The best indoor climbing centres in Sydney

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. 

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. 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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.