Heading to Manly? Awesome! But before you go, here's a little something you need to know: parking can be a bit of a pain. That's why we've put together this handy guide to help you find the best parking spots in Manly.

Anyone who’s ever been to Manly – Sydney’s beachiest suburb – will rave about it. Manly is on a thin stretch of land connecting the mainland to North Head, the last headland of Sydney Harbour before the Pacific Ocean. That means it offers a relaxed harbour beach and one of the world’s best surf beaches – within five minutes walk of each other. That and some fantastic seaside shopping and food and drink options for both locals and visitors.

Despite being so close, Manly feels a world away from the busy Sydney CBD. But before kicking back on the sand or at your favourite bar, you’ll need get to Manly. And we’re here to help you find out where to park in Manly.

Whether you're looking for street parking, metered parking, or underground parking, we've got you covered. We'll also give you some tips on how to find the best parking spot and avoid the stress of looking for one.

So read on and learn how to park like a pro in Manly!

Key advice for parking in Manly

• The council car parks are plentiful, but expensive.

• Street parking is hard to find and expensive, so don’t rely on it. Especially on a hot summer day, you may be driving around for a while before you snag a spot.

• Keen to avoid parking in Manly? Public transport options are local buses and the Manly Ferry. We might be biased, but we think the Circular Quay to Manly ferry trip is the most beautiful ferry ride in the world!

Street Parking in Manly

Manly’s street parking situation is mixed. There’s plenty of parking near Manly beach and the town centre, but it’s all timed and all expensive. Pay and display parking in the Northern Beaches Council runs from 6am to 9pm, so it’s cheaper outside those times. The best advice here is to only rely on street parking if you’re in Manly for a quick stay, not long and relaxed visits to Manly Beach.

A note on permits: Local residents can apply to the council for parking permits that let them park free near their house. It doesn’t guarantee you a spot though, and you could still end up parking a long way from home.

If you’re thinking of moving to Manly, consider selling your car and joining GoGet Car Share. With over 50 cars available to our thousands of members in Manly, there’ll be lots of GoGet cars and vans near you availble for hire by hour or day. Use them instead of owning a car and you’ll never pay for fuel, rego, or maintenance again. That could save you thousands of dollars every year!

Share with Oscar

If you’re not keen on expensive street parking, Share with Oscar allows you to easily book cheap parking in Manly from just $2 per hour. Share with Oscar works with businesses, car parks and homeowners with spare parking to offer rates that are over 30% cheaper than if you were to book elsewhere. 

The platform has hundreds of options available in most parts of the suburb, including parking near Manly Beach and Belgrave Street. The best part is, once you’ve booked, you may rest assured knowing that you have guaranteed parking for the day. 

Book cheap Manly parking via Oscar or check out their mobile app. 

Northern Beaches Council Car Parks in Manly

Because the only public transport to Manly is the ferry or the bus, the local council has made an effort to cater for drivers. There are multiple car parks operated by the council, along with some private car parks.

Don’t be fooled though – council car parks aren’t a charity and they aren’t cheap. Because Manly is a weekend destination there’s no such thing as a discounted weekend rate, but parking after 7pm is a flat $5.50 until midnight. If your vehicle remains in the parking station after 12am a $5.50 overnight surcharge will apply + next day fee (first 2 hours free + hours to the time of exit).

Another point to remember: every council car park has number plate recognition and doesn’t allow you to return to another council car par within three hours.

Whistler Car Park

Whistler Car Park is the largest council run car park in Manly, found on Whistler Street. There are 311 car spaces, 5 disability bays, and 11 parents with prams bays. It’s open 24/7 Friday to Sunday, but only from 6.30am to midnight Monday to Thursday.

Manly National Car Park

The Manly National Car Park is found on Central Avenue, and has 220 car spaces, with 4 disability bays. It’s open 24 hours Friday to Sunday, 6.30am to midnight on other days.

Manly National is the only council car park to offer an early bird rate. Enter before 9am then leave before 3pm Monday to Friday and you’ll be charged a flat $24.

Peninsula Car Park

The Peninsula Car Park is a large car park on Wentworth Street, with 289 spots and 5 disability bays. It’s open between 7am and 12.30am everyday except Sunday when it closes at midnight.

Pacific Waves Car Park

Pacific Waves Car Park is found in the Pacific Waves Building on Central Avenue. It’s smaller than the other three, with just 170 spots and 4 disability bays. It’s open 6.30am to 12.30am everyday except Sunday when it closes at midnight.

Daytime Rates:

The daytime rates (as of March 2023) for all council car parks in Manly are below. They apply from 6.30am to 7.00pm:

• 0 – 2 hours: Free

• 2 – 2 ½ hours: $11.50

• 2 ½ – 3 hours: $14.50

• 3 – 3 ½ hours: $19

• 3 ½ – 4 hours: $22.50

• 4 – 5 hours: $35.50

• 5+ hours: $48

Evening Rate: $5.50

A flat $5.50 fee is charged between 7pm and 11.59pm.

How to not park in Manly

With the cost of parking in Manly, it’s very reasonable to want to avoid it! Manly is a mixed bag for Public Transport, as it doesn’t have train or tram access. Instead, you can catch a bus, or the Manly Ferry.

The Manly Ferry

The hands down prettiest way to get to Manly is by taking the historic Manly Ferry. If you’re travelling from the City, or can get to Circular Quay easily, this is an awesome option. If you’re visiting Sydney from out of town – consider this essential, as it gives you an unrivaled view of the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, and the City Skyline from the water.

You can catch the original Manly Ferry, which takes around half an hour. The other option is the privately operated Manly Fast Ferry, which takes 17 minutes and runs hourly, but costs a few dollars more. Both services can be paid for by Opal card or with your credit/debit card. You can check the timetable ahead of time online, or using the TripView app. Note: they don’t run 24/7 so make sure you don’t miss the last one, even if Manly is a great place to get stranded in.

Local bus to Manly

If you’re already on the north side of Sydney Harbour, getting to Circular Quay might be a bit of a detour. In that case, there are several bus routes that could do the trick. Buses run to Manly from the City (routes 170X, 151) from Chatswood (routes 143, 144, and 136), as well as from other areas of the Northern Beaches.

The buses aren’t bad, but not all of them run super late. Use the TripView app to check the timetables ahead of time.

Don’t let parking put you off!

Most importantly, enjoy your trip! Plan your parking ahead of time and it won’t become a headache. That way you can enjoy your day at Manly, no matter what you get up to.