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Visitor Parking

Port Stephens Council has on-street parking and a number of car parks throughout the Nelson Bay area. Council uses a sophisticated Smart Parking system to manage parking in and around Port Stephens.

What is Smart Parking?

Our new Smart Parking technology makes finding a car park easier and simpler. It includes:

  • Park'nPay app - to help you find a park and set your parking time without going to the meter
  • Number plate recognition technology - your new ticket to park
  • Sensors and digital signs - to help you find the nearest park

Smart Parking will reduce congestion and improve safety by making it quicker and easier to find a park. Funds collected from Smart Parking will be reinvested into Nelson Bay to fund improvements to the public domain, landscaping, increased car parking and place activation.

How to pay for parking

The NSW Government’s Park'nPay app makes finding and paying for parking easier. You can download it from your smart phone's app store. The benefits of the app include:

  • Pay for parking with your smart phone using the app — you'll receive a notification when your parking is about to expire to avoid fines
  • Keep track of your parking history and receipts
  • Look up the best place to find a park, all from the passenger seat!

  1. Download the NSW Government’s Park'nPay app
  2. Find where you want to park
  3. Set how long you want to park
  4. Enter your payment method
  5. Drive away when your time is up

  1. Enter your number plate
  2. Choose how long you want to park for
  3. Choose your payment method
  4. Drive away when your time is up

Note: Coins need to be paid at the start of the transaction and no physical tickets are issued.

Other questions?

Can't find what you're looking for here? Visit our Smart Parking FAQs page for more details.