Off-street carparks

The Bunda St Car Park will no longer be in operation after 30 June 2026.
Alternative parking is available in surrounding streets. Council will also be formalising parking on Hartley Street, between Bunda Street and Draper Street, including line marking of parking bays and installation of signage.

Location: on Bunda Street, between Spence and Hartley streets
Available spaces: 100
Fee: $2.20 an hour, capped at $4.30 a day
Paid parking hours: 8.30am to 5pm, weekdays
Free parking hours: after 5pm weekdays, all weekend and public holidays
Disability parking (designated bays): No dedicated disability marked parking bays, however the driver can park in any normal marked white bay and display a valid disability permit.

Drivers can pay using the Easy Park app.

Permits
No permits available

Location: at CPAC, corner of Sheridan and Florence Streets, entry from Sheridan and Grafton streets
Available spaces: 132
Fee: $2.20 an hour, capped at $4.30 a day
Paid parking hours: 8.30am to 5pm weekdays
Free parking hours: after 5pm weekdays, all weekend and public holidays
Disability parking (designated bays): yes, payment required (boom gates)

Please note: the car park is for the exclusive use of ticket holders during performance times (no casual use).

Permits
No permits available

Location: Grafton Street, between Shield and Aplin streets
Available spaces: 100
Fee: $2.20 an hour, capped at $6 a day
Paid parking hours: 6am to 6pm, 7 days
Free parking hours: after 6pm every day and all day public holidays
Disability parking (designated bays): No dedicated disability marked parking bays, however the driver can park in any normal marked white bay and display a valid disability permit.

Permits
Note: Reserved bays are fully occupied and we are not accepting new applications at this time.

Location: at the end of Hartley Street, near the Sheridan Street intersection
Available spaces: 450 spaces including RV parking
Fee: $2.20 an hour, capped at $4.30 a day
Paid parking hours: 8.30am to 5pm, weekdays
Free parking hours: after 5pm weekdays, all weekend and public holidays
Disability parking (designated bays): yes

Drivers can pay using the Easy Park app.

RV parking: RV bays are for exclusive use by large recreational vehicles including motorhomes, campervans, coaches, caravans and large truck campers that can not fit within a standard car space. They can not be used by standard size vehicles or utes. Payment is required.

Permits
No permits available

Location: opposite the Cairns Hospital (on the Esplanade), between Kerwin and Charles streets
Available space: 75
Fee: $2.20 an hour
Paid parking hours: 8.30am to 5pm, weekdays
Free parking hours: after 5pm weekdays, all weekend and public holidays
Disability parking (designated bays): No dedicated disability marked parking bays, however the driver can park in any normal marked white bay and display a valid disability permit.

Drivers can pay using the Easy Park app.

Permits
No permits available

Location: Lake Street, between Shields and Aplin streets, adjacent to the Lake Street bus terminal.
Available spaces: 300
Fee: $1.50 an hour, capped at $10 a day.
Paid parking hours: 8.30am to 6pm weekdays, 8.30am to 2pm Saturday
Free parking hours: After 6pm weekdays, after 2pm Saturday, all day Sunday and public holidays
Disability parking (designated bays): yes, payment required (boom gates)
Height Restriction: maximum 1.9m high

Permits
5-day permits (Monday to Friday) are $147 per calendar month
7-day permits are $169 per calendar month

APPLY FOR A PERMIT

Please note the same application form is used for 5-day permits and 7-day permits.

Location: Esplanade parkland, near McKenzie Street intersection
Available spaces: 65 spaces
Paid parking hours: no fee
Free parking hours: parking is always free
Disability parking (designated bays): yes

Permits
No permits available

Location: Palm Cove Jetty, northern end of Williams Esplanade
Available spaces: 37 spaces, 3 bus spaces, 2 car and trailer spaces
Paid parking hours: no fee
Free parking hours: parking is always free
Disability parking (designated bays): yes

Permits
No permits available

Location: Esplanade parkland, near Upward Street / Esplanade intersection
Available spaces: 96 spaces
Paid parking hours: no fee
Free parking hours: parking is always free, time limited to 3 hours between 8.30am and 5pm weekdays, and 8.30am to 11.30am Saturday.
Disability parking (designated bays): yes

Permits
No permits available

Location: Esplanade parkland, near Smith Street intersection, next to the Fun Ship Playground
Available spaces: 60 space
Paid parking hours: no fee
Free parking hours: parking is always free
Disability parking (designated bays): yes

Permits
No permits available

Location: next to the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon, accessed from Pier Point Road
Available spaces: 290
Fee: $2.20 an hour
Paid parking hours: 6am to 10pm, 7 days
Free parking hours: after 10pm every day and all day public holidays
Disability parking (designated bays): yes

Drivers can pay using the Easy Park app.

Permits
No permits available

Please note: the Southern Esplanade Car Park is the open-air car park directly adjacent to the Lagoon / Fogarty Park. The underground car park beneath the Pier Shopping Centre is commercially operated.

Location: Eastern end of Collins Avenue 
Available spaces: 50 spaces
Paid parking hours: no fee
Free parking hours: parking is always free
Disability parking (designated bays): yes

This car park services the Tanks Arts Centre, Botanic Gardens and Arrow walking trails.

Permits
No permits available

There are also a number of commercial (privately operated) car parks that you can use. Council is not responsible for these car parks and does not set the fees.

• Cruise Terminal car park (Wharf St)
• Cairns Square (Abbott St)
• Cairns Convention Centre (Hartley St)
• Cairns Central Shopping Centre
• Hilton International (Marlin Parade)
• Koppens car park (Grafton St, south)
• The Pier Shopping Centre
• Ports North car park (Lake St, south)
• Reef Casino (Wharf St)
• Rusty's Markets car park (Sheridan St)