6 Best Ways to Work Out in Sydney (that aren’t the gym)

I’ve just never been a gym person- I prefer being outside to exercise over the monotony and stale sweaty sock smell of the gym. But, what are the best ways to exercise in Sydney besides the gym? Luckily, if you’re living in Sydney, or just visiting, you’re in luck- there are lots of unique ways to stay fit in the city without needing a gym membership. A lot of the below are also really social activities, great if you’re an expat looking to meet people and have just recently arrived.

Here’s our best ways to exercise in Sydney besides the gym:

Rock climbing

Rock climbing is an extreme workout, and it’ll leave your whole body sore (in a good way). Indoor climbing is the best way to start, if you’ve never tried the sport before. There are a number of fantastic climbing gyms in the Sydney area. I’d recommend Climb Fit Sydney, in St Leonards, Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym (St Peters), or Nine Degrees Alexandria. Nine Degrees offers only bouldering (which is low climbing without a harness), while the other two gyms offer belay/lead climbing, as well as a bouldering wall. It’s best to go with a partner or group of friends, especially for lead climbing, as you’ll take turns climbing and belaying. Most gyms also offer introductory classes, where you can learn the ropes (pardon the pun), before taking off.

Climbing is such a fun sport, and challenges you both mentally and physically. Time seems to fly by, and there’s a great sense of achievement in completing a challenging climb.

Once you feel confident in the gyms, consider trying outdoor climbing. I’ve only tried it once, and found it insanely difficult, but there are a few outdoor climbing areas in Sydney to check out (with someone experienced, of course).

Snorkeling and scuba

Sydney’s coastal location makes it the perfect spot for everything water related. Snorkelling, ocean swimming, and scuba diving are all fantastic ways to stay fit, and stay cool. I’ve written about snorkeling in Sydney before, but great spots include Shelly Beach, near Manly, and Clovelly and Gordons Bay, near Bondi in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. All beaches mentioned have easy access to get in/out of the water, and are protected areas, sheltered from the surf. This means great kelp beds, clear water, and a huge variety of fish and marine life.

Scuba is also great in Sydney, and is where I was certified. I went with Bondi Dive, and would definitely recommend them- we completed our in-ocean dives in Camp Cove, a great spot for learners. Does diving count as exercise? Definitely- ask anyone who was walked up and down the beach, fully loaded with pounds and pounds of scuba gear. Not to mention non stop swimming, albeit slowly, when underwater- you’re pretty much guaranteed a good night’s sleep after a day of diving. Most dive operators offer weekly shore dive excursions, which can be pretty affordable if you have your own gear, and you’re not paying extra for boat transport to off-shore dive sites. However, snorkeling is free and can be done just off the shore of many Sydney beaches.

Trampoline Parks

Any exercise where you can channel your inner child is probably going to be awesome. Enter places like SkyFit, basically a giant trampoline park for adults (and kids). Grab some friends for an afternoon out, and bounce to your heart’s content- just try not to trample any small children. According to the American Council on Exercise, who have researched this extensively, apparently, trampolining counts as a solid cardio workout, with men burning an average of 12 calories/minute, and women burning an average of nine calories/minute.

Coastal and Bush walks

Sydney is literally an outdoor playground, with seemingly endless coastal and bush walks, as well as several national parks. The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk is the most famous, but also check out the Spit to Manly walk, or a stroll through Barangaroo Reserve. The Blue Mountains National Park offers tons of day or overnight walks, as do the Royal National Park to the south, or try hiking in Ku-Ring-Gai National Park to the north. Bushwalking is free and anyone can do is, as there are walks to suit all levels of fitness.

Ropes courses

Another childhood throwback, remember doing the ropes courses at summer camp? If you loved it, there are a few fantastic ropes courses around Sydney. Run around through the trees, zipline away, or pretend you’re training for Ninja Warrior. There is a ropes course within Taronga Zoo, Wild Ropes, or check out TreeTops or Urban Jungle. They are not always the cheapest, as prices can range from about $30-50, but worth it on occasion, or keep an eye for Groupon deals.

Take up running (for a good cause)

The winter months make up Sydney’s running season, with the main runs including the Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon in May, City2Surf (14 km) in August, and Blackmores Sydney Running Festival (10k-marathon) in September. If you need some encouragement to get running, consider signing up as a charity fundraiser for one of the above races. Many Australian charities partner to support runners, and often offer free race entry if you meet their minimum fundraising requirements. I work for a fantastic Australian charity outside of writing, so I’d encourage everyone to check this out- it’s a great motivation for lacing up your running shoes!

 

If you have friends who are into running or walking, a really fun thing to do is get into the fitness trackers- a few friends and I all have Fitbits, and you can connect through their app to have virtual races, or to track how far each person has walked- it sounds silly, but beating your friends to have the highest weekly step average is a weirdly strange motivation to get some extra exercise in throughout the week.

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How do you like to stay fit in Sydney? Would love to hear your suggestions of other great workouts to try!

(Note- all businesses recommended were visited by myself as a full-paying guest.)