Parking fees and ticketing

The price for parking in Australian Government owned car parks in the Central National Area has been set at a rate close to market prices at $14.50 per day and $3.10 per hour.

Five day tickets are available to be purchased from the multi-stay ticket machines at a cost of $70.00. A limited amount of on street parking is also available for up to one hour at no charge.

All money collected from pay parking and infringements is directed to the Australian Government's Consolidated Revenue Fund.

Short stay tickets

The short stay car parks are generally located near institutions and in small areas adjacent to office buildings.

Short stay car parks include credit card and coin operated machines and will accept payment for a maximum of four hours.

You can move between short stay and long stay parking areas with the same ticket. However you cannot use an all-day ticket in a short stay car park.

Long stay tickets

The majority of car parks adjacent to office buildings are long stay parking.

Long stay parking machines accept payment for short stay (hourly rate) payments up to the all day rate. Most machines in the long stay car parks accept payment by credit card only. There is at least one machine that accepts payment via coin and credit card in all day car parks.

Prepay tickets

Five day pre-paid tickets are valid for five consecutive days from the day of purchase (excluding weekends and public holidays). The five day tickets can be used in the long stay car parks operated by the NCA only and cannot be used in short stay car parks. Purchase of a five day pre-paid ticket is by credit card only.

Two, three and four day pre prepay tickets can also be purchased in long stay car parks. A discount will only apply to five day pre-paid tickets.

No refunds or credit will be given for lost, unused or stolen parking tickets including five day pre-paid tickets.

Credit card facilities

All parking machines accept Mastercard and Visa payments. One machine in each long stay car park, and every machine in the short stay car parks will accept coins. The machines and car parks are clearly sign posted with the applicable rate.

The NCA does not currently have the capability to purchase tickets online.

Ticket transferability

Tickets purchased from other pay parking locations, for example in an ACT Government car park, are not valid for use on National Land.  The NCA does not have the ability to accept online payments or through the “Parkmobile” application in use throughout other areas of the ACT.

Purchasing tickets

When using a car park on National Land in Parkes, Barton, Russell and Acton, check the signage and locate the designated ticket machine in the area. Follow the instructions on the parking machine to purchase a ticket. Display the ticket printed side up on your vehicle dashboard.

Pre-purchase of tickets is available from 4 am daily. The ticket will then run from the start of the operation of pay parking at 8.30 am until 5.00 pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).

There are two payment options to purchase parking tickets - coin or credit card. Details on how to purchase a ticket are outlined below.

Payment option 1: coins

• Payments can be made using coins only ($2, $1, 50c, 20c, 10c).
• Insert coins into the coin entry for the required amount of parking time.
• Check screen to verify payment.
• Once verified, press the P button to PRINT.
• Collect your ticket from the green tray and display it printed side up on your vehicle dashboard.

Press RED button at any time to cancel payment.

Payment option 2: credit card - Visa and Mastercard*

• Select the credit card payment option.
• The machine will automatically default to the maximum time and amount payable. This will be $14.50 for multi-stay machines and default to $6.20 for short stay machines.
• If you require less than the maximum time, use the minus (-) button to adjust. If you require more time, use the plus (+) button to adjust the time. The amount will decrease or increase by 50c each time you press the button.
• Check screen to verify time and value to be purchased.
• Once verified, press the Confirm button to purchase ticket.
• Insert or tap (contactless payment) credit card to make payment.
• Collect your ticket from the green tray and display it printed side up on your vehicle dashboard.

Press RED button at any time to cancel payment.

*Minimum payment of $1.00 for credit card payments. Adjustments must be made to payment/duration before you press P button for PRINT, which will confirm and authorise your payment.

Instructions to purchase prepay tickets*

The five day tickets can be used in the multi-stay car parks on National Land only and can not be used in short-stay car parks.

Purchase of a two, three, four or five day pre-paid ticket is by credit card only. A discount only applies to five day prepay tickets.

• Select the credit card payment option.
• The machine will automatically display the maximum daily time and amount payable of $14.50.
• Adjust the time by using the plus (+) or minus (-) button to adjust the time.
• Check screen to verify time and value to be purchased.
• Once verified, press the Confirm button to purchase ticket.
• Insert or tap (contactless payment) credit card to make payment.
• Collect your ticket from the green tray and display it printed side up on your vehicle dashboard.

Press RED button at any time to cancel payment.

*Minimum payment of $1.00 for credit card payments. Adjustments must be made to payment/duration before you press P button for PRINT, which will confirm and authorise your payment.

Requesting a Meter Refund

To report a machine fault please call 1300 652 941 and provide the machine ID located on the front of the machine.

Meter refunds will be supplied in certain circumstances where there is a machine or banking error. Examples include where you have been charged twice for the same period of parking or when the machine has failed to print off a ticket. You will need to apply in writing to the NCA for a refund to be considered. Refunds will not be supplied for lost tickets or when there has been a change of mind after purchasing the ticket.