Best of the Gold Coast 2019: the region’s top 10 gyms as voted by you
The season for showing skin is fast approaching so you’ll be needing a gym to look and feel your best. After counting the votes, Best of the Gold Coast reveals the top 10 gyms in the region.
Best of Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Best of Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The season for showing skin is fast approaching so you’ll be needing a gym to look and feel your best. After counting the votes, Amber Macpherson reveals the top 10 gyms in the region.
10. Superior Strength Systems
3/7 Northward St, Upper Coomera
GOLD COAST’S BEST PERSONAL TRAINERS AS VOTED BY YOU
Think you can’t squat 100kg or powerlift your body weight? Superior Strength Systems says think again. The Upper Coomera gym encourages everyday people to push themselves to places they never thought possible. “The way that we have very intentionally structured the gym is to bring strength training and powerlifting to everyday people,” owner Sally Priest says. “Probably the main reason I’ve resonated with powerlifting is, one, you’ve got a competition day that brings purpose to your training, and two, the absolute mindset shifts. Two of the girls that competed last weekend were grandmas. I love it because you’re only competing against yourself, you’re getting a little bit better and a little bit stronger than last time.”
9. Price Fitness
3/8 Hawker St, Currumbin
When you’re getting fit beside someone, friendship naturally grows. In its 10 years of operation, Price Fitness in Currumbin has seen plenty of bonds form. “Some of them (members) have made long times mates,” owner Mathew Price says. “Mums and bubs are always hanging together. Our main focus and it has been for a long time now is community.” The gym focuses on group training and has a 24-hour facility too, welcoming members from all walks of life. “Our main focus is people being accepted, people coming to enjoy their training,” Mathew says. “We keep ourselves open, we have in-house massage therapists, they specialise in people with wheelchairs. We’re all rounders.”
SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN: $5 A MONTH FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS
8. EMF Coomera
1 Coomera Grand Drive, Upper Coomera
11 OF THE BEST GROUP FITNESS WORKOUTS ON THE COAST
EMF Coomera is the place for serious gym junkies. Trainer Dylan Field describes his gym as a performance centre for those looking to take their training to the next level. “We offer a lot more than your normal floor and cardio gym,” he says. “We’ve got the elite military Ninja Warrior set up, we’ve got a cross fit section and kickboxing and boxing section as well. We’ve got a ladies area and altitude training area. Then we also cover off a room with powerlifting — you see all the big boys go in there. It’s elite, but you’ve got people that come through and use everything. You can use the things elite athletes are using.” EMF Coomera also offers group fitness classes and has an attached creche.
7. Listen To Your Body
14/90 Markeri St, Mermaid Waters
SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN: $5 A MONTH FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS
There’s no reason to feel afraid at this gym — take owner Jacqui Anderson’s word for it. “It’s for beginners or those that haven’t trained before, people that are intimidated or nervous,” Jacqui says. “We do small group personal training, the main thing that’s different about us is we individualise everyone’s program. I think there’s lots of people out there that want to exercise and they’re probably a bit nervous and don’t know how. We’re with you every step of the way, it’s all programmed especially for you.” LTYB specialises in group fitness sessions of strength training, endurance, mobility, injury rehabilitation and high intensity workouts. “It’s a really good community feel here. Everyone’s so lovely and encouraging to each other,” Jacqui says.
6. Fitstop
5/143 Old Pacific Highway, Oxenford
THE GOLD COAST’S 13 BEST MEAL DELIVERY SERVICES
Oxenford Fitstop owner Shaun Hogan took a risk when he opened this gym 12 months ago but the leap of faith was worth it. The amputee fitness coach was going through a divorce when he uprooted and bought a gym on the Gold Coast, pouring his soul into making it a success. “My passion was to leave my home town and buy a gym and put it somewhere,” Shaun says. “I didn’t know anyone down here, me and my wife separated, I had all odds against me. It could have gone the other way, it’s all paid off.” The gym now has 150 members with some impressive names on the books, including some of the Sea World stunt crew and Nitro Circus competitors.
5. PLC Coomera
1/7 Gateway Court, Coomera
VETERAN LAUNCHES MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL ON THE GOLD COAST
PLC stands for Premium Lifestyle Club and this gym sticks to its mantra. “Exercise is just a small part — anyone can go to the gym and train, but if you’re not practising your food and mindset, you’ve just got one piece of the puzzle,” PLC co-owner Lewisk Huckstep says. “We offer the full picture of being healthy. We teach members about moving their body and training, but also good habits and routines, and create an amazing culture for people to be around.” If you’re someone that likes to lie low at the gym, this probably isn’t the place for you — be prepared for a big welcome to every sesh. “You can feel the energy before you hit the door,” Lewis says. “We yell their (the member’s) name down the driveway when we see them.”
SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN: $5 A MONTH FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS
4. Rewired Fitness
2/1-19 Pacific Hwy, Helensvale
Rewired Fitness has been a regular finalist in our best gym poll since 2017 when the family-run business took out first place. Since the owners Alex and Sofia Houldsworth tasted sweet victory that first year, they’ve been striving to be the best. “We’ve been attending courses to be better equipped in all areas of fitness,” Sofia says. “In the last 12 months, we’ve really focused on mindset. We’ve had a massive shift in trying to strengthen our mindset as role models for our members. In the next 12 months we’ve got a lot more exciting stuff happening. At the moment we have 61 classes a week that we offer, we’re extending our trading access hours. We’re almost finished our swipe card system. At the end of this week we’ll have more gym equipment.”
COAST MAFS STARS TO DUKE IT OUT FOR CHARITY
3. F45 Training
99 Broadwater Ave, Hope Island
SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN: $5 A MONTH FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS
The Gold Coast’s best gym list wouldn’t be complete without an F45 training centre. Hope Island’s functional fitness facility opened in December last year and has amassed a big following with those keen to get in shape with interval training. Co-owner Melanie Willmot says she and her husband check in with members regularly to make sure they’re on track. “We’ve catered for everyone with their individual needs — it’s just about personalising it, and finding out what goals they have,” Melanie says. “Some just want to get from week to week not eating badly, and others want to become athletes. We have pregnant women, younger kids that want to get fitter for sport, we have a 68-year-old woman. There’s no mirrors and no egos.”
2. Empire Fitness
354 Brisbane Rd, Arundel
SEVEN OF THE BEST HEALTHY FOOD CAFES ON THE GOLD COAST
Empire Fitness is an OG in the Gold Coast gym game, opening up in Arundel long before the health trend swept the country. It’s that combination of experience and a need to stay relevant that keep the members coming back and new members signing on every year. “They know we’ve been here for 20 years, they know we’re going to be here for a long time,” Empire Fitness owner Ari Hamalainen says. “With the renovation we had last year, people can be comfortable within the different sections. We’re the only gym in Queensland that’s staffed around the clock. That’s for safety, for people’s comfort, so people know that someone’s always on hand. When we opened there was four gyms in a 10k radius, now there’s 58. And we still get voted every year as one of the best so that’s pretty cool.”
1. Genfit
4/127 Lahrs Rd, Ormeau
SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN: $5 A MONTH FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS
It’s a second win for Ormeau’s Genfit — this year is two in a row the fitness centre has been crowned the region’s best gym.
In the last 12 months there’s been some major changes to Genfit. Owned by Michael Kassouh, he says the business is getting stronger all the time.
“We’ve managed to move to a new location and expand where we are, from a 300sq m to 750sq m facility at the moment,” Michael says.
“We’ve outgrown our facility. I decided to make a jump and move to a larger location and make it more purpose built into what we wanted to do in the future.
“Our gym floor we’ve doubled in size, I’ve been able to add power lift platforms, squat racks, we’ve got our functional area, our strength-based classes, pilates. Our creche is double the size of what it was.
“I know what I was missing and what I liked, and what they (members) wanted.”
The new and improved Genfit is now open 24 hours a day and is working with local schools and Gold Coast University Hospital to offer fitness mentoring programs for students.
FLASHBACK: THE GOLD COAST’S BEST GYMS OF 2018
SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN: $5 A MONTH FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS
It’s been a long journey to success for Michael — the father of three never would have imagined he’d be running a lucrative business helping people achieve their fitness goals.
“Myself, 10 years ago, I was 108 kilos, I’ve been there. So now I be me,” he says.
“Friday nights I have burger night with the staff and some members. We have Origin night with beers and pizza. We’re real, that’s what we do.
“I build relationships with our members. They’re my family. I spend more time with them probably my own wife.
“It’s a safe place, you don’t get anxious, you can talk about life and what you’re going through. My staff do it with my members. I’ve got half my members on Facebook, I see when they go on holidays and see photos of their families.
“We’re only two and a half years old, it’s getting bigger and further than Ormeau now. I’m very lucky. There’s a lot of hard work that goes into it.”
Blueberry facials, black salt coat treatments: Doggy spa named as best on the Coast
A luxurious pet spa has been named the best dog groomer on the Gold Coast, securing 21 per cent of the Bulletin reader-voted poll. See the top five.
Top five burgers on the Gold Coast named
This northern Gold Coast burger joint has been named the best in the region for the second year in a row. Find out who won.