Fun and Fitness in Armidale

Last updated April 11, 2023

There are so many ways to stay active or enjoy an outdoor adventure in and around beautiful Armidale city… plus they offer the ideal opportunity to make new friends!

Every weeknight and weekend right across the city you will find Armidale residents enjoying a wide variety of indoor and outdoor team sports, including soccer, netball, badminton, basketball, rugby league and union, hockey, cricket, just to name a few. Why not have a go? Check out www.armidaleregional.nsw.gov.au/community/sport-and-recreation or contact Armidale Regional Council for club contacts.

Here are a few ideas just to get you started.

SportUNE

The University of New England’s state-of-the-art facilities are open to the public and include a gym with group fitness classes, climbing wall, indoor heated pool, plus indoor and outdoor courts for hire. UNE Drive, Armidale.

Armidale Sport and Rec Centre

Enjoy tenpin bowling, roller skating, laser tag and indoor sports – available for hire or join a comp! 227 Mann St, Armidale.

Oxley Wild Rivers National Park — Image credit: Visit NSW

Walking and running

Dumaresq Dam Recreational Reserve

Eight-minute drive from Armidale - 458 Dumaresq Dam Rd, Armidale.

Built at the end of the 19th Century and was Armidale’s water supply until the late 1960’s. Peaceful recreational and lap swimming spot and ideal for kayaking and canoeing, plus 2.5km walking/cycling track through eucalypt woodland around the dam. Kayaks/canoes can be hired from Armidale Outdoors.

Mt Duval loop trail

Twenty-minute drive from Armidale. With an elevation of 1,400 metres above sea level, take up the challenge and enjoy the view with this 6km loop trail. Route is also part of the popular annual community event, the Duval Dam Buster trail run.

Armidale Park Run

Every Saturday at 8am join the loyal starters at SportUNE for a 5km loop leisurely walk or run. Registration is required before your first run. Register here.

Armidale Panthers Running Group

Dangarsleigh/Dangars Falls walk (Oxley Wild Rivers National Park) – 20min drive from Armidale

From the carpark you will find a number of signposted trails of varying distance which offer fabulous views of both Dangars and Mihi Falls (depending on the season if falls are flowing).

The Blue Hole (Gara Gorge, Oxley Wild Rivers National Park) – 20min drive from Armidale

A deep waterhole formed in the Gara River, the Blue Hole is a delightful swimming, bushwalking, and bouldering spot popular with locals.

Northern Tablelands Orienteering Club

Gyms and fitness centres

Crossfit Armidale

225 Mann Street, Armidale.

F45

Armidale 3/244 Beardy St, Armidale

Motion Fitness Training

Functional fitness classes, personal training, and palates. 2/3 Southern Cross Dr, Armidale.

Altitude Fitness Armidale

Personal training, small group training and fitness classes, plus Vera Vidya Yoga studio. 171 Rusden Street, Armidale.

Armidale Yoga Studio

Strengthening the body and focusing the mind. 211 Beardy St, Armidale.

Njoy Pilates

Barre and pilates classes focusing on mindful movement. 85 Marsh St, Armidale

No Lights No Lycra

No steps to learn, just free movement to awesome music. Legacy Hall Armidale. 89 Faulkner St, Armidale

Martial Arts classes

Aikido and Japanese sword martial arts classes. PCYC Armidale. 176 Rusden St, Armidale

Cycling and mountain biking

Armidale Pine Forest - mountain biking

In the eastern part of “The Piney” there is a network of tracks open to the public, The New England Mountain Bikers also hold regular events and are a proactive and welcoming club.

Armidale Cycle Club

The club meets twice weekly for 30km road rides, plus road and gravel race action on the weekends. Note: bikes can be hired from the Armidale Bicycle Centre or Bicycle Central on Marsh

Failes Armidale Cycle Way

Enjoy a meandering walk or ride through the creek lands to the UNE to the west and Erskine St to the east.