Climb Oz
Photograph: Supplied
Photograph: Supplied

The best indoor climbing centres in Sydney

From bouldering to lead climbing, these rock climbing gyms will satisfy all of your adrenaline junkie whims

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Once you get over the heights, rock climbing ticks just about every box as a hobby: the community feels more like a family, it's a rain, hail or shine activity, the adrenaline rush is addictive, and if every second Tinder profile in Sydney is anything to go by, climbing photos make for a great ice-breaker (and way to flex your climbing guns).

The sport is gaining traction after its appearance in recent Olympic Games, and for good reason. While scaling cliff faces outdoors seems like the real deal, weather conditions don't always allow for a good send-sesh. Don't let the rain, well, rain on your climbing parade. Everyone from newbies to local legends will benefit from some of the best facilities in the country, right here in your backyard. Find yourself a belay buddy and start scaling those heights.

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Want to experience the great outdoors? Get your al fresco sweat on at one of Sydney's best outdoor gyms or embark on one of the best easy day hikes near Sydney.

Indoor climbing venues in Sydney

  • Sport and fitness
  • Gyms
  • Kirrawee

This South Sydney indoor climbing gym is the perfect place to get comfy in that safety harness for the first time or practice your skills until you’re scaling walls like Spiderman. With over 130 different climbing routes that are changed weekly, even the everyday climbers will find something new. There are longer lead-climbing routes where you clip in yourself at checkpoints, but if you're less of a pro, join the beginner clinic program to learn the basics of rock climbing. 

  • Sport and fitness
  • St Peters
Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym
Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym

Established in 1993, the first indoor rock climbing venue in NSW is now the biggest in Australia, and has a smaller (by 700 square metres) sibling in Villawood called Elevate Climbing. There’s 3,700 square metres of climbing walls, 50-degree overhangs and 25-metre routes for the brave. There’s also a 4.5-metre high bouldering wall if you want to climb without the ropes. For the kids, the climbing gym also offers after school programs and school holiday camps.

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  • Sport and fitness
  • Marrickville

Meet climbing's younger brother: bouldering. This versatile variant of rock climbing is done at lower heights, with no ropes and thick cushy mat to catch you when you fall. With more than 850 square metres of boulders to explore, this indoor rock wall centre in Marrickville is set up to cater to the full spectrum of climbing enthusiasts, from seasoned problem-solvers to the bouldering beginners. This latest climbing gym by BlocHaus – they also operate in Melbourne and Canberra – is Sydney’s first and features state of the art rock wall tech, capable of replicating challenging conditions for experienced hands using ropes and spotters or free climbers. 

  • Things to do
  • Sports
  • Alexandria

9 Degrees is another bouldering gym, located in Alexandria. The benefit here is that you won’t need a climbing partner, equipment or much training – you can just strap on a pair of shoes and explore the centre’s 140 different climbs in nine degrees of difficulty, from entry level to competition levels. It’s very close to SkyZone and the Rocks Brewery, so you can easily make a day of sporty indoor activities. While Alexandria is 9 Degree's flagship location, they've also got bouldering venues in Waterloo, Lane Cove and Parramatta so that you can traverse all over Sydney. 

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  • Sport and fitness
  • St Leonards
Climb Fit St Leonards
Climb Fit St Leonards

Up for a challenge? There are over 160 climbs at the Climb Fit gym. Along with steep overhangs, a neverending lead wall, the chimney, a vertical treadmill and a giant log ladder, there’s a tamer wall for the kids (and the climb-wary). If bouldering’s more your thing, there’s over 90 problems to solve in the exclusive bouldering area. In fact, they've really got a bit of everything where you can hop on a spin bike or do some pilates with one of Climb Fit's extensive gym classes. 

  • Sport and fitness
  • Camperdown
The Ledge Climbing Centre
The Ledge Climbing Centre

If you’re looking for an indoor climbing centre within a regular gym, look no further than the Ledge. Boasting a casual and social atmosphere, the Ledge has climbs that cater to all levels of skill and ability. There's a complete bouldering and training area, and experienced staff are always on hand to supervise and assist.

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  • Sport and fitness
  • Blacktown

Catering to all ages and abilities, Climb Oz strives to show people how fitness can be achieved through climbing. They have more than 25 top rope climbing walls (including kid-friendly climbs), 15 lead climbing lanes, six auto-belay walls, a bouldering area, specific training areas for competitive climbers and two climbing ropes and a rope net ladder so you can race friends.

  • Sport and fitness
  • Penrith
The Climbing Centre
The Climbing Centre

The Climbing Centre in Penrith has over 100 climbs to challenge everyone from beginners to professionals. A new unassisted bouldering area upstairs has been installed and it's perfect for those looking to work on their bouldering and overhanging skills without the need for ropes. For the kids, there’s a junior climbing club every Monday and Thursday afternoon. 

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  • Sport and fitness
  • Wollongong

Heading down the coast for a climb at Nowra but the rain caught you out? With over 150 climbs set up across 40 ropes, Hangdog is your next best bet to train hard. Due to their prime possie on the South Coast, Hangdog actually host a range of outdoor days where they will take you out to some of New South Wales’ best outdoor climbing spots and show you the ropes (quite literally). They also run conditioning, yoga, and mobility classes tailored specifically to climbers. To entertain the little ones, you can enrol them in one of Hangdog's holiday workshops or their 'Learn to Climb' classes that run every week of the school term.  

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