Free parking for New Year’s Eve in Sydney 2025: Closest train stations to Central

Looking for free parking near Sydney’s CBD on New Year’s Eve? With traffic congestion, high prices and road closures to navigate, parking in the CBD can get tricky as the festivities ramp up.

At VroomVroomVroom, we help you find easier ways to get around using public transport and rental car options. While we don’t offer parking services, we do specialise in car hire across Sydney. We also share data-backed travel guides like this one to help you reach the CBD smoothly on New Year’s Eve.

Smarter ways to get into the Sydney CBD on New Year’s Eve

Planning your New Year’s Eve journey? With limited parking, event road closures and bigger crowds, public transport is usually the most reliable way to reach the Sydney CBD.

A simple way to make the trip easier is to park at an outer train station and take the train into the city. This way, you can head straight to the festivities without worrying about traffic or parking. When you take public transport, you:

To make planning easier, we’ve highlighted stations within a 40-minute train ride from Central Station, using the cutoff time defined in our analysis. These stations also scored highly for parking availability and proximity, giving travellers across Sydney an easy starting point for their NYE trip to the CBD.

The 15 best free-parking train stations to get to Sydney’s NYE fireworks

Disclaimer: Travel times and Opal fares reflect standard weekday services and may vary on New Year’s Eve. Parking capacities are sourced from Parkopedia and can differ slightly on the day. Only publicly accessible parking was included. Road closures, demand, pricing updates and day-of conditions may affect availability.

Top 5 stations in Sydney’s north

If you need more parking options, Gordon Station has over 1,200 free spaces and a travel time of around 36 minutes. For a faster trip, St Leonards offers nearly 200 free and street parking spaces, getting you to Central in just 19 minutes. With travel times under 40 minutes — and strong parking availability — Eastwood, Epping and Turramurra all give northern travellers several easy ways to get into the CBD on NYE.

Top 5 stations in Sydney’s inner west

With over 200 free spaces and just 13 minutes to Central, Ashfield Station is a practical place to park in Sydney on New Year’s Eve. If you’re planning to get to the CBD early, Summer Hill is another convenient option. Rhodes also offers free parking, while Strathfield and Redfern rely solely on street parking. All three sit within 25 minutes of Central and performed well in our assessment, providing inner west travellers with a handful of straightforward travel options.

Top 5 stations in Sydney’s south

Rockdale’s large car park and short travel time make it a straightforward NYE starting point. Kingsgrove and Kogarah also offer free parking and quick links to Central, giving travellers from the south convenient access to the CBD. Sutherland has one of the region’s largest free car parks and sits within the 40-minute travel window identified in our analysis. Despite only offering street parking, Redfern’s central proximity positions it as a simple option for those close to the area.

Travel smart: How to use Park&Ride on NYE in Sydney

Park&Ride is a Transport for NSW service that gives you up to 18 hours of free parking when travelling on public transport. It’s a practical option for anyone leaving their car outside the CBD on New Year’s Eve. The service operates as usual on public holidays, with signage marking the bays that qualify for the free period.

Our station review included Park&Ride locations, using data on bay capacity and proximity to Central to identify the most practical areas to park. Arriving earlier in the day can improve your chances of finding a space, especially during busy interchanges.

To use a Park&Ride parking bay, you must:

A few small tips can help your trip run smoothly: bring your Opal card, keep your bags light and plan for extra time on NYE. You can visit Transport for NSW’s website for a full list of the available Park&Ride stations.

What time do road closures begin on NYE?

Road closures will begin in Sydney CBD from 12 pm and in North Sydney from 3 pm. Transport for NSW and the Live Traffic NSW website (livetraffic.com) will provide up-to-date information on road closures if you’re driving into the city on New Year’s Eve. If you’re travelling to an outer station instead, aim to arrive well before the afternoon closures begin.

FAQs: Parking and travel on NYE in Sydney

Which station can I park for free near Sydney on NYE?

Based on our review, Ashfield and Gordon are two of the strongest options for free parking near Sydney on New Year’s Eve. Ashfield offers over 200 free spaces and a 13-minute trip to Central, while Gordon has over 1,240 free car parks within the 40-minute travel window.

What time should I arrive to secure a parking spot?

We recommend arriving before 4 pm, as higher-capacity stations tend to fill earlier on NYE.

Can I park overnight at these train stations?

Yes. Park&Ride offers up to 18 hours of parking. Check the signage to confirm the limits at your station.

Are trains running all night on NYE?

Yes, trains run on an extended schedule during NYE. You can visit Transport for NSW’s website for more details.

Need to rent a car in Sydney during your visit? VroomVroomVroom compares prices from major car rental providers so you can book with confidence — whether you’re heading to the city, the coast or beyond.