The Brunswick pool is probably my overall least favourite of the clutch we have in the inner north,…read morebut that's not to say I don't like it. Pluses: It's in a prime location and is close to trains, trams, bike paths and there's plenty of parking; it is awesomely deep at the deep end, like five metres, so you get this crazy kind of claustrophobia when crossing the threshold from shallow to deep; it's pretty rustic and there are decidedly fewer poseurs and weirdos than the rest, though there can be a pretty annoying teen element that gets a bit wearisome. Minuses: Too may shit-brained teenagers; more expensive than Fitzroy and shitter resources; staff culture does not seem good, lots of blank expressions and general unhelpfulness. Overall it's a great asset for the area, but it could be a lot better.

Run by the YMCA, this community fitness facility is an affordable way for the whole family to keep…read morefit and healthy. The centre boasts a fully-equipped gymnasium with free weights, toning machines, stretching area with mats, exercise bikes, treadmills, steppers, rowers...the whole shebang. Friendly, professional trainers are always around to give you fitness advice and guidance. There is also workout room for group fitness classes like Zumba, yoga and pilates, and the well-known 'Body' range of classes (Pump, Balance, Attack). If jumping around isn't your thing, then perhaps you'll prefer a bit of splashing around in the indoor and outdoor pools. Afterwards, relax those tired (and perfectly toned) muscles in the sauna and spa area. Bliss. Take note though, the centre is undergoing major renovations at the moment and therefore pool and spa facilities are currently unavailable. It will be several more months before the new centre is revealed, but if the plans I've seen are anything to go by, it will be worth the wait. The centre's temporary address is 9 Phoenix Street, Brunswick, just behind the original building. Get updates on the progress of renovations on their Facebook page.

Oh Westfield... you do get around.. the world, that is!…read more Super deceivingly large mall.... it's not upper crust mall findings, but I did find a stellar cafe! And, being a tourist, it's nice to walk the whole length (and many levels), as a purveyor of culture =) The cinema here would be a lot of fun to patronize... I enjoyed seeing the food offerings outside of the court.. Man alive...food ain't cheap in this country! shocking, although i've been warned many times. The clothing boutiques were pricey, and the styles were not commensurate to their tags. My nephew gloats over the EB Games store for his many systems of squandered, wasted hours of life with eyeballs glued to a telly. I fancied a nice cafe for a large strong, flat white after the miles of walking. Too, the meat pies at some of the more gourmet end shoppes (the ones near the butcher shoppe and the Italian gourmet store!!) caused me to salivate. Think this place spans a block...easily. Simple and straightforward.. think somewhere in nondescript middle of Kmart-land and Nordies/Sak's world.

I used to love Southland when I was younger (18) but when I was in Melbourne recently and went…read moreback, I can barely remember what the appeal was. It is a massive shopping centre, spanning two sections on either side of the road and a walkway over the highway. The walkway and section on the west section of the road was added about 15 years ago so that part is a bit nicer than the "old" section. Wiki tells me there's over 400 shops in Southland and it has a pretty good range for whatever you're looking for. But I would recommend knowing why you're going there because there's nothing worse than realising you need to go to David Jones when you're on the Kmart side. Probably the best section is the walkway as that's where there's the more upmarket clothing brands like Country Road, Witchery etc as well as Mimco and Kikki K. I'm not really a fan of the eating options at Southland - there's a food court and more restaurant-type options near the cinema. There's lots of parking for a shopping centre this size and you probably won't have too much problem getting a spot - undercover parking is the most sought-after in the summer. And it's free parking, so that's good. All up, Southland is ok - definitely wasn't the highlight of my holiday, more of a needs-must place to visit but for the selection of shops, I can't really complain. Note: we had trouble finding a centre directory and had to ask at the assistance counters. I think they have a few touch screens around the place with maps on them.

Absolutely love FightFit boxing centres (you'll find the other centre in Hyde St, Yarraville)…read more They have a super bunch of friendly and experienced trainers, who will push you to your limits... lots of boxing bags and floor space. Peak hour classes get quite full so if you can, get to an earlier class if you're not into crowds. Bring your own gloves and pads, so that you don't have to share sweat germs. The classes consist of your classic boxing style training... so warm ups consisting of rounds of skipping, star jumps, ab crunches, etc. then the gloves are on for rounds of different types of bag work plus partnering up with pad work. Guaranteed a good sweat-up by the end of the class! Also offered is crossfit style training, boxing ring, personal one-on-one training and HIT training and weights gym downstairs. A bargain in my opinion at $600 for unlimited classes for six months. Summer guns, here we come!

This is a MASSIVE gym, 4 warehouses all joined up full of sweaty goodness…read more I first came to Derrimut to visit Dr Mario the amazing Chiropractor on a friends recommendation and after heading here regularly for just that I finally joined up so I could use all the facilities. The membership is amazingly affordable and gives you access to all the Derrimut Gyms as well as access 24 / 7 to a staffed gym. The staff are friendly and helpful. There is a cafe where you can catch up before or after a session and grab a drink or bite to eat of the healthy and tasty menu, a huge supplement store on site so all your pre and post workout needs are covered. The equipment range is huge and well maintained, as well as a variety of group exercise classes running early and late including Marital arts, Les Mills, Spin etc.

Okay this is not an intimate affair! The place is absolutely huge. It is like 3 aircraft hangers…read moreconverted into a gym. There is a cafe, clothes shop, supplements shop as well as the gym. I give it four stars for their wonderful group fitness timetable where more than one class runs at a time and the instructors are very funky. $5 casual visits and staffed 24/7 makes it a safe alternative to my usual gym for something different.

Bayfit Leisure is a gym complete with two large swimming pools. It has been renovated / remodelled…read morein the past couple of years, so has a nice, modern interior. The main gym room is large, with heaps of cardio equipment (I'd guess about 20 treadmills, a similar number of bikes / cross-trainers), stacks of pin-loaded equipment and a smaller free-weights area. It has a smallish stretching room adjoining the main gym, modern locker / change rooms with showers. Gym instructors are friendly and helpful. The pools are impressive, all indoor but with a lot of glass on either end of the building to provide plenty of natural light. The main pool is a 50m lap pool, the other is shallower and more suited to kids. There is a small steam room and spa / hot tub for gym users. The gym also includes a large aerobic room that hosts many spin and Les Mill's classes throughout the week. Cost-wise, you're looking at about $900 per year without special offers / discounts, which come along every so often. Overall I have been very impressed by this gym, one of the best in the area IMHO.

Can't sleep? Why not go to the gym to work up that desire for a nap!…read more Found opposite Barkly Square - known for its concentration of deep fried foodery places - Doherty's Gym can often be found with a muscle-bound hulk-esque person moving through the doors. Because of this it took me quite a while to actually go in. a few laps past the windows to look in to see the equipment they have available and the membership prices. One night I couldn't sleep - one of the hot sticky nights that sleep just doesn't want to come - so I thought to myself that now is the best possible time to go and try it out. The gym layout is styled on those west coast US gyms you see in the movies. With more equipment than you can imagine - weight training, cardio fitness, boxing and more - I just wanted to run on the treadmill for a few hours. Afterwards the fully stocked Pro Shop for all your training supplement requirements,and what's better is the coffee shop found even closer than you'd expect. Now I guess I'll never sleep. The membership is not the cheapest if you're a "every now and then" kinda gym user but if it's a 4-6 day a week thing this is definitely for you.

Amazing gym. -it has all the equipment you need…read more -amazing staff and services. - it has a community/ family vibe to it. - direct debit is only $15 a week. -open 24 hours a day....every day. -has a room dedicated to boxing. Need more? Go in, check it out and say hello.

Boutique gyms,there are a lot springing up around the suburbs…read more My partner recently joined a new 24-hour gym just up the road and after raving about how fantastic it is, he convinced me to come with him and have a look around. I have to admit, it is really nice. Brand new cardio and weight machines, including a fair few cross trainers and treadmills; beautiful and clean bathrooms with hairdryers, and a high tech security system are just some of the features that Anytime Fitness boasts. We had a chat to one of the personal trainers about the benefits and limitations of joining a 24-hour gym and he managed to convince me that it was a really useful and practical way to get in your exercise if you are strapped for time. One particular example he gave us was about a new mother who woke up every morning at 3am because her baby was crying. Instead of lying around in bed or getting frustrated, she would come to the gym with her daughter and do a workout instead. The other benefit I thought worth mentioning was the security system. People training can wear a sort of necklace with a button that once pushed sends out an emergency call to the police and a private security firm.

Moved to a new location to a larger premise finally. Old place was a bit tight but new space is…read moreawesome and spacious... if you can find it. Still the same friendly crew focused on cleanliness. Best strength training facility across neighbouring suburbs. It's a hidden gem!

The Fitness Lab is a cool little boutique style gym. It's extremely small and has very limited…read moreequipment, so not for any gym junkies, but good for anyone just wanting something for general health & well-being. They seem to heavily rely on personal training - and for that the place is great. As I kinda need my equipment and a bit of space, this gym isn't for me, but it's perfect for anyone wanting a PT or just to do some general exercise. The staff here are extremely friendly and welcoming - because of this I decided to join for a Month. That's the other great thing - NO CONTRACTS, you can just pay Month-to-Month, and it's CHEAP - $55 per Month. Definitely a winner.. I hope this place does well