Great club, top line equipment, friendly social interactions, recommend if you are local or passing through.

Full disclosure: I'm approaching 40 years old and haven't been a member of a gym in my life. That's a lie. I was a member of a rival gym a couple of years ago. When I joined up I was given an introductory personal training session in which I was reminded how unfit I was and sent packing with a detailed report on my woeful state of health. Or that's how it felt. Totally demoralising and I never went back. That was the background to my contact with Virgin Active (Bourke St.), following a new determination to get fit. It loomed in the background as I perused their site and filled in the contact form. So much so that I shared it with them when they called me back the same day. And again when I had a tour. But my experience with Virgin was nothing like what I experienced elsewhere. It was positive, inclusive, accommodating. They looked to take their cues from me and support my goals rather than impose their own standards. I could talk about the equipment (loads of it), the space (masses of it), or the range of activities (pool/spa/sauna? Check. Indoor rock climbing? Check.) I could mention the cleanliness of the venue or friendliness of the staff. But what it comes down to here is care. Is this a warehouse full of keep fit stuff or does it house a culture of care? It's the latter. Virgin Active have my ongoing business because at each stage they have proven themselves to care about who I am, where I'm at and what I'm aiming for. And that's valuable. read more

This review has been a long time coming, considering I visit nearly every weekday, but finally it is time. Having done my share of independent local gyms as I've moved suburbs over the years, a move to an inner north suburb got me thinking about trying a big name gym. A friend invited me along for a free workout one night and thus began three years and counting of fitness romance with Virgin Active. First thing to note is the size, there not one but four levels. The ground level comprises the reception area, cafe, change rooms, pool, saunas, a Power Plate room, a sleeping pod area and a rock climbing wall that spans the height of the building. Moving up to first level (which is a more of mezzanine that overlooks the ground level), there's a yoga studio, Pilates reformer studio and kinesis area. There's also a dedicated spin class room that sits somewhat halfway between the ground and first level. The second level is the main gym floor and made up of many areas. There's free weights, machines, treadmills, elliptical cross trainers, rowers, the Grid (a high intensity circuit-style area), TRXs, punching bag and a stretching area. The floor is one big open and inviting space, with the exception of a small dividing wall between the free weights and machine areas. At the time of writing, all equipment is in the process of being refreshed to the latest from Technogym and other leading suppliers. The final level is another mezzanine against the far end of the building overlooking the main floor, and houses the two group fitness studios where many of the classes take place. That was all a bit of a mouthful, but it is certainly not a small gym. Size is certainly advantageous when there is over a hundred different classes on offer throughout the week. The Les Mills range of classes form the core range, but over the years they have expanded to many in-house developed classes. All classes are booked online so there's no frantic rushes to line up at the door, though many will allow casual drop-ins if space permits. Unlimited classes are included with membership. On top of all of that, there's a team of personal trainers who offer both one-on-one as well as small group sessions for those who want to be pushed further but also for complete beginners who want some direction. Sessions are all 45 minutes long which is not too short and not too long. The personal trainers are also available to everyone for free to help draw up programs once every few months, or just simply for advice. The prices aren't the cheapest in town with weekly rates around $30 per week depending on membership options, all options (with exception of the student options) also allow access to any other Virgin Active gym in the country. You're not paying for "just a gym", you're paying for the mammoth array of classes, an experience, the fun Virgin brand and the friendly staff who really are friendly all the time. read more

Virgin Active Health Club - New cafe - Gyms Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Virgin Active basically lives and breathes what other gyms are sold on being. For fiscal reasons I had to give up my membership and - wait for it - I wish every single day I was still a member. It's all the little things. It's clean. Things work... and if they don't, they're fixed promptly. The classes aren't overcrowded because you can BOOK THEM in advance and there's only a fixed number admitted. They don't just focus on things like treadmills, weights and aerobics - you can do powerplate classes, indoor rockclimbing and martial arts. There's a lap pool, GHDs in the change rooms and exercise bikes connected to video games. Perhaps most of all the staff are just normal. Helpful, friendly... and not pushy. I so want my membership back :( read more

This place frightens me just a little bit. Perhaps it's my poor sense of self-esteem but I could never quite get comfortable here. Everyone was fit, stunning and had that "God, I love the gym!!" attitude - it was intimidating. Don't get me wrong, this is the gym of gyms and reminds me of flying first class - you half expect a uniformed woman to pop out and offer you champagne and a moist towel. The equipment is top-of-the-line and there are a variety of classes available to suit everyone's needs and fitness level - spin, pilates and in fact, there is even a ROCK-CLIMBING WALL. For some reason I prefer my current gym, it is a little less exciting but much more comfortable to be in. Plus, who wants to walk through the city after they've just sweated it out at the gym? I look like death after a good session and definitely do not want Melbourne to see me in such a state! read more

Imagine a five-star gym and you have Virgin Active. It's incredible, like no other gym I've ever seen before. It's huge, has a cafe inside, a rock-climbing wall and more machines than you can poke a barbell at. Clearly mass-marketed to the sometimes uncommitted gym-goer with it's bright colours and open layout the Virgin brand is here to entice cashed-up people from the city into recreation. And hey that's not a bad thing, think about all the money we give away to far less worthy causes than our health due to marketing and advertising. The one downfall of Virgin? The price. It's $130 sign on, and then about $120 a month. Not cheap and to make matters worse you have to pay extra for a towel which is an absolute rort. On the plus side there are no lock in contracts after the first month so you can quit anytime. If I was staying in Melbourne I would join. read more

I've been a member since Virgin Active opened in Melbourne in 2009, that pretty much speaks for itself. The equipment is top quality, it is regularly maintained and there are plenty of free weights and machines, and if you feel like tackling something different you can go for a swim, relax in the spa or climb the rock climbing wall. I like it a lot. It does have some issues, it can get really busy (after work), it lacks any personal service (unless you pay for a personal trainer), it is expensive ($120 a month), the personal trainers can take-over the place and equipment sometimes takes weeks to fix. Overall I like it, it is way better than Fitness First, but if I had a good gym closer to my house (that was less expensive than VA) I could easily be convinced to convert to a local. read more

I love this gym. The classes are great, the trainers are super friendly! I recommend Julia. Also check out the rock climbing wall, spa, sauna and plunge pool! The swimming pool is great too. I'm also a fan of the yoga and Pilates classes. read more

Virgin Active Health Club - Gym hangs! - Gyms Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

I really enjoy this gym. Tons of great equipment, large space, really clean, and not overly crowded the 4 times I've been here. This would have been 5 stars, but 3 things affected that. 1. For as big as this gym is there are only 2 flat benches (not that big of a deal). 2. There is one large area that was having group cross fit style classes which was really annoying. 3. Which is the big one, people sitting on equipment while on their phones. I actually had to say something to a couple people because it was so out of control. I would have given this place 5 stars if they put a "no phone" policy into affect. read more

Virgin Active was the first time I had ever signed up for gym membership -- now I only wish I did it sooner. Virgin Active is modern, clean, and fun. The staff here are very friendly and do everything to make you feel loved. I'm always finding myself having a chat with them when I come in. On signing up, you are assigned a relationship consultant who are so friendly. Mine has called me on several occasions to see how I was doing, and even asked if I needed a gym buddy! The facilities are extremely modern and clean. The equipment is very clean and well looked after. They have a huge range of equipment for any type of work out you wish to do. The gym also has 25m pool, sauna and spa. They have sleeping pods with Bose headphones if you need to take a break, a cafe and an area with a bunch of iMacs to jump online and tell everyone on Facebook that you're at the gym! The only downside to Virgin is that is can be hard to get into some of the classes, although, they do have over 200 classes on offer every week, it's a good idea to get the iPhone app and book your classes a month in advance. But be careful, of you miss three booked classes, you'll be banned from booking for 28 days. However, you can rock up to classes and see if they have any available spots from no shows, whether you're banned from booking or not. Definitely a great gym to join. If you're not living near the city, it could be a little inconvenient to get to - but if you've got the motivation, definitely join up! EDIT - So unfortunately, I needed to cancel my membership because I relocated. I work in very remote areas in a Fly In, Fly Out role, so sometimes it's hard to get your emails sorted and what not. What I thought would be a simple request of cancelling my membership has turned into a very drawn out, painful, chain of emails. They have a debit cycle and apparently you need to give them 3 days notice before the debit date to cancel, so I had missed that because of my being away, so I emailed my consultant and she said, not to worry, she sent an email to the girls sorting that out and they would fix it up. Well, they didn't fix it up. They keep wanted to charge me for weeks that I wasn't even at the gym, and I had moved, then a second attempt at cancelling before the deadline, I was unable to get online in time, I drove 300km to get internet service to send them an email. This whole process has been awful and I have a total of 22 emails back and forwards between me and the gym. I can't wait till this relationship is over. Never again! read more

Went there with a friend whose a member of the gym one time. The gym is enormous huge and has everything you want. Typically the place is more of a luxury than a gym, mac pc, food courts, swimming pool, rock climbing, you name. From my view if you have the money to spill on a gym membership, go for it! However, if your just looking a place to grind with the basic equipments there is much cheaper avenues elsewhere. read more

Finally a Gym I actually want to go to. I was first sold on the indoor climbing wall but then started venturing my way into the classes. The classes are what really make the experience for me as I'm a horrible self starter in the gym. V-Core, Body Pump, and RPM have had dramatic results on my body and relaxing in the aqua sauna afterwards is the perfect way to top off a good days workout. Also any Gym with an iPhone app is amazing in my books. I wish I could give 6 stars. read more

The Best. Gym. Ever. Wow..just, wow. It's actually not really a gym, it's more like a playground disguised as a fitness center. I could spend hours in there. Oh wait, they have those spaceship looking things that you can sleep in while it massages you, and showers...and a swimming pool, and yoga/pilates/crossfit classes/rock climbing andandand...days. I could spend days in there. I need this gym in my life back in LA, I really do. Virgin, you know what you're doing. *bows* read more

I like virgin active gyms when traveling abroad. The gyms are spacious, typically clean, with enough of everything to get a good workout on. The one thing o didn't like about the one in Sydney this time was the new elliptical machines which seemed more like a combo stair master and elliptical. Terrible. The one in Melbourne has the same but also has the elliptical that's a little smoother. Being that I am a rather large individual the elliptical helps decrease pressure on the knees. I get a kick out of watching folks use the relaxation pods and the exercise classes seem to garner a lot of attention. Theres a rock climbing wall for those interested and it's overall a great experience. The one thing that is a bummer is the day pass rate as there is no longer a weekly or 3 day pass as years previous. Once you get past that though it's whatever. Still my go to gym abroad. read more

Reasonable gym, but ongoing issues with equipment being broken for weeks on end and the fact that it is impossible to get free equipment any time between 5pm-7pm as everyone comes in after work. The BIG problem for me is the ridiculous situation with their fees and beuracracy. I put my membership on hold for 4 weeks as I was overseas for work. Unfortunately I came back 2 weeks early and assumed I could restart my membership. They refused and said that I could only attend the gym by paying the $15 per visit casual fee. So I offered to pay the 2 week suspension fees ($8 - exactly what they would get if I hadn't of come back early) and then they could charge me prorata for my normal membership. They refused and again said I could only attend by paying $15 per visit. So I suggested I simply cancel my membership and sign up for a new contract. They refused, and tried to charge $150 in fees. After a handful of increasingly rude emails, I simply gave up. read more

Do not join this gym under any circumstances - they make it impossible to cancel your membership, even though have signed the form and asked them to cancel they continue to charge you. When you complain they then take weeks for the "customer service manager" to reply, which during this time they charge you even more money. There are better gyms in Melbourne than this one - DO NOT JOIN!!! read more

I am a member in Bourke St Melbourne. Ever since I joined, the equipment in the gym rooms gradually deteriorated, with some of them worn out to a stage that you can't use. in the pool, I don't think it ever had a wash or water replacement. you can see body fat build up as a line across the walls of the pool. within the spa area, there were two clocks when first joined 3 months ago, now it has only one, as the other may be faulty and got taken out, no replacement for 3 weeks. outside the steam room, there are 2 showers, one has been broken down with a tape taped across the handle for a week. the male changing room is also dirty with a lot of closet doors loose and face of them are dirty. the swimwear spinner is not quite working properly either, every time need a spin, you have to bash the lid to make it work. I think the management is so slack and no one border to check all the above ever since I joined the club - it is a 3 months without improvement but deterioration. please make an inspection and correct all of the above and make us enjoy even more. read more

If I could give zero stars, I would, so I'm being generous. :) Equipment great, staff, well let's just say there is a lot of room for improvement and I've worked in and for many, many gyms. If only they wanted to improve however. Another business where it's us versus them; staff versus members. They take no responsibility for their actions and would rather cover up the problem with a band-aid than take a hard look at their actions and their responsibilities. I have four pages written on this mob about my experience there but chose not to publish it out of respect for Mr/Sir Branson, whose respect for has dwindled quite a bit after my shocking experience there. On top of that, they did not deserve my expert opinions or probably, more importantly, want them. I've spoken up the chain of command all the way to the highest manager in their group (apparently) and again no love. Excuses, lies and coverups. "The video (cameras) should show this and rest assured we'll look at it and get back to you." A week later, "We lost the video" (or perhaps there was a video which showed the opposite of what they wanted to see.) Who knows, who cares. Well, you, the public, the gym member should). On this review, I'll leave it as, "If you have nothing nice to say, then say nothing at all." Good Luck, Peace & Love, S. read more

The gym is overall ok except these guys don't observe client privacy. If you make a complaint it becomes everyone's business and it's worse than chickens in a coop. They don't take any responsibility for there actions and client service can only be rated during your sign up!! After that your on your own. I've never liked the Fitness first product but there a breath of fresh air compared to Virgin!! Plus with FF you can access gyms in most city's across oz. read more