Southern hemisphere’s biggest-ever bouldering gym opens in Sydney

Southern hemisphere’s largest bouldering gym opens in Sydney

With interest in sport climbing on the rise, a newly opened facility in the inner Sydney suburb of Annandale features the southern hemisphere’s biggest-ever bouldering gym.

Offering over 1000 metre² of rock climbing wall (with a 2D curve and 40-degree system wall), the Nomad Bouldering Gym presents an example of how those with an interest in recreational climbing are freeing themselves from ropes and belaying, and making the most of the ‘short-wall’ version of the sport.

With participants able to free-fall from just a few meters onto thickly padded mats at the base of each climbing surface, the Nomad Bouldering Gym offers the ‘Earth’ (a giant surmountable globe with 360-degree climbs), a long, arched feature and an impressive variety of styles and difficulties.

In all, the gym has 11,000 holds with climbing experiences varied with a section changed each week.

The light filled facility also offers table tennis, retro arcade game, a well-stocked climbing store, a corporate meeting space, a gym, yoga workshops and a café.

Sydney hasn’t previously offered had a huge range of bouldering options - just Bloc Climbing in North Parramatta and the 9 Degrees Climbing Gym at the Sydney Corporate Park in Alexandria (with a second 9 Degrees facility set to open in Parramatta in the coming months).

However, some commentators expect facilities such as Nomad to thrive as a result of sport climbing becoming an Olympic sport and as Australia’s climbing scene undergoes a generational shift with many climbers preferring to stay indoors at purpose-made gyms than to head outdoors.

Nigel Benton, Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management.

For more information go to www.nomadbouldering.com

Image courtesy of Nomad Bouldering Gym.

About the author

Nigel Benton

Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management

Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.

With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.

Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.

In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.

He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).

In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.

As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.

Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.

His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.

His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well, until February 2025 when she left us, caring a little pug named Stella.

Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.