Try Rock Climbing or Bouldering in Sydney (Top 5 Climbing Gyms)

Find the best indoor rock climbing and bouldering gyms in Sydney with excellent facilities for beginners and seasoned climbers.

If you’ve got a penchant for conquering heights and an undeniable itch to explore the vertical, you’ve landed in just the right spot.

Ever tried rock climbing or bouldering? Sydney is home to several state-of-the-art rock climbing gyms where you’ll often be welcomed with open arms by a warm and friendly community.

In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about rock climbing and bouldering and share some of the best climbing gyms in Sydney.

Before we share our favourite climbing gyms in Sydney, let’s first discuss the two main types of indoor climbing.

1. Indoor Rock Climbing

This is the traditional form of indoor climbing where you’re trying to climb a wall supported by a harness and ropes.

This is typically done with two people, where one person on the ground controls the rope.

Indoor rock climbing is a full-body (and mind) workout where you will need all the muscles in your body to scale the walls without falling.

2. Bouldering

The sport of bouldering is similar to rock climbing but without the harness and the ropes. It’s just you, your shoes, the chalk, and the wall.

The walls are typically shorter, for obvious reasons, and a padded floor protects you from injuring yourself when falling. Don’t worry; falling is part of the sport.

Some climbing gyms offer indoor rock climbing facilities, others do bouldering, and then there are also climbing gyms that provide both facilities.

However, the sport of bouldering has been going through a surge in popularity in recent times, and more gyms are popping up that focus solely on bouldering.

We have visited the following five Sydney indoor climbing gyms and had loads of fun. They offer top-notch facilities, friendly service, and, most importantly, a welcoming environment.

1. BlocHaus Bouldering Sydney

BlocHaus Bouldering in Marrickville is an indoor climbing gym that specialises in fun and social bouldering for everyone.

The gym offers beginner classes to cover the basics of bouldering so you can make the most of your climbing sessions if you’re new to the sport.

What’s great is that BlocHaus resets three climbing sectors in their venue every week, which means you can experience a new gym every time you visit.

Note that BlocHaus also has an indoor climbing gym in Canberra in addition to a venue in Melbourne.

BlocHaus Bouldering Sydney is open from Monday to Sunday from morning until late.

2. Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym

The Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym in St Peters is one of Sydney’s most popular and oldest climbing gyms in Sydney and New South Wales.

It’s an impressively large venue, with almost 4,000 square metres of rock climbing walls in addition to excellent bouldering facilities.

Note that Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym has a second branch at Woodville Road in Villawood with similar facilities for rock climbing and bouldering.

Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym in St Peters is open from Monday to Sunday from morning until late.

3. 9 Degrees Alexandria

In a timeframe of only a few years, 9 Degrees has established itself as a reputable bouldering gym with four locations in Sydney.

The Alexandria venue was the first 9 Degree climbing gym location that opened in 2015 and has since proven to be a popular spot with the locals.

It’s not an overly big climbing gym by any means, but the smaller walls and the friendly and welcoming atmosphere at 9 Degrees will appeal to beginners and experienced climbers.

Also worth mentioning is the 9 Degrees Waterloo branch, a large venue with state-of-the-art climbing facilities. Other climbing gyms in Sydney can be found in Parramatta and Lane Cove.

9 Degrees in Alexandria is open from Monday to Friday until 10 pm and on the weekends until 9 pm.

4. Climb Fit Kirrawee

Climb Fit in Kirrawee is a large climbing gym with more than 3,500 square metres worth of climbing space.

The gym offers state-of-the-art climbing and bouldering facilities, in addition to a fully equipped gym with cardio and strength training equipment and even a yoga room.

Another drawcard of this climbing gym is its 12 x 12 foot, 40-degree kilter board, which connects to an app. It contains 306 unique handholds and 170 footholds that are brightly backlit.

Climb Fit has additional climbing gym venues in St Leonards and Macquarie Park, with the same state-of-the-art facilities and fully equipped gyms.

Climb Fit in Kirrawee is open from Monday to Friday until 10 pm and on the weekends until 8 pm.

5. 1UP Bouldering

A whole new adventure awaits you at 1UP Bouldering, one of the coolest (and latest) climbing gyms in town. Boasting the title of one of the largest gyms in Sydney and NSW, 1UP is a thriving hub of climbing enthusiasts.

At 1UP Bouldering, get ready to be wowed by an array of freestanding boulders, each presenting a new challenge to conquer. They also offer gym equipment, a yoga studio for some zen downtime, and an exciting spread of leisure activities to keep you entertained.

1UP is more than just a gym; they’re a family, passionate about the exhilarating sport of climbing. Whether you’re a seasoned pro, a curious beginner, or somewhere in between, everyone is welcome.

1UP Bouldering in Chullora is open from Monday to Sunday until 10 pm.