Photograph: Gilbert Walden
Bondi Beach Outdoor Gym
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Photograph: Glenn Duffus
Maroubra Park Outdoor Gym
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Photograph: Matt Seasbury
Rushcutters Bay Park Outdoor Gym
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Photograph: Gilbert Walden
Sydney Park Outdoor Gym
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Photograph: Woollahra Council
Outdoor Gym at Christison Park
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The best outdoor gyms in Sydney

Work up a sweat under sunny skies at these free outdoor fitness stations

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Saturday 26 June 2021

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Many people are asking: "Are gyms open?" Indoor facilities are shuttered across Greater Sydney, but unlike during the city's first lockdown in 2020, when outdoor gyms were off-limits, the City of Sydney has announced that public playgrounds and outdoor fitness areas will remain open during the current lockdown:

"We're cleaning these facilities regularly. We recommend you wash your hands and wipe down the equipment before and after you use it. Stay 1.5 away from others at all times, practice good hygiene and don't train or use the equipment if you have any symptoms."

Outdoor fitness groups in Greater Sydney are limited to a maximum of 10 people who must all be wearing a mask.

Want more outdoors fitness options? Get a run in along one of Sydney's most scenic running trails.

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Outdoor gyms and fitness in Sydney

Bondi Outdoor Gym

Sport and fitness
Gyms
Bondi Beach

If Sydney had its own Muscle Beach, Bondi Park’s outdoor gym would be it. Buff and sweaty bros brave out the midday sun to ensure their biceps are suitably big. You’ll also spot acro yoga enthusiasts leaning off one another and some super cute dogs. Not such an exhbitionist? Get down bright and early when the park is filled with PT groups instead of peacocks. Or head on the Bondi to Bronte and use the work out spots dotted along the coastline.

Prince Alfred Park Outdoor Gym

Sport and fitness
Gyms
Surry Hills

Over the past few years Prince Alfred Park has become a fitness destination. On any given week day or night you can see groups of people playing half-court basket ball on their two-and-half courts. There are also five plexicushion tennis courts (the same surface used at the Australian Open). Their outdoor gym facilities do not disappoint either, with options including push-up bars, sit-up benches, stepping squares and wheelchair friendly workout options. Expect everyone from casual exercise enthusiasts to the office gym junkie. After working up a sweat, take a dip in the pool for just $6.40.

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Photograph: Emma Joyce

Observatory Hill Outdoor Gym

Sport and fitness
Gyms
Millers Point

Between Sydney Observatory and the Harbour Bridge is a patch of bouncy turf that’s surprisingly well equipped. There are three zones with vaulting bars, sit-up benches, pull-up rings and stretching poles – plus a bubbler, a couple of resting benches and public toilets only minutes away (down the hill). Instructions boards guide you on how to use the fitness equipment, and there are handy charts for how many reps you should aim for depending on your age. It’s a meeting place for personal trainers and their clients, but it’s underused even on weekends. You don’t really get harbour views, but you’re close enough to the Bridge to incorporate some stair training and a few hill runs. It’s only partially shaded so pack sunscreen.

Christison Park

Things to do
Vaucluse

Wedged in between the Macquarie Lighthouse and the fringes of Watson’s Bay is Christison Park. It has two large football fields and a killer outdoor gym. The first has kinetic equipment including two cardio machines and two weight machines. The other stations focus on strength and warm-up exercises. You’ll also get some of the most expansive views of the South Pacific Ocean and it links up to the South Head Heritage Trail, if fancy complementing your workout with a coastal walk.

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Queens Park

Sport and fitness
Gyms
Queens Park

Located in one of the city’s most picturesque and well equipped parks, this outdoor gym is relatively new and in good nick. Pull up bars, step up planks and other stationary exercises make up most of the space. The body curl is killer and Time Out can’t master the vault, but a couple of times around the circuit with some sprints around the sports field and you’ve got yourself a good workout.

Sydney Park

Things to do
Erskineville

Kids and adults alike can enjoy Sydney Park and all it has to offer. Stretching over 40 hectares including wetlands and pond (complete with ducks), it gets pretty close to being the perfect picnic location. Add some neat children's attractions like a giant playground and a miniature road network for little bikes, and hey, presto! A lovely day out for everyone.

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Photograph: Robert Polmear

South Sydney Rotary Park

Sport and fitness
Gyms
Riverwood

You might not think of this little patch of green along the train tracks in Alexandria as a park, but it has both a small set of playground equipment as well as a small outdoor gym tucked up in the top right corner. There are three pull-up bars at different heights, a sloped bench, parallel bars and two metal rings attached to a pole that look not unlike netball rings (for an alternate pull-up perhaps?). It might not bee too flash but it does mean you’re more likely to get the whole spot to yourself, which is nice for self-conscious people and people who like me-time with their work out.

Dudley Page Reserve

Things to do
Dover Heights

This outdoor gym has one of the most picturesque views of Sydney. In between pull ups and crunches, you’ll see glimpses of the city skyline from the fringes of the Eastern Suburbs right across to the North Shore. A single station has eight instructions for different exercises focusing on building strength. Make sure you bring water – there’s not a bubbler in site.

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Photograph: Robert Polmear

Wentworth Park

Sport and fitness
Gyms
Ultimo

This sprawling park is home to fitness fans of all kinds – bootcampers, soccer players and young taekwondo enthusiasts populate the the grassy greens. The three different equipment stations are spread across the park basic, stationary pull up bars and sit up benches.

Photograph: Public domain

Camperdown Park

Things to do
Camperdown

When people say Camperdown Park, they often mean the much larger Camperdown Memorial Rest Park near King Street in Newtown. This park has a sports ground, tennis courts, basketball court, toilets, and a playground. It’s closer to Parramatta Road.

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Leichhardt Park

Things to do
Lilyfield

Runners, walkers and cyclists on the Bay Run will be familiar with Leichhardt Park’s outdoor gym as the bubblers here are a welcome refresher along the seven kilometre route. The free equipment is designed for older people within the community, everything is geared towards gentle movement, like leg swings and leg presses. As there’s a playground, people of any age use and play on the fitness station – and it has spectacular views over Iron Cove.

Photograph: Mark Seasbury

Rushcutters Bay Park

Things to do
Rushcutters Bay

This bay-edged park has a basic outdoor gym backed by beautiful vista of sail boats and seawater.. The stationary equipment includes vault bars, chin-up bars and the other usual suspects. It is astroturfed, so maybe opt to do any runs/sprints on the nearby footpath.

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Maroubra Beach

Things to do
Maroubra

This seaside gym has moving equipment like leg presses, frontal rows, a stationary bike and an elliptical. Its beachside location makes it a popular spot with locals, with groups exercising together as well as individuals shredding things up.

Frenchmans Bay

This schmick new outdoor gym has ten different pieces of low-impact exercise equipment. The soft flooring keeps things easy on the knees and most of the equipment – from the zig zag bar to the step up balancers – is very simple to use.

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Perry Park

This St Peters outdoor gym is located just next door to the cricket pitch and sports house. It’s a dog-friendly park so feel free to bring your four-legged friend along for you workout. It’s a family-friendly spot as well – it’s low key and welcoming.

Bicentennial Park - Glebe

Things to do
Annandale

This small but functional outdoor gym is situated just off the Glebe foreshore next to the park’s two large ovals. There are only pull up bars and a balancing beam, so pair your work out with some sprints along the foreshore for a well rounded session.

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Bourke Street Park

This small outdoor gym sits under an overpass so you wouldn’t have to worry about sunscreen. The workout area is next to a community garden and has toilet facilities. The limited equipment consists of push-up bars, sit-up benches and monkey bars. If you work in the city, you can jog through the Domain for a warm up. It’s not an park we’d recommend for exercising at night or alone as it’s too secluded.

Are you across the rules?

Photographer: Kate Trifo/Unsplash

What you can and cannot do in Sydney right now

Things to do

Make sure you're across all the current health guidelines and restrictions with our easy-to-follow breakdown.

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