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Getting to Waurn Ponds campus


Cycling or walking

Many students live close to campus, so if this is you 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.

Lime shared e-bikes

Students can take advantage of the Lime electric share bikes available to cycle around the city of Geelong as part of a 12-month trial. The e-bikes are rented via the Lime app. They are parked at Deakin’s two Geelong campuses as well as several other locations, all identified via the app.

Power-assisted pedalling kicks in when the bike senses you need some help, making it an easy and time-effective way to travel. No more pedalling up hills! Helmets are provided and there are also cargo baskets on the bikes.

It’s easy to rent a bike:

  1. Download the Lime app on your smartphone and register an account.
  2. Check the map to see where your closest e-bike is located.
  3. Scan the QR code to unlock your bike and helmet.
  4. Ride to or from campus, or anywhere else around Geelong. There’s a phone holder on the handlebars so you can have a map handy.
  5. After you finish your ride, park the bike safely – ideally at one of the designated parking locations or a bike hoop. You can use the app to ‘pause’ your ride for 15 minutes if you need to make a stop.

Deakin is well-equipped with bike infrastructure for when you get here, including lockers, change rooms and showers. The locations are available below.

Read our Lime e-Bike frequently asked questions for more information about the trial or visit Lime for more information on the e-bikes.

Facilities available

Deakin has lockers, showers, change rooms and bike storage for when you arrive. The locations around Waurn Ponds campus are provided below.

Building location

Bike storage

Showers

Lockers

Locker access

DD (enter via car park 1)

yes

yes

yes

locker access required

DA (KD Steward Centre), hoops external to building and showers internal

yes

yes

yes

locker access required

KE1, external to building

yes

no

no

not applicable

KE1, internal to building

yes

yes

yes

locker access required

KE2, external to building on the west side

yes

no

no

not applicable

KA3, external to building on the west side

yes

no

no

not applicable

KA2, external to building on the north side

yes

yes

no

not applicable

KA2, external to building on the south side, opposite cube

yes

no

no

not applicable

NI

yes

   

JB1, external to building

yes

no

no

not applicable

JB Transit Hub, external to building near bus stop 1

yes

yes

yes

locker access required

IA, hoops external to building and showers internal

yes

yes

no

not applicable

KC

yes

no

no

not applicable

NL

yes

yes

yes

locker access required

IB

yes

no

no

not applicable

NA

yes

no

no

not applicable

JC2, external to building

yes

no

no

not applicable

ND1, external to building

yes

no

no

not applicable

FK

yes

no

no

not applicable

GG

yes

no

no

not applicable

Requesting locker access

Public transport

It’s easy to catch the intercampus bus to Deakin Waurn Ponds, but you can also catch public buses or catch the train to Waurn Ponds Station.

You will need a Myki card to travel on public transport. Once you have organised an account and got your card, you can top it up on campus – there is a machine next to Student Central in Building jb.

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

Buses that stop on Alfred Deakin Drive, near Building DA (KD Stewart Centre) are:

Train

The closest train station is Waurn Ponds Station, which is approximately 2.5km away from campus. There are footpaths for the whole journey if you choose to walk.

You can also get on the 41 or 42 bus which will take you from the station to campus.

Driving and parking

If you decide to drive to campus, you’ll need to purchase a casual or long-term parking permit.

Your parking permit allows you to park in the white bays (General Permit zones) on campus. 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.

There are two payment options, casual and long-term, but most students choose to pay casually as it’s more flexible.

Casual parking with CellOPark

$1.60 per hour, $6.40 per day

To pay for parking by the hour or day:

  1. Install the free CellOPark Australia App or visit the CellOPark website to create an account. You can start your parking permit session through the app, website or by calling CellOPark on 9111 1799 to use their call to park service.
  2. 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.
  3. When you park, open the app, select the relevant campus zone number (1040100 at Waurn Ponds) and press ‘start’. Stop the session when you leave, so you pay only for the time you are parked.

Long term parking with vPermit

$162.50 for 120 days, $365 for 365 days

To pay upfront for your parking, purchase a vPermit online with a valid credit card. Long term student permits are available for 120 days or 365 days, valid from the date of your credit card purchase. You can list up to three vehicles on your vPermit but can only have one that’s active. If you bring a different vehicle to campus, remember to make that one active instead.

Free Park and Go parking

Free 'Park and Go' bays are available in Car Park 3 (click here for a map). You can park here for free and finish the last leg of your journey by riding, walking, or catching the intercampus bus. There is a bus stop located in the car park.

Look for the blue bays and signs before you park to ensure you are in the Park and Go designated area.

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.

Category 1 Disabled Persons Parking Permits are no longer issued.  New permits are issued as Australian Disability Parking Permits.  Category 1 Disabled Persons Parking Permits and Australian Disability Parking Permits are valid until expiry.  Valid permits must be displayed clearly 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.

Category 2 Disabled Persons Parking Permits are no longer issued.  New permits are issued as Victorian Double Time Accessible Parking Permits.  Category 2 Disabled Persons Parking Permits and Victorian Double Time Accessible Parking Permits and are valid until expiry.  Permit holders are not permitted to park in accessible parking bays however vehicles displaying a valid permit are permitted to park in a General white bay for double the duration of their paid parking.

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.

At Waurn Ponds, Flexicars are  located to the east of Building LA , in car park 19 outside Building NA and on Baxter Drive near the student residence buildings.

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 CellOPark, 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 1. 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.

Appeal an infringement

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.

Welcome to Waterfront Campus!

Last updated:
Page custodian: Campus Operations