NSW Fine That No One Has Ever Heard Of

by Dylan Anderson

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Founder @ CarExplore

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February 24, 2025

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3 min read

A British expat recently learned the hard way about an obscure parking rule in New South Wales, receiving a hefty fine of $272 for an offence he had never heard of before.

The man, who had just moved to Sydney from the UK, parked near a beach on the NSW south coast for a swim, thinking he had found a great free parking spot. However, upon returning to his car, he discovered a parking ticket on his windscreen.

"Parked at the beach all day, checked where we parked and it didn’t say anything about no parking, come back and I’ve got a ticket," he explained in a TikTok video.

Confused by the fine, he turned to locals for answers. When he showed where he had parked, it became clear that his mistake was facing the wrong way.

The Hidden Parking Rule

While this rule may seem second nature to Australian drivers, it caught the expat completely off guard.

"I’ve literally never heard of it. In the UK, you can pretty much park how you want as long as you’re allowed to park there," he said. "I suppose it does make sense though!"

But the fine wasn’t just for parking in the wrong direction. A closer look at the footage revealed his car was parked next to a fire hydrant, another offence that carries a fine in NSW. It is illegal to park within one metre of a fire hydrant, as emergency services need to be able to access it at all times.

What Drivers Need to Know

In NSW, local councils set the exact fine amount, but the average cost for this offence is $136. Stopping near a fire hydrant carries the same penalty.

The expat said that a notice had been placed on his car, and the fine would be mailed to him by Revenue NSW.

"So just a little tip if you’re coming to Australia and you rent a car, this has probably cost me 100 quid," he said.

Interestingly, in the UK, parking against the flow of traffic is legal during the day but becomes a fineable offence after dark. However, enforcement of this rule in the UK is understood to be less strict compared to Australia.

For new residents and tourists, this fine serves as a reminder to be aware of local parking regulations to avoid unexpected penalties.

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