Top gyms and outdoor spots for rock climbing on the Gold Coast
If you’ve been looking for a new hobby or an awesome new challenge for yourself — both physical and mental — you can hardly choose better than rock climbing. I’ve tried a few sports in my time, but few can match climbing for the speed at which it strengthened my body and mind, plus creating some new friendships for me.
If you’re new to all this, don’t worry. You won’t be scaling thousand-foot mountain ranges on the first day. In fact, you’ll have a ton of climbing options available, many of which are very beginner-friendly: indoor gyms, outdoor venues, top rope, bouldering, and more.
Before we dive into all that, let’s start with the why. What’s so good about rock climbing, anyway?
Benefits of rock climbing
Rock climbing is a fantastic way to develop not just your physical capabilities, but your mental and psychological faculties as well.
On the physical side, climbing ramps up your grip strength, enhances upper and lower-body flexibility, and quickly burns off any excess body weight.
After just a few months of climbing, I found myself with forearms of steel, a surprising amount of hip and leg flexibility, and I’d dropped several pounds while retaining my strength.
But even before these physical changes, I noticed something else: I felt better, mentally and emotionally.
During climbing gym sessions and events, I was constantly making new friends, feeling the rush of adrenaline and success, and my mind was in problem-solving mode minus the stress.
Feeling intrigued yet? Let’s get you started on your own climbing journey.
Top indoor rock climbing gyms on the Gold Coast
On Belay Climbing
– Media credit: onbelay.climbing
Website: https://www.onbelayclimbing.com.au/
Address: 38 Hutchinson St, Burleigh Heads
Contact details: 07 5593 6919
Operating hours:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Tuesday, Thursday: 1:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Nestled in the south of the Gold Coast, On Belay Climbing offers a host of options for beginners and experienced climbers: top rope, auto-belay devices, and lead climbing.
Besides the facilities, On Belay Climbing also holds lots of classes and programs to help new climbers ease into the sport, as well as keep seasoned climbers sharp.
Kids as young as 4 are welcome to strap on a harness and take on the walls. Coaches and gym personnel will always be on hand to teach young kids the basics, as well as keep them safe and secure at all times.
Meanwhile, adult climbers can enjoy all the gym’s equipment within minutes of walking in. You don’t even need to make a booking; just show up ready to rock in athletic clothing. You can rent all the gear you’ll need right there at the venue.
You’ll be asked to sign a waiver before you begin climbing, though you can actually fill this in online ahead of time, if you like.
Alpine Indoor Climbing
– Media credit: alpineindoorclimbing
Website: https://alpineindoorclimbing.com/
Address: 86 Robina Town Centre Dr, Robina QLD 4226 / 1 Stewart Rd, Currumbin QLD 4223
Contact details: (07) 5689 0606 / (07) 5645 4243
Operating hours:
- Monday: 2:00 pm – 9:00 pm / 6:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Tuesday: 6:00 am – 9:00 pm / 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Wednesday: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm / 6:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Thursday: 6:00 am – 9:00 pm / 2:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- Friday: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm / 6:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Alpine Indoor Climbing is a popular, air-conditioned, indoor climbing gym with locations in Robina and Currumbin.
The Robina location hosts a massive climbing cave for both beginners and experienced climbers to try out, plus a MoonBoard, which is a climbing training board that’ll quickly build your finger strength and body mechanics.
The Currumbin location is a large gym sporting its own special equipment: a 50-degree Kilter Board, a 30-degree Tension Board, and lots of slab wall routes to keep you on your toes.
For both locations, the community is friendly and encouraging, the equipment is clean and well-maintained, the climbing holds are changed up regularly, and a shot of caffeine is always close by.
I also loved seeing that the bouldering walls have designated holds for climbing down, so I didn’t have to jump down from the top after finishing a route (to the relief of my knees).
If you ask the staff nicely, you can sometimes even bring your dog inside the buildings.
Climbing sessions cost $25 per person, with a $7.50 climbing shoe rental. Student discounts do apply, so ask the staff. You can also get one-month passes, ten-session passes, and other membership options.
Core Climbing Carrara
– Media credit: coreclimbaus
Website: https://www.coreclimbing.com.au/
Address: 122 Eastlake St, Carrara
Contact details: 07 5530 2323
Operating hours:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 6:00 am – 10:00 pm
- Wednesday, Friday: 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Saturday: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Sunday: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Core Climbing is a family-friendly gym in Carrara that lives by the belief that everyone can climb. This spot caters to all budding boulderers aged 4 onwards, so it’s a great place to take your little ones for a day of sweat, laughter, and endorphins.
Core Climbing focuses on bouldering, with lots of walls available for everyone from beginners to people who can climb with one hand tied behind their back.
The walls are high enough to be challenging, but not so high that they felt impossible or intimidating.
The mats set up underneath are thick and supportive, and after the first time or two that I dropped down onto them, I had zero worries about getting hurt (except for my pride).
The gym also offers other events for fitness fanatics like a circuit class designed to boost your cardio, plus a yoga course specifically for strengthening the muscles you need for climbing.
Core Climbing has some of the most versatile pricing I’ve seen in a climbing gym. There are adult day passes ($25), discounts for kids and students, 5 and 10-session passes, and monthly or annual packages.
For long-term memberships, you can even choose whether to pay a smaller amount per week, or everything upfront (which can get you a 10% discount).
Game Over Clip ‘n Climb
– Media credit: gameovergc
Website: https://www.gameovergc.com.au/clip-n-climb
Address: 88 Siganto Dr, Helensvale
Contact details: (07)55193999
Operating hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
- Friday: 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Saturday: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Sunday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Game Over is actually a comprehensive family entertainment centre with locations on the Gold Coast and Brisbane. Besides indoor wall climbing, Game Over offers go karting, laser tag, mini-golf, and an arcade.
Children as young as 4 can climb here, and it’s a great place to take them. No matter how much energy they have bottled up, I’d wager money that a full day here would tire them out.
Given all the possible activities at Game Over, I was initially worried that their climbing walls wouldn’t provide the focused challenge that I wanted. But boy, was I wrong.
They have lots of auto-belay equipped walls with themed challenges, including the pulse-pounding Speed Wall and something called the Twister Tower (you’ll need to see it to know what that means).
A 45-minute climbing session plus safety briefing will cost $24 per person. If that’s not enough adrenaline for you, you can bundle a climbing session with a laser tag mission as well, increasing the total price to $36.
For group reservations, you can book for anywhere from 8 to 400 people (and kudos to you if you have 400 friends), with custom packages and free parking available.
For $149 per participant, you can arrange for a day that includes not just climbing, but also go karting, laser tag, and food and drinks afterwards.
Outdoor rock climbing and bouldering spots near the Gold Coast
Mount Ninderry
– Media credit: emivalmae
Address: Ninderry QLD 4561
At Mount Ninderry, you’ll be doing mostly sport climbing, which is essentially lead climbing done outdoors. Bolts have already been set up in the rock face of the mountain, and you’ll be clipping your rope into these bolts as you climb.
A few bouldering sites are also present here and there around the area.
Outdoor climbing in general is an awesome experience, but Mount Ninderry is probably best saved for when you have lots of climbing experience under your belt. The mountain features mostly technical rock faces and steep cave routes that might be too much for beginners.
At the moment, I couldn’t find any official or legal requirements or prerequisites to go rock climbing at Mount Ninderry. In fact, the government is planning to invest in nature-based recreation in the area by providing walking trails and lookouts.
That said, Mount Ninderry is still a wilderness area with native flora and fauna, and it’s the responsibility of climbers (and anyone else visiting the site) to respect and preserve these natural features at all times.
There are also residences not very far away, so visitors should avoid being disruptive, excessively noisy, or lingering too long after climbing.
Kangaroo Point Cliffs, Brisbane
– Media credit: riverlifebrisbane
Address: 29 River Terrace, Kangaroo Point QLD 4169
Contact details: 07 3403 8888
Operating hours: 24/7
Kangaroo Point Cliffs in Brisbane isn’t just a single park, but actually several of them working together to provide visitors with a large array of activities to try. It’s a bit of a way from the Gold Coast (maybe an hour’s drive at most), but well worth the travel.
Aside from climbing at the Cliffs, you can go boating, running, cycling, strolling around the boardwalk area, or just set up for a family picnic and relax. You’ll also get fantastic scenic views of the Brisbane River.
The park includes spaces for sport climbing and abseiling, which is a great one-two combo — climb up, and enjoy the (almost) free-fall on the way down. You can even go climbing at night, if that happens to be on your bucket list.
You won’t need to be quite as self-sufficient as with Mount Ninderry; Kangaroo Point Cliffs has personnel to help you set up and enjoy the climbing. Note that you’ll need to make reservations, and climbers need to be at least 16 years old (or accompanied by an adult).
There are also going to be lots of other people around; Kangaroo Point Cliffs is a complex of public parks, after all. That makes it great for a family day out, but maybe not the best choice if you’re looking for the solitude of nature.
Binna Burra in Lamington National Park
– Media credit: binnaburra
Website: https://www.binnaburralodge.com.au/
Address: 1040 Binna Burra Rd, Beechmont
Contact details: 07 55 333 622
Operating hours:
- Lodge check-in: 2:00 pm
Binna Burra is a private property within Lamington National Park. It features large outdoor spaces with beautiful natural surroundings; expect a stunning rainforest backdrop and some wildlife sightings if you’re lucky.
Accommodations include cabins, sky lodges, and campsites; activities include lawn games, bird watching, self-guided walks, and of course climbing.
In particular, bouldering is available as well as trad climbing — one of the most difficult types of climbing.
With this in mind, the climbing at Binna Burra is best reserved for experienced rock climbers. It’s also a good idea to bring your own complete set of gear: helmet, rope, harness, and various forms of climbing protection like bolts and carabiners.
Choosing the best climbing experience for you
If you’re a beginner or just looking for a bit of fun and exercise, an indoor climbing gym is your best bet.
These establishments have beginner-friendly tools and equipment, introductory classes to show you the fundamentals, staff members to assist you and ensure safety, and lots of other people around to encourage you.
For example, if you have no idea at all about how to get started with rock climbing — which was my situation not long ago — I’d recommend heading to On Belay Climbing in Burleigh Heads.
This indoor gym offers all the beginner-friendly types of climbing, so you can get familiar with each one. Every Tuesday and Thursday evening, they also host ClimbFit classes, which are designed specifically to help you boost strength, endurance, and other attributes you’ll need for climbing.
It’s a great option for newbies, and you’ll have lots of help along the way.
Of course, all the indoor gyms on the Gold Coast can also feature advanced routes and tools for seasoned climbers.
Outdoor climbing can be an unforgettable adventure, but it is ideal mainly for very experienced climbers. Compared to an artificial gym wall, a natural rock wall will have fewer implements for safety, less forgiving holds, and you’ll be at the mercy of the weather.
Mount Ninderry, for instance, presents mostly vertical rock faces and overhangs that demand expert technique from climbers. It’s also not for those who are just starting to build up their climbing endurance, as the long routes will require extensive physical stamina to complete.
The routes are also more advanced compared to indoor gyms, and you’ll need additional safety equipment.
Essential gear and safety tips for climbing on the Gold Coast
Here’s a quick list of reminders, gear recommendations and safety essentials to acquire before you start climbing. Many of these are available for rent at indoor climbing gyms.
- Gear recommendations
- Climbing harness and rope
- Climbing shoes
- Chalk bag
- Hand cream or lotion (optional, but helps with calluses after climbing)
- Safety essentials
- Auto-belay training (if using auto-belays in the gym)
- Helmet (to protect against falling rocks during outdoor climbs)
- Proper verbal commands and signals (for top rope climbing)
Short and precise verbal signals between climbers and belayers are important, because it’s difficult to speak and understand long sentences while climbing.
You also might not be able to make gestures with your hands. Terminology might vary slightly at each gym, but here are some examples I’ve personally come across:
- “Climbing”: the climber says this just before starting to climb
- “Climb on”: the belayer responds with this once they are alert and ready to belay
- “Down”: the climber says this when they wish to be lowered back to the ground
- “Let go”: the belayer responds with this when they are ready to lower the climber. Upon hearing “let go”, the climber lets go and rides down as the belayer slowly pays out the rope.
- “Falling”: the climber says this if they feel that they are about to fall or if they make a spontaneous decision to let go of the wall (such as from being fatigued). Upon hearing this, the belayer must immediately prepare to catch the climber by keeping tension on the rope.
| On Belay Climbing | Alpine Indoor Climbing | Core Climbing | Game Over | Mount Ninderry | Kangaroo Point Cliffs | Binna Burra | |
| Best for | Children 4+; birthday party groups; date nights | First-timers; experienced boulder climbers; pet lovers | Climbers of all ages; boulderers; any fitness enthusiast | Young children; climbers who like variety; anyone who wants to try lots of activities | Experienced rock climbers | Families; couples | Experienced rock climbers |
| Address | 38 Hutchinson St, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220 | 86 Robina Town Centre Dr, Robina QLD 4226 / 1 Stewart Rd, Currumbin QLD 4223 | 122 Eastlake St, Carrara QLD 4211 | 88 Siganto Dr, Helensvale QLD 4212 | Ninderry QLD 4561 | 29 River Terrace, Kangaroo Point QLD 4169 | 1040 Binna Burra Rd, Beechmont, QLD 4211 |
| Climbing types available | Top rope; auto-belay; lead climbing | Bouldering | Bouldering | Auto-belay | Sport climbing | Sport climbing; abseiling | Trad climbing |
| Pricing per person, 1 session | From $20 | $25 | $25 | $24 | N/A | Must ask at venue | Must ask at venue |