Drive, park and save 

If you’re starting work early, powering through your shopping list, taking in the sights over a leisurely weekend or meeting friends for a catch-up, there’s a parking deal sure to save you time and money. 

Weekend parking in The City 

Plan ahead and book online to guarantee a prime spot and plenty of savings. 

The City’s major retail destinations offer great weekend parking deals for those hitting the shops. Book online for $11 flat-rate weekend parking at Uptown, $11 at QueensPlaza and $15 at Macarthur Central.

If you’re enjoying a weekend getaway, book overnight parking at Wintergarden for only $30, entering after 12pm and exiting before 12pm the following day. 

Brisbane City Council’s King George Square Car Park offers discounted drive-up parking across the weekend starting from $5 for up to four hours and capped at $15 for stays longer than eight hours. 

If you’re heading to the City Botanic Gardens, book a spot at Wilson’s 126 Margaret St car park for $20 or Secure Parking’s 200 Mary Street for $10. The nearby QUT Gardens Point campus also offers $10 pay-on-exit public parking on weekends at P Block (Science and Engineering Centre), SZC Block and its under-freeway car park. 

Brunching or lunching with friends? Secure a car park for less than the cost of a spritz with Secure Parking offering $12 weekend rates at Post Office Square and 201 Charlotte Street and $15 at 480 Queen Street. Wilson Parking offers $7 weekend parking at most of its City locations including Brisbane Quarter, Eagle Street, Riverside Centre and 140 Elizabeth Street for savvy savers who book online. 

Evening parking in The City 

As the sun goes down, so too, do parking costs across The City.

Brisbane City Council’s King George Square Car Park offers flat-rate, drive-up parking for $5 for cars that enter after 4.30pm and exit before midnight. 

Power through your last-minute shopping with discounted weekday afternoon and evening parking at major retailers for drivers who book online. Uptown offers $11 parking from 4pm to 7am the following day, it’s $15 at Macarthur Central from 5pm to 9.30pm and $11 at QueensPlaza between 4pm and 5am the next day. Wintergarden offers$13 drive-up evening parking.

Early bird parking in The City 

Weekdays are peak parking times and usually command a premium price. However, there are still plenty of early bird deals for savvy drivers who book online. 

Book a spot at Uptown and enter before 9.30am and you’ll only pay $27 – as a bonus, you can exit any time before midnight. If you’re a little slow off the mark, Uptown also offers $16 online 

Online early bird parking at Macarthur Central is $32 for cars that enter between 6.00am and 9.30am and exit between 2pm and 7.00pm. The early bird rate at QueensPlaza is $30 drive-up for entry between 6.00am and 9.30am, exiting anytime between 11am and midnight. Weekday early bird parking at Wintergarden is $27 for drivers who book online, enter between 5am and 9.30am and exit before midnight. 

The first 15 minutes are free at Brisbane City Council’s King George Square Car Park which is ideal if you’re ducking into the shops for a quick Click & Collect. Early birds catch the savings here too with $24 flat-rate parking for cars that enter before 7am and exit between 1pm and 6pm. Online bookings aren’t available so this drive-up offer is subject to availability and car park capacity. 

Secure Parking offers discounted early bird rates for drivers who book online including $27 at Post Office Square, $39 at 480 Queen Street and 200 Mary Street, and $29 at 201 Charlotte Street. Entry and exit times vary across each location. Similarly, Wilson Parking’s network of locations offers online specials for early bird parking starting from $25 per day. 

Public transport 

Brisbane’s public transport system stretches to every corner of the city with busways, train lines and ferry services all passing through The City. While cash is acceptable on many services, the easiest, cheapest and most efficient way to pay is by purchasing a go card. These public transport passports only need $5 credit (and a refundable deposit of $10 for adults, $5 concession) and you’re ready to go. You can top up your go card balance online, over the phone, at fare machines at major bus and train stations or at more than 1000 retailers in south-east Queensland. 

You can buy go cards at:

• Queensland Rail Station ticket offices
• On board Brisbane City Council CityCat and Ferries

• Fare machines at G:link and busway stations 

• Selected retailers where you see the 'buy' symbol

If you travel outside of peak commute times, you can save money with cheaper ticket prices. These times are:

• Weekdays: 8.30am–3.30pm and 7pm–3am the next day

• Weekends: all day
• State-wide Queensland gazetted public holidays: all day

Visit Translink’s Journey Planner to check timetables and pricing.

Bus

Brisbane’s buses are frequent, reliable and cover much of the city’s inner and outer suburbs. Bus stations at King George Square and Queen Street are major hubs connecting commuters with The City. 

How to pay: go card or cash which is accepted on most services, except those that are marked prepaid only. These services will include a ‘P’ at the front of the service number.

Train

There are two major stations in The City – Central Station and Roma Street Station – and all inbound trains travel through these. If you’re looking to get to the Queen Street Mall or access the eastern parts of the city then disembark at Central Station.

How to pay: go card or cash

CityCat, CityHopper and ferries

Brisbane is the river city so what better way to experience The City than along the weaving and winding bends of the Brisbane River? CityCats travel between St Lucia in the south and Northshore Hamilton in the north, seven days a week with weekday services more frequent. The CityHopper travels between inner-city stations including South Bank, Kangaroo Point and New Farm. Cross-river ferries operate between cross points including Bulimba to Teneriffe, Kangaroo Point to Eagle Street and Norman Park to New Farm. 

How to pay: go card or cash. The City Hopper is free.

Private transport

Taxi

Black and White Cabs and 13cabs service the greater Brisbane area and its surrounds.

How to pay: cash, eftpos, credit card and Cabcharge.

Rideshare 

Use your smartphone to order a ride with one of the many rideshare services operating in Brisbane including Uber, DiDi, Ola and Shebah. Be mindful of any restrictions on busy City streets and always meet your driver at the recommended pick-up location. 

How to pay: Through rideshare apps

Active transport

Get on your bike or hire an e-scooter 

Riding along the river on one of The City’s cycleways or mixed-use paths is one of Brisbane’s best experiences. If you don’t have a bike or scooter of your own, hire one of the 2800 e-bikes and e-scooters stationed across The City. Download the Neuron or Beam smartphone app, register your details and pick up an e-bike or e-scooter from an e-mobility hub or virtual parking zone. Don't forget that helmets are mandatory so strap one on your head before setting off. 

How to pay: Through Neuron or Beam smartphone apps

Walk

Hit your daily step goal by strolling into The City. The pedestrian-friendly city centre is lined with beautiful walkways with the most popular being the Toowong, New Farm, South Bank and West routes that provide delightful river breezes and stunning city vistas.