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June 18, 2024 | By Ignatia Belle
Say hello to your comprehensive guide on how to find parking at all major University Parking in Sydney in 2024. Sydney has everything you could ask for: world-class educational institutions, an incredible lifestyle, and sights and sounds that will take your breath away. It’s no wonder students, both local and international, choose the NSW capital as their preferred destination for higher education.
We know, we know, Sydney is officially the second most unaffordable city in the world. But that didn’t really come as a surprise with us students having to scrape together $400 a week for rent in a very subpar share house. That is why we have put together a guide for affordable parking so you can save some of those hard-earned wages and put your focus onto your studies, so you can work towards a job that will (hopefully) one day pay the rent in a nicer house near the harbour.
Saying this Sydney still secured the seventh spot in the QS Best Student Cities ranking in 2024, thanks to its large, diverse, and inclusive student community.
Choosing Sydney as your place of study also means you’ll be spoilt for choice when looking for things to do outside your classes. Firstly, you can easily visit famous beaches, parks, and the city centre from almost all campuses, thanks to the region’s well-connected transport system and diverse nature easily accessible from the city.
Secondly there are plenty of options for shopping, cafes, and places to hang out like clubs and pubs. Sydney has something fun for everyone, so you’ll never be bored during your free time.
Whilst Sydney has a lot of feathers in its cap even its best universities face a common struggle encountered in almost every major city: finding a convenient and affordable parking space. Basically finding free or cheap on campus parking is nearly impossible.
Major universities in Sydney, such as the University of Technology Sydney and the University of New South Wales, do not offer a lot of parking on campus, and if they do, it tends to be very expensive.
Saying this on-street University Parking in Sydney options near campuses are not any better for your pocket. This is because parking fees can be as high as $7.20 per hour. In most cases, you will need to move your car if you’re parked in an area with a one- or two-hour time limit.
Off-street parking near universities is not a budget-friendly option for most staff and students. Most commercial parking facilities offer a flat rate of $20, but anyone who commutes daily knows parking fees can quickly rack up. Not to mention these spaces tend to fill up quickly, especially during peak times.
So, whether you’re a student trying to make it to that early morning lecture, a staff member rushing to a meeting, or a visitor exploring campuses, here’s our complete guide on how to find parking at major universities across Sydney in 2024.
The University of New South Wales (UNSW), also known as UNSW Sydney, ranks among Australia’s top public universities.
UNSW prides itself on its groundbreaking research work, top-notch teaching, and innovative approach focused on academic, technological, and professional fields. This makes UNSW one of the best colleges and universities not just in the country. In fact, UNSW is ranked 19th in QS World University Rankings 2024.
Its main campus in Kensington is a vibrant hub located just 20 minutes from the centre of Sydney and a mere 5 minutes from Coogee Beach.
UNSW hosts approximately 45,000 staff and students every day. This makes finding University Parking in Sydney extremely difficult for those who choose to drive for their daily commute, especially during the first semester.
Parking on-campus is free on weekends and public holidays, as well as after 7:30 pm on weekdays (Monday to Friday). On the downside, there are no free parking spaces inside the campus during peak hours (7:00 am to 7:30 pm).
Casual visitor parking on campus provides options for either a 2-hour or 4-hour maximum stay at a rate of $7.75 per hour.
These short-term parking bays on campus are available on the upper floors of Barker St Car Park (Gate 14) and Botany St Car Park (Gate 11). However, due to the temporary closure of the top level of Barker St multi-storey car park, visitor and student parking is now available on level 1B.
You need a parking permit if you park on campus between 7.30 am and 7.30 pm Monday to Friday. Staff, visitors, and PhD students can apply for parking permits; however, these permits are often limited.
For UNSW staff who park on campus occasionally, Pay as you go (PAYG) Parking is available. To use PAYG Parking, staff must download and register an account through the CellOPark App. This system does not require tickets or display permits and uses licence plate recognition technology to identify if parking has been paid.
Upon arrival on campus, staff are required to start a parking session via the CellOPark App each time they park. Don’t forget to start your active parking session, as failing to do so may result in a parking infringement being issued by UNSW security parking officers.
Standard parking for UNSW staff costs $8.00 per day, while reserved parking is available at $24.00 per day.
Staff and residential students can also avail themselves of an annual permit, which costs $2,006.00 per year. Annual Permits may be paid for upfront (via Credit card or Debit Card) or by Salary Sacrifice.
Staff and students must present a valid zID to be eligible for PAYG parking permits. To purchase a parking permit, find the one that applies to you and follow the instructions on the vPermit website.
With no free parking spaces inside the campus during peak days, the best next option is to find street parking near or around the UNSW.
For starters, there are timed-limited parking zones for 1 to 2 hours on Barker Street and surrounding streets.
Next to the western campus, there is also parking available on Anzac Parade (Day Ave and Eastern Avenue), as well as High Street. Botany Street (Gate 11) also has timed parking metres available for 1-2 hours.
If you’re like everyone else and not a fan of parking tickets, make sure to be on the lookout for parking rangers who tend to be very active in the Kingsford, Kensington, and Randwick Area.
If you don’t want to be on a goose chase for that perfect parking space every day, it may be a good idea to lock in a dedicated and convenient parking space near UNSW with Share with Oscar.
With clear descriptions and images of available parking spots in the University Of New South Wales and Kensington, it’s easier than ever to find and secure an ideal parking option for you.
And say goodbye to expensive parking rates! Share with Oscar has dozens of affordable University Parking in Sydney options available near UNSW, starting from $10/day or $156/month.
Founded in 1850, the University of Sydney (also called USYD) is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania.
USYD’s main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD.
With a diverse array of disciplines spanning over 500 areas of study, the University’s community comprises over 69,000 students and 8,400 permanent and fixed-term staff members.
Parking is a great challenge for university students in USYD. On-street parking near the campus generally has 1-2 hour time restrictions.
Meanwhile, available parking on-campus is limited as the university encourages students to use public transport, walk, or cycle in by using bicycle parking as part of their push for sustainability.
Unfortunately, there is no free on-campus parking available at USYD, as the university operates as a paid parking area for cars at all times.
Meanwhile, motorcycle parking is free in designated areas on the Camperdown/Darlington Campus. Motorcycle, scooter, and moped drivers just need to buy a zero-cost motorcycle casual parking session via the parking metre machines or CellOPark to park on University grounds.
Casual parking rates for off-street spaces on the Camperdown/Darlington campuses are $4 per hour, with a maximum charge of $24 per day.
Starting January 2023, the university introduced a Pay As You Go (PAYG) parking system at the Camperdown/Darlington and Mallet Street campuses. Under the new system, parking fees (with a maximum daily rate of $5) must be paid via the CellOPark app.
This replaces the annual parking permit, allowing staff and students to pay only for the days and times they park on campus, supporting flexible work and study practices.
Street parking near the university is extremely limited, and experienced students know the availability of parking spaces drastically drops after 8 am.
But with some luck, you might be able to park in one of the quieter streets on the Newtown side of campus.
There’s also some free parking in the streets of Darlington that range from one hour, two hours, and four hours up to all-day parking.
The suburbs of Newtown, Glebe, and Redfern all offer time-limited parking options, which are about 5-15 minutes walking distance from the university.
Some good spots to check out in Newtown are Missenden Road, King Street, and Carillon Avenue. A great parking hack is to try the streets near Newtown Fire Station as there are no time restrictions.
Alternatively, you can leave your car at the Broadway Shopping Centre, which offers 2-hour free parking during the week and 3 hours free parking during the weekends. From Broadway Shopping Centre, it is just a quick bus ride up Parramatta Road to campus.
Parking is available near popular libraries such as Fisher Library, SciTech Library, and Law Library. You can park at Shepherd Street Carpark (near Redfern) or Western Avenue Carpark, both of which are in close proximity to the Fisher Library, Law Library, and SciTech Library.
If you’re looking for parking near the Bosch Library, you can park at the Sydney University Village Car Park.
Meanwhile, a good parking spot to reach the ThinkSpace Library would be the Seymour Centre, which has affordable daily parking.
Finally, for the Quarter, it is best to park near Fisher Library, the Bosch Library, the Badham Library, the SciTech Library, or the Carslaw Building.
There’s no denying that hunting for a parking spot near campus is stressful, and getting parking tickets from Newtown Council Parking Inspectors is no fun either.
Avoid the hassle by choosing Share with Oscar for an affordable and convenient parking spot.
You can get a dedicated parking space in Newtown from just $8 per day to $135 per month. Just select your desired location, and you’re ready to go!
Macquarie University is a public research university located within the suburb of Macquarie Park in Sydney, New South Wales.
Its main Wallumattagal Campus is located about 15 km from Sydney’s CBD, within the city’s major high-tech precinct.
The University is home to an incredible array of world-leading facilities and ranked among the top 200 universities in the world. It is also considered one of the best in Sydney, especially with its state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities, the iconic Macquarie University Hospital, and exceptional transport links.
The campus is one of the largest in Australia, hosting over 44,000 students and more than 3,000 staff.
With Macquarie University continuing to increase its population of staff and students, the demand for parking will inevitably follow.
There is currently no free all-day parking options on campus grounds, though members of the Macquarie University Sport and Aquatic Centre (MUSAC) may access up to 2 hours of free parking while they use the Sport and Aquatic Centre facilities.
Meanwhile, there is free street parking in nearby Christie Park (at the back of the University) and Dunbar Park.
While there are no free all-day parking spaces on the campus, Macquarie University does offer casual, student, and staff parking options.
Student parking ranges from $13.30 to $22.15 per day. You can purchase a casual, daily, or quarterly permit at Macquarie University via the vPermit website.
Macquarie University Staff Parking permits cost between $840 to $3,800 annually, depending on the parking vPermit type you select.Macquarie University has implemented a vPermit system for paid parking areas. The vPermit provides virtual parking permits linked to your vehicle’s licence plate number, eliminating the need for physical permits.
Student parking is available via vPermit, which enables students to purchase and manage their permits online. The vPermit is issued based on the student’s enrolment status, and a valid student ID number is required to apply.
Macquarie University is located in a busy area with limited on-street parking. The earlier you arrive, the better chance you have of securing a parking spot in the area.
If you prefer off-street parking, you can park at the Macquarie Centre, which offers up to 3 hours of free parking. Additional parking fees apply beyond the free period.
If you want to avoid University Parking in Sydney hassles and secure a convenient parking spot near the campus, Share with Oscar can help.
With Share with Oscar, you can find long-term parking near Macquarie University at an affordable rate. Monthly parking prices start from $6 per day or $156 per month.
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia.
UTS is known for its strong emphasis on technology and innovation. It is one of the leading universities in Australia and is recognized globally for its quality of education and research.
The UTS City campus is situated in the heart of Sydney’s central business district (CBD), making it easily accessible to students and staff. The university also has other campuses, including the UTS Moore Park and UTS Botany campuses.
Due to its prime location in the city, parking at UTS is limited, and the university primarily encourages students and staff to use public transport. The university offers only a few on-campus parking options for individuals with accessibility needs.
UTS does not offer free all-day parking on campus, but you can find free parking options nearby.
Broadway Shopping Centre offers up to 2 hours of free parking. If you’re only attending a short class or meeting, this could be a convenient option.
For on-campus parking, UTS offers a limited number of parking spaces. These are primarily reserved for staff and students with accessibility needs.
If you’re driving to UTS, commercial operators around the campus charge between $18 and $45 per day. These commercial car parks can be found in buildings around the UTS campus.
On-street parking around UTS is available but can be quite limited and competitive. Some streets, such as Thomas Street and areas in Darlington, MacArthur Street, and Chippendale, have timed parking restrictions ranging from one to two hours.
Instead of spending precious time searching for a parking spot daily, why not lock in a dedicated and affordable parking space with Share with Oscar?
Share with Oscar offers convenient daily parking options starting from just $10 per day. For those seeking a more permanent solution, monthly parking options are available starting from $130 per month.
Western Sydney University is a renowned institution with campuses spread across the Greater Western Sydney region.
The university offers a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses across its 13 campuses, including Parramatta, Campbelltown, Hawkesbury, Penrith, and Bankstown.
Given the widespread nature of the university, each campus has its own parking facilities and regulations.
Free parking at Western Sydney University varies by campus. While there may be some short-term parking options available, most campuses require paid parking permits for extended periods.
Western Sydney University offers paid parking permits for staff and students. The cost of these permits varies depending on the campus and duration of the permit.
You can find more details on the university’s official parking webpage.
If you want a hassle-free parking experience at Western Sydney University, consider using Share with Oscar to find affordable and convenient parking spaces.
Share with Oscar offers long-term parking solutions that are often more cost-effective than university permits.
Finding University Parking in Sydney major universities can be challenging, but with the right information and planning, it’s possible to navigate the parking landscape successfully.
For a reliable, stress-free parking experience, consider using Share with Oscar. Whether you need daily or monthly parking, Share with Oscar offers affordable and convenient options tailored to your needs.
Secure your parking spot today and focus on what truly matters—your education and university experience.
Happy parking!
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