With unseasonally warm weather for August, it’s the perfect time to start working on your beach body at one of the many free outdoor gyms on the Northern Beaches. Before you know it, summer will be here! So check out one of these great council-run facilities. You may even run into MAFS’ star and Manly local Duncan James who has been seen working out in the outdoors – that should provide some motivation!
East Esplanade, Manly Cove
This exercise area is in a beautiful spot near Manly Yacht Club and opposite Manly Wharf. Look out over the shimmering waters of Manly Cove as you enjoy a workout.
The choice of equipment here will have you doing body pulls, chest presses, leg raises, pull downs, sit ups and step ups.
Watch the boats come and go, do some stretches, take a walk around towards the wharf and grab a coffee. So many options in this perfect spot.
All the equipment is for public use and cannot be booked for group-let sessions.
Manly Lagoon Park, Manly
You will find this exercise area at the western end of Manly Lagoon Park along the foreshore of Manly Creek.
Seven exercise stations are provided and each one includes a QR code that links users to instructional videos made by trained fitness professionals.
Suitable for all levels of fitness, you’ll find a leg press, aerobic cycle bike, elliptical trainer, step up box, sit up bench, pull up bars and roman rings.
You can access the park from Pittwater Road, opposite Keirle Park. There’s a car park and even a coffee cart for a hot or cold drink.
Walter Gors Park, Dee Why
Exercise Alley is located on Howard Avenue, right in the centre of Dee Why, opposite the handy council car park.
There’s a great range of equipment for chins ups, pull ups, push ups, stretches and a motor skills station.
There is a grassed area, a playground and picnic tables too.
This is a multitude of options around Dee Why for breakfast and a coffee after a workout and even lunch if you work out that bit later.
And you can even pick up something for dinner at the shops.
Forestville outdoor gym, Melwood Oval
Opened a few months ago, this Forestville outdoor gym is situated at the Forestville War Memorial Playing Fields and it sits between the synthetic pitches and the tennis courts at the southern end of the park, on Melwood Avenue.
The gym has equipment to suit everyone, and includes a leg press, chest press, pull down, sit up bench, leg raise and body dip station, roman rings and a ladder.
Limber up at Manly Lagoon
Lionel Watts Reserve, Belrose
This is a new outdoor gym, opened a few months ago by the council and is situated between the cricket nets and the basketball courts, on the Glen Street side of Lionel Watts playing fields.
State-of-the-art equipment includes an elliptical trainer, leg press and leg raise, chest press pull up and down bars, two box jumps, body dip station, roman rings and a ladder rack.
Take a walk down exercise alley
There are many other activities in the popular outdoor exercise area, great pathways around the park for walking, a skate park and a playground. There’s also a dog park so your pup can get a work out.
The nearby Glen Street shops provides many options for coffee and lunch.
Forestville shops are a couple of blocks away with its wide array of cafes for a post workout snack or a coffee.
Northern Beaches Council requests that everyone using the outdoor gyms wipes down the equipment after use.