Camperdown Fitness

You can read the rest of the review for full details, but the executive summary is Camperdown Fitness is a great gym, has excellent staff, and has ample free parking.
Now the details. I joined CF about nine months ago because it was close to my work and offered the specific equipment I was looking for in a gym (squat rack). I purchased a year membership for about $ 900. I am not sure of the current prices, but probably still close to that. To say it was money well spent is an understatement. I have used the gym 2 – 4 times a week since then and the ROI is pretty stellar by this point.
There are several things I like.
The gym has a good male to female ratio, probably 60/​40, but isn’t a gym that people use for expanding their dating opportunities. It is great to be able to go and do my workout and not have people having long conversations or have a cruising vibe at all.
CF has great air-​conditioning as evidenced by my recent workout there mid-​day on Sydney’s hottest day on record. The air temp was great until I walked home, ack!
CF keeps the locker room clean and has good private showers as there is nothing worse than a smelly locker room and open showers.
I really like the huge amount of equipment and free weights. Only a few times have I had to wait to use the squat rack and that problem is being solved soon. Paul, the lovely owner, has just laid down $ 200,000 for heavy duty free weight room that should be open in March! Oh man, I can hardly wait. And speaking of, he also has opened a huge cross-​fit facility with several daily sessions, all included for the gym member.
CF offers lots of classes and free babysitting for those attending classes (I assume for using the gym too, not sure as my son is grown now). From what I hear of Sydney pricing for child care I think that is pretty awesome. Back in the states, I had to pay $ 5 an hour for babysitting at the local YMCA. CF offers lots of classes and I see they are well attended.
Finally, unlike some massive chain gyms, I don’t see them putting on the hard sell to sign up new members. Paul does a lot for the members and has thrown a few parties since I joined. I attended the Christmas party at the Bank Hotel and he had rented out the whole upper floor for the party and it was catered. I never had that from a U.S. gym.

GIRLS — CAMPERDOWN FITNESS HAS GHD’S IN THEIR CHANGEROOMS.
If this first sentence isn’t a game-​changer for you, then this review may be helpless. But for me, this was the little feature that had me asking «So where do I sign up?»
The gym in itself is pretty nice. One giant warehouse style room, the gym is filled with a plentiful supply of cardio machines (treadmills, X-​trainers, bikes and steps), and four spacious weights divisions dedicated to working different parts of the body — back, arms, legs and free weights. Upstairs is a stretching room and a ladies only area. Whilst I appreciate the idea of a ladies only area, this section of the gym is by far its worst. Whereas the rest of the gym is filled with light and is bouncing with music coming from the plasma screen dancing with trashy video clips (or the news, if you so choose), the ladies room is dark, dingy and quiet, with no speakers meaning that the only sound is that that manages to make its way upstairs from the downstairs speakers.
Camperdown Fitness also offers your regular gym classes (Boxing, Spin, Yoga, etc.) which are included in your membership, and the trainers are mostly pretty good. Also, whilst you take some time for yourself in a yoga class, your kids can wait in the kid’s playroom in the room next door. All the staff have always got a smile for you and seem to know when you don’t want to be approached, so there’s no fear of them coming and offering unwanted advice. In saying that, they are also helpful if you need them to be, and a few free Personal Training sessions are included in any membership.
But, all this aside, Camperdown Fitness has GHDs in the ladies change-​rooms. This means not having to go home between gym and work, gym and date, or gym and any further plans. Alternatively, it also means not having to carry your hair straightener around with you all day or risking leaving it behind.
Camperdown Gym is the kind of gym that you want to go back to. It’s clean, bright, spacious and motivating. The music isn’t as terrible as it could be, the staff are great, and you can flick through the tvs at your leisure when on the cardio machines. Giant fans blast you in summer and icy-​cold bubblers are dotted around the gym. Mirrors line every wall, so you’re able to keep check on your own form whilst watching others without getting caught out. The main negative point is that its large glass front walls are positioned directly in front of a bus stop, so every person on Parramatta Rd is watching whilst you slog it out, running and sweating, flushed and panting. But hey, they can judge all they like — at least you’re exercising.