What to know about Sydney
- Of the 4,830,047 people counted in the Sydney urban area at the 2021 Census, about 30.7% were aged 20 to 39 by our count of the ABS age rows.Source: ABS 2021 Census QuickStats, Sydney
- For anyone weighing a gym against training at home, 32.8% of occupied private dwellings in the Sydney urban area were flats or apartments at the 2021 Census.Source: ABS 2021 Census QuickStats, Sydney
- The City of Sydney lists seven council gyms, from Cook + Phillip Park Pool in the city centre to Victoria Park Pool Health Club in Camperdown.Source: City of Sydney, Gyms
- The council's Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre in Zetland opened on 1 February 2021 with a fully equipped gymnasium and an outdoor training circuit.Source: City of Sydney, Gunyama Park project
- Gunyama Park's gym has cardio and strength equipment, group fitness and small group training, and a 360 membership covers the council's network of pools and fitness facilities.Source: City of Sydney, Gunyama Park fitness centre
- The NSW Government warns that gym direct debits do not stop when a membership expires, and that gyms often need 30 days written notice to stop them.Source: NSW Government, Fitness and gyms
- In NSW a cooling-off period applies only if the gym's contract provides one, and the NSW Government advises always cancelling in writing.Source: NSW Government, Fitness and gyms
Seven council gyms in the City of Sydney
The City of Sydney runs seven council gyms: Cook + Phillip Park Pool in the city centre, Gunyama Park in Zetland, Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre in Ultimo, Juanita Nielsen Community Centre in Woolloomooloo, King George V Recreation Centre in The Rocks, Pyrmont Community Centre and Victoria Park Pool Health Club in Camperdown. Outside that one council area, the choice is other councils' leisure centres, private gyms and strength studios.
Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre opened on 1 February 2021 with a fully equipped gymnasium and an outdoor training circuit. The council says the gym has cardio and strength equipment, group fitness and small group training, and that its 360 membership opens the whole network of council pools and fitness facilities. Ask any gym the same thing: does one membership cover more than one site?
Direct debits do not stop on their own
The NSW Government's consumer page is blunt: a membership expiring does not mean the direct debits stop. Gyms often ask for 30 days written notice before they stop deductions. Put the end date in your calendar and send notice well before it.
- Find the notice period in the agreement before you sign.
- Cancel in writing so you can prove the date you asked.
- Keep a copy of the email or letter.
- Check your bank statement after the last payment.
Cooling-off depends on the contract
In NSW a cooling-off period applies only if the gym's contract has one, and it will be in the terms and conditions. Ask before you hand over card details. The same NSW page lists terms that may be unfair, including ones that make cancelling hard or costly or that demand an unreasonably long notice period. If a term reads like that, ask the gym to explain it.
Apartment living and the gym
Sydney's urban area counted 4,830,047 people at the 2021 Census, and about 30.7% of them were aged 20 to 39 by our count. The same Census found 32.8% of occupied private dwellings were flats or apartments. With no room at home for a rack and plates, a gym close to home or work does the job. Compare an open gym membership with a strength and conditioning studio, then send one enquiry and we pass it to one local gym.
Sydney gym questions
Can one City of Sydney membership cover several council gyms?
The council says its 360 membership gives access to the City of Sydney's network of pools and fitness facilities. Confirm what is included with the centre before you join.
Do NSW gyms have to offer a cooling-off period?
The NSW Government's current page does not say they must. It says a cooling-off period, where one applies, is set out in the contract's terms and conditions. Ask, and get the answer in writing.
How should I cancel a gym membership in Sydney?
In writing, every time. The NSW Government advises a written cancellation so you can prove the date you asked for the membership to end. Allow for any notice period in your agreement.