.

Other facilities

Information Centre
Bus Depot

Montgomery Square - entrances off Bridge, Hardy and Rutherford Streets

Charging hours

Monday to Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday* 8:00am - 1:00pm

*Nelson Saturday Market takes place on Saturday from 6:00am to 1:00pm. If parking in Montgomery over Friday night, please use parks on outer edge. Otherwise Council will organise the removal of your vehicle to an exterior space.

Maximum parking

3 hours

Spaces

329

Mobility parks

4

Taxi

1

Loading zones

4

Charges

$1 per hour

Pay and display meter locations

At Bridge, Rutherford and Hardy Street entrances as well as either end of the public toilet.

Other facilities

Public toilet

Wakatu Square - entrances off Rutherford and Trafalgar Streets

Charging hours

Monday to Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday 8:00am - 1:00pm

Maximum parking

3 hours

Spaces

145

Mobility parks

2

Loading zone

4

Charges

$1 per hour

Pay and display meter locations

At Rutherford Street and Wakatu Lane entrances as well as one in centre of carpark.

Other facilities

Bus depot

Other locations to park

Alternate parking areas all day at no charge

  • Hathaway Terrace/Trafalgar Park
  • Grove Street
  • Trafalgar Centre
  • Collingwood Street
  • Nile St West
  • Kerr Street
  • Gloucester Street (some restricted parking at Hardy St end)

Reserved areas for leased long-term car parking

  • Bridge St Car park $65 per month plus GST
  • Betts Car park $80 per month plus GST
  • Para Para Road
  • Trafalgar Centre carpark

Locations that you cannot use to park

If you park in any of these areas, you risk being fined and/or having your vehicle towed away.

From time to time parking may not be available due to events such as parades.

  • On right hand side of the road except in a one-way street
  • Where it will be in the way of other people using the street
  • Near a corner, curve, hill, traffic island or intersection, if it will stop other people from seeing along the road
  • On any footpath
  • On any grass verges, berms, reserves, river banks, ornamental garden plots
  • On, or closer than 6 metres to an intersection, unless there are parking spaces or a notice telling you that you can park there
  • On, or closer than 6 metres to the approach side of a pedestrian crossing
  • On a marked bus stop or taxi stand or loading zone — goods vehicles only
  • Closer than 6 metres to a bus stop marked only by a sign
  • In front of, or closer than 1 metre, to a vehicle entrance
  • Alongside another parked vehicle – ie you must not double park
  • On broken yellow lines – within 1 metre of the kerb. You may see these near pedestrian crossings, intersections, driveways or narrow roads
  • On, or closer than 0.5 metres, to a fire hydrant, or between the fire hydrant and footpath, unless somebody who can move the vehicle stays with it
  • Cyclists may not stand, stop, park, place, leave or keep their bicycle on any parking space situated on land or road in a manner that prevents a vehicle from parking there