Getting to Waterfront Campus
Campus map
Explore your campus the old-school way. Print out the campus map or download a copy to your phone. Either way, you'll have a handy guide to parking, mobility and lecture theatres at your fingertips.
Campus tour
Take an exclusive tour of the Geelong Waterfront Campus with nursing and psychological science student Joel.
Cycling or walking
If you live close to campus, it may be easiest to walk or ride to uni.
You can use Google maps to identify bike routes and walking paths, or there are apps available such as Bike Citizen or Strava which can also help. The Bicycle Network has some tips on how to plan your journey.
Facilities available
Deakin has lockers, showers, change rooms and bike storage for when you arrive. The locations around Waterfront campus are provided below.
Location | Bike storage | Showers | Lockers | Locker access |
Building D, Level 1 (near café bathrooms) | no | yes | yes | locker access required |
Building AD, off Cunningham Street | yes | no | no | not applicable |
Car Park, Level 1 | yes | no | no | not applicable |
Gheringhap Street, near the Cube | yes | no | no | not applicable |
Requesting locker access
Please email deakin-fleet@deakin.edu.au to request locker access.
Public transport
The Waterfront Campus is close to Geelong Railway Station where you can also access buses.
You will need a Myki card to travel.
You may be eligible for a tertiary student concession, which means your fares will be discounted.
More information on travel concessions on Public Transport Victoria's webpage.
Bus
There is a bus stop on Brougham Street, next to campus. The bus that stops here is:
- The number 1 bus between Deakin Waurn Ponds and North Shore Station – number 1 bus timetable
Train
Geelong Station is only 400 metres from Deakin Waterfront. Trains from Melbourne, Colac, and Warrnambool stop here, as well as those coming from Waurn Ponds along the Geelong line.
Driving and parking
Parking spaces at the Waterfront Campus are limited.
If you decide to drive to campus, and can locate an unoccupied parking space, you’ll need to purchase a short-term parking permit.
Your parking permit allows you to park in the white bays (General Permit zones). You will need to pay for parking between 8:30am–4:30pm, Monday to Friday (except when the University is closed on public holidays). Students are unable to park in orange bays.
Parking announcement
OPark is now Deakin’s short-term parking permit solution, replacing CellOPark.
If you already have an account with CellOPark, you will NOT need to re-register in OPark as your account will be securely and automatically migrated. However, you will be prompted to set a new password the first time you log in.
What you need to do:
- Download the OPark App from either Google Play or the Apple Store.
- Log into your OPark account, reset your password and use this App from now on.
- The rest should be very familiar to you. Should you require help, assistance isn’t far away. Email your questions to OPark: support@opark.com.au or call 6160 1012.
Further information can be found at https://opark.com.au. You can also email Deakin’s Parking Team at parking@deakin.edu.au
Short-term parking with OPark
$1.60 per hour; capped at $6.40 per day (visitors can only park outside Deakin times of 8.30am–4.30pm, Monday to Friday. The visitor rate is $3.75 per hour, capped at $15.00 for the day).
To pay for parking by the hour or day:
- Install the free OPark App or visit the OPark website to create an account.
- To park at the Waterfront Campus, you must enter your Student ID number into your OPark account.
- You can start your parking permit session through the app, website or by calling OPark on 6160 1012 to use their call to park service.
- You can enter multiple vehicles on your account but only one vehicle can park at any time so, remember to ensure you enter your vehicle registration(s) correctly, and select the correct car when starting a parking permit session.
- When you park, open the app, select Deakin University, the relevant campus zone number (1040200 at Waterfront), select the correct vehicle registration, press START PARKING and CONFIRM PARKING. Stop the session when you leave, so you pay only for the time you are parked.
- If you are parking outside of 8:30am–4:30pm, Monday to Friday, please ensure you keep your OPark session active to enjoy free parking (including weekends). If you park overnight (including weekends), you will need to start a new OPark session the next morning at 8.30am.
Accessible parking
All campuses have accessible parking spaces to support students, staff, and visitors who have a valid accessible parking permit issued for their use.
Australian Disability Parking Permits are valid until expiry. Permit holders are permitted to park in accessible parking bays. Valid permits must be clearly displayed and a Deakin parking permit is not required. If an accessible parking space is unavailable, vehicles displaying a valid permit may also park in Orange or White bays, and a Deakin parking permit is not required.
Victorian Double Time Accessible Parking Permits are valid until expiry. Permit holders are not permitted to park in accessible parking bays, however they are permitted to park in time limited bays for double the time shown on the parking sign. Please note these permits are not valid in a General permit zone (white bay) where a Deakin parking permit is required (OPark or long-term vPermit).
If you have a temporary medical condition you can apply for a Temporary Accessible Parking Authority supported by a medical certificate or letter from a doctor or specialist. A Temporary Accessible Parking Authority must be clearly displayed on the dashboard of a vehicle parked in an accessible bay and is valid for the dates indicated.
Email parking@deakin.edu.au to find out how to apply.
Flexicar
Deakin has Flexicar share vehicles on campus. Find out how to access Flexicar.
Flexicars are located in Car Park 3 (on Smythe Street) at Waterfront Campus.
Liftango
Students can sign up to Liftango, a free carpooling app (download from the App Store or Google Play) that matches people who share similar journeys to and from Deakin campuses. When you use it to share the ride to campus, you can park in any orange or white bay for FREE (you will still need to start a parking session with OPark, selecting zone 1040600 - Carpool Only).
Liftango makes sharing a trip easy; it finds you the best match based on commute time and location, helps you to organise your carpool trip, and rewards you for choosing a more sustainable way to travel. You can use Liftango every day, or just on the days that are convenient.
Keep in mind: only Deakin students and staff members can access the app. The pick-up point will need to be at least two kilometres away from campus for you to successfully use Liftango and park for free.
Find more information here about Liftango at Deakin.
Electric vehicles
We have 4 electric vehicle chargers in Car Park 2 (ground floor). Users will need to pay for their charging via ChargeFox. The following rates apply: $0.25 kWh for the first 3 hours, $1.60 kWh thereafter.
Motorcycles, scooters, and bicycles
Parking permits are not required for motorcycles, scooters, or bicycles. These can be parked in the designated motorcycle bays, bike parking or on footpaths, out of the way of pedestrians. Motorcycle parking is not permitted:
- where signs indicate that motorcycles may not park
- opposite any parking bay reserved for people with disabilities (marked with a wheelchair sign and symbol)
- on narrow footpaths, near taxi ranks, or bus and tram stops
- on or near service access points, such as manhole covers, post boxes or rubbish bins
- where your vehicle could damage the footpath, pedestrian facilities or landscaping
- within one metre of a fire hydrant
Parking infringements
If you are parked incorrectly or haven’t paid for parking, it’s likely that you’ll get an infringement. More information on parking infringements.
Intercampus bus
Our free intercampus bus service takes the stress out of getting to campus and finding a carpark. Deakin offers two services.
Waurn Ponds - Waterfront and Waterfront - Waurn Ponds
A bus runs on a continuous loop between Waterfront and Waurn Ponds, with a stop at BVAC (Barwon Valley Activity Centre, located on Barwon Heads Road, opposite Kmart Belmont). You can catch the bus at Waurn Ponds, Waterfront or BVAC, and parking at BVAC is free.
Parking at BVAC and catching the intercampus bus means you never have to pay for on-campus parking. Buses run every 30 minutes, dropping you off right at your destination.
View the Waterfront - Waurn Ponds bus timetable (PDF, 513.8KB)
BVAC - Waterfront and Waterfront - BVAC
An additional service to the above runs specifically on a continuous loop between Waterfront and BVAC only. Parking at BVAC is free.
View the Waterfront - BVAC bus timetable (PDF, 929.1KB)
East Geelong - Waterfront and Waterfront - East Geelong (Waterfront Express)
Our Waterfront Express runs on a continuous loop between Try Boys Stadium in East Geelong at 501 Ryrie St, East Geelong (near the corner of Portarlington and Boundary Roads) and Waterfront. Parking at Try Boys is free.
The Waterfront Express operates Monday–Friday, 7:30am–6:15pm.
Parking at Try Boys and catching the intercampus bus means you never have to pay for on-campus parking. Buses run every 30 minutes, dropping you off right at your destination.
View the Waterfront Express timetable (PDF, 166.3KB)
These services do not run at weekends or when the University is closed on public holidays.