Call it whatever you wish… Calisthenics, outdoor training, street workout, bodyweight training… No matter how you cut it up, no matter what lingo you use – training in an outdoor gym has a vast array of benefits when compared to working out in an indoor gym.
Decades worth of scientific research and common knowledge have shown that there are some major benefits including:
- Increased energy levels
- Nervous system enhancement
- Improvement of social skills
- Sun and Vitamin D exposure
- Improved mood and reduced depression
- Enhanced self-esteem
- Easy access
- ….not to mention, NO GYM MEMBERSHIP!
Before we get into more detail on that, let us delve into the 15 best outdoor gyms in central Sydney.
Now, we all have different views on what constitutes a “good gym” because we all utilise different equipment and in different ways.
The following is listed from BEST to WORST from my perception as a calisthenics athlete and coach who is equally into dynamic and static work as well as the fundamental exercises for myself and for my students.
Sydney’s Best Outdoor Gyms
- Bondi Beach Outdoor Gym
- Observatory Hill Outdoor Gym
- Clovelly Beach
- Turruwul Park
- Sydney Park
- Sydenham Park
- Australian Technology Park
- Prince Alfred
- Mark’s Park
- Queen’s Park
- Wentworth Park
- Waterloo Park
- Rushcutters Bay Park
- Bourke St Park
- Darling Harbour
1. Bondi Beach
The most famous outdoor gym Sydney has to offer, this gym is in a beautiful location which you will find at the north end of Bondi Beach, right next to the surf life-saving club.
I love this park because it has:
- Many straight bars with varying heights
- Vertical Pole (human flag, pole work)
- Twin Parallel bars with different widths between bars
- Walls at varying heights (for jumping, partial range pistol squats, pike push-ups)
- Low bars for rows
- Incline benches
- Beachside location
- Water and amenities
Going to the park as a family or group?! There are also other positives including:
- Bondi Beach
- Outdoor Pool
- Grassed areas
- Food shops and bars
- BBQ areas
- Skate park
2. Observatory Hill
Observatory Hill (OH) is also quite high on our list because… this is where most of our calisthenics classes are held!
OH is the best calisthenics gym you’ll find inside Sydney City and is located right next to The Rocks with an amazing view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, you will often see people taking bridal shots here so don’t be surprised when you see bridal parties strolling the streets.
This gym has the best of many worlds including:
- 7x pull-up bars (some with inbuilt ‘rings’)
- Parallel bars (hip height and ankle height (great for handstands))
- Multiple benches (flat and incline)
- Varying height bars for incline push-ups or pike push-ups
- Concrete wall for wall-assisted handstands etc
- Water on site and toilets close by
3. Clovelly Park
Clovelly (otherwise known as Burrows Park) was in shambles but has been rebuilt in 2020 and now commands an impressive rig. Wedged between an oval and the edge of the cliff, near Shark Point, this gym is in a prime location with some parking.
What really caught my eye about this gym is the large rig on the right-hand side of the gym which incorporates:
- Many pull-up bars with varying grips
- Multiple stall bars (ladders)
- Monkey bars
- Dip stations
It doesn’t stop there though, the gym has much more to offer including:
- Stand-alone pull-up bars
- Leg raise & dip station
- Benches
There are also a few machines for:
- Shoulder Press
- Lat Pull-down
- Elliptical walking
- Rowing
4. Turruwul Park
Turruwul Park is a great outdoor gym for many reasons, not just the fact that we run classes there multiple days per week.
We chose this location to instruct classes because it has:
- Many straight bars with varying heights
- Parallel bars
- Walls at varying heights (for jumping, partial range pistol squats, pike push-ups)
- Bars for different grips (neutral as well as pronated and supinated)
- Benches
- Plenty of parking
- Water and amenities
Going to the park as a family or group?! There are also other positives including:
- A kids playground
- An oval
- Half basketball court
- Walled area for tennis (and full tennis courts)
- Cricket nets
5. Sydney Park
Sydney Park is a great park split up into three different sections:
- Pull-up bars
- Stretching stations
- Parallel bars and floor space
One of the elements I like best about Sydney Park is the fact that it has wide pull-up bars. There are not many parks with wide bars and I like them simply due to the availability of practising dynamic movements which move your body sideways without the fear of hitting your knees on the supporting pole.
- 6x WIDE pull-up bars
- Parallel bars
- Multiple benches (flat and incline)
- Multi-height ‘step-down’ posts
- Parking (5minute walk around the oval)
6. Sydenham Park / Sydenham Green
Sydenham Park is located on the corner of Railway Road and Henry St in Sydenham. Generally a pretty quiet park; here you will find a fairly basic gym set-up, great place to train your fundamental strength, with pretty much everything you need.
Sydenham Park has a lot to offer including:
- Parallel bars
- Dip stations
- Quad set of pull-up bars
- Benches
- Floor space
Looking for lightly weighted machines? Here you will find:
- Bench press
- Leg press
- Butterfly press (chest & shoulders)
As well as the above, there is also a skate park very nearby as well as a decent-sized grassed area to kick up your feet and relax. Unfortunately, there are no amenities on site.
7. Australian Technology Park (ATP)
Directly next to the South Eveleigh Skatepark is this newly (2020) constructed outdoor gym complete with almost everything you will need. The gym itself is generally fairly quiet here but with the skatepark quite literally right next to it there can be a bit of noise at certain times of the day.
Here you will find:
- Standalone parallel bars
- Benches
- Climbing walls
- Quad set of pull-up bars at varying heights
- Parking
- Floor space
Going to the park as a family or group?! There are also other positives including:
- Coffee shops
- Skatepark
- Basketball court
- Children’s playground
8. Prince Alfred Park
Perfectly located, wedged directly between Central and Redfern Stations, here you will find Prince Alfred Park. There is a lot to see and do around here and with public transport so close by it’s a great place to easily check out by yourself or with friends.
Split into a few sections, Prince Alfred offers:
- Dip stations
- Standalone pull-up bars
- Step-down station
- Low bars (push-ups)
- Grassed areas
- Water
Going as a family or group?! Here you will also find:
- Tennis courts
- Swimming pools
- Basketball courts
- Coffee shops
9. Mark’s Park
Another beachside (or cliff side) park, Mark’s Park is located right near Mackenzies Point, wedged between Bondi Beach and Tamarama. Split into two separate locations (Mark’s Park & Gaerloch Reserve) you’ll be able to mix it up on your Bondi to Coogee walk with a bit of resistance training.
Mark’s Park:
- Twin parallel bars with different widths between bars
- Monkey bars (horizontal ladder)
- Benches
- Floor space
- Beachside location
- Amenities nearby
Gaerloch Reserve:
- Dip station
- 5ft vertical pole
- Floor space
- Benches
Going to the park as a family or group?! There are other positives including:
- Bondi to Coogee walk
- Great views
- Aboriginal rock engravings
10. Queens Park
Another park split into two sections, situated right next to the Centennial Parklands, Queen’s Park is quite large and is host to many outdoor sports.
Section 1 (corner of Darley Rd and Market St) :
- 3x pull-up bars at varying heights
- Dip station
- Step-down station
- Low bars (incline push-ups)
- Benches
- Floor space
- Grassed areas
- Amenities
Section 2:
- Tri-set of pull-up bars
- Parallel bars
- Floor space
- Multiple machines
- Grassed areas
11. Wentworth Park
The first-ever park that Maximum Potential Calisthenics operated out of, Wentworth Park is located in Glebe. You will find the gym equipment split into several small locations spread out on Wattle St in between Quarry St and William Henry St.
Wentworth Park is quite a central location and at this park, you will find the following:
Section 1:
- Stand-alone parallel bars
- Low straight bars (good for slight incline push-ups, etc)
- Flat bench
- Floor space
Section 2:
- Quad set of pull-up bars (varying heights)
- Two incline benches
- Floor space
Section 3:
- Flat bench
- Vault pole
- Three low straight bars of varying heights
- Step-down poles
- Floor space
Going to the park as a family or group?! Close by will also find:
- Coffee shops
- Broadway Shopping Centre (9min walk)
- Sydney Fish Market (8min walk)
- Soccer fields w public toilet
12. Waterloo Park
Located at the end of Pitt St, Waterloo Park is of the same build as Turruwul Park, the same branded bars but in a different setup.
Waterloo has a few great points including:
- Many straight bars with varying heights
- Stand-alone parallel bars
- Incline bench
- Flat bench
- Horizontal ladder
- Limited floor space
- Walls at varying heights (for jumping, partial range pistol squats, pike push-ups)
- Low bars for rows
Going to the park as a family or group?! There are also other positives including:
- Basketball court
- Kids playground
- Grassed areas
- Food shops and bars
13. Rushcutters Bay Park
In between Kings Cross and Darling Point you will find this nice little outdoor gym nestled in Rushcutters Bay cove.
Rushcutters is a great little park which has:
- Triple set of pull-up bars (varying heights)
- Incline benches
- Flat benches
- Floor space
- Step-down poles
- Dip bars
- Vault pole
- Low bar
- Beachside location
Going to the park as a family or group?! There are also other positives including:
- Rushcutters Bay Tennis Centre
- Kids playgrounds
- Reg Bartley Oval
- Coffee and food stores
- BBQ area
14. Bourke St Park
Situated underneath an overpass in Woolloomooloo you will find Bourke St Park on Bourke Street in between Junction Lane and Harmer Street. This is a fairly basic park that generally remains pretty quiet.
Here you will find:
- Standalone parallel bars
- Monkey bars (horizontal ladder)
- Step-down station
- Incline/Decline benches
- Low bars (incline push-ups)
- Grassed areas
- Toilets / amenities
Going to the park as a family or group?! There are also other positives including:
- Bus stop directly in front of gym
- Grassed areas
- Coffee shops
- The Domain (5min walk)
- Art Gallery of NSW (5min walk)
- Royal Botanic Gardens (10min walk)
- Food shops and bars nearby
15. Darling Harbour
One of the most centrally located spots, only one minute walk from the Chinese Garden of Friendship, this park is pretty simple. Perfect for a few pull-ups and push-ups along your walk or jog through beautiful Darling Harbour you won’t find too much in the ay of extensive equipment here.
Here you will find:
- Pull-up bars
- Flat & varying angle incline benches
- Vault pole
- Step-down station
- Vertical pole
- Dip station
- Low bar
- Water and amenities close by
Attending Darling Harbour as a family or group?! There is so much more to find including:
- Chinese Garden of Friendship
- Tumbalong park (amazingly fun for kids)
- Coffee and foodstores
- International Convention Centre
- Pubs & clubs
- Harbourside shopping mall
- Australian National Maritime Museum
- Sea Life & Sydney Aquarium
- Barangaroo
- Sydney Fish Market
- Town Hall
