Cliffhanger logo: a hand gripping a white C on a green circle

Cliffhanger Climbing Gym

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

  • Top Rope
  • Lead Climbing
  • Bouldering
  • Kids Wall
4.7from 301 reviewsDay pass $25
Visit WebsiteDirections
Altona North rope gym, climbing since 1993, with Australia's tallest indoor wall at 19 m, 30 top-rope walls, 24 lead lines and a Moon Board, plus a youth program, yoga and walk-in day passes.

About

Melbourne's original rope gym

Cliffhanger has been a climbing gym since 1993, making it one of Australia's first, and it is home to the country's tallest indoor climbing wall at 19 metres. It sits inside the Westgate Sports Centre on Dohertys Road in Altona North, just off the West Gate Freeway and about 18 minutes' drive from the CBD, with plenty of parking on site and the 414 Laverton–Geelong bus nearby. In 2022 the walls were upgraded, the lead facilities improved and the hold selection expanded.

Climbing and training

  • 30 top-rope walls and 24 lead lines, with more than 100 routes from grade 6 to 29+ and new climbs every week. There are no auto-belays, so you'll need a partner.
  • Leading needs a free lead assessment; GriGri+ devices are lent free, and lead ropes and harnesses can be hired.
  • A training area with a 2016 Moon Board, a spray wall and a circuit wall, a bouldering area, and hangboards, bars, dumbbells and stretching space upstairs.

Visiting

No booking is needed: sign the waiver online, hire a harness and shoes at reception and an instructor will run through a safety briefing. Anyone from two years old can climb, but under-13s can't belay, so they need someone 13 or older on the rope, and belayers who aren't climbing get in free. Coffee is served at reception, there are snacks and a lounge with couches, and a café serves the wider sports centre. A private party room upstairs looks over the walls from a mezzanine.

Programmes

The Youth Program runs weekly classes for ages 6 to 18, and there are lead courses, Saturday morning yoga, school holiday programmes and a Chalk & Chat social every Wednesday evening for finding a belay partner.

Prices

As we last found them. Prices change, so check the wall's website before you go.

Day pass
$25

- Adult with harness: $32; with harness and shoes: $39

- Under 18: $22 ($29 with harness, $36 with harness and shoes)

- Under 13: $19 ($26 with harness, $33 with harness and shoes)

- Belaying only: free entry, with your own harness or one hired for $7

- A day pass is valid until close; no booking needed, but arrive at least 1.5 hours before closing

Membership
$155a month

- Billed monthly, with no sign-up fee and no lock-in; pause for a month or cancel any time

- With gear hire included: $175 a month

- Weekly: $35.76 a week plus a $50 sign-up fee

- Annual: $1,495 upfront

- Members get 15% off shop items and courses, a free visit each month for a friend new to Cliffhanger, and 10 visits to Climb West Melbourne for $170

- Under-18 members join the Youth Program at no extra cost; Development and Advanced climbers can take both weekly classes for $195 a month

- Eligible families can put a $200 Get Active Kids voucher towards a child's membership

Classes and courses

In the classes library at Cliffhanger Climbing Gym

As the wall lists them. Times and prices change, so check with the wall before you book.

  • InductionAges 2+

    First-Visit Safety Briefing

    On arrival, any time in opening hours (at least 1.5 hours before close)Beginners

    Free with entry

    Instructors take every new climber through a safety briefing and show you how to climb and belay before you start. Climbers under 13 can't belay, so bring someone 13 or over to hold the rope.

  • InductionAges 11+

    Lead Assessment

    Booked online: weekday slots from 16:00, weekend slots from 13:0045 minutesImprovers, Advanced

    Free to book

    Experienced lead climbers must pass this assessment before leading at Cliffhanger; come as a pair. From 13 for lead climbing and belaying, or from 11 to be assessed to lead only, with a parent or guardian present.

  • Lead course

    Lead Course

    Weekend mornings 08:30–11:00, on dates posted on the booking portal2 sessions of 2.5 hoursImprovers

    One course over two mornings that teaches the basics of lead climbing and lead belaying indoors, and everything you need to go on to Cliffhanger's lead assessment.

  • ClubAges up to 18

    Youth Program: Advanced

    Mondays or Fridays 18:00–20:002 hours a weekAdvanced

    $155 a month

    The top group of the Youth Program, by invitation only, for young climbers ready to push their grades.

  • ClubAges 11–18

    Youth Program: Development

    Mondays or Fridays 16:30–18:302 hours a weekBeginners, Improvers

    $155 a month

    Weekly coached sessions for young climbers to learn the ropes and develop their technique, working on individual goals, with free climbing outside class times as part of the membership.

  • ClubAges 6–11

    Youth Program: Under 11s

    Tuesdays 16:00–18:002 hours a weekBeginners, Improvers

    $155 a month

    A weekly coached class where young children learn to climb and build their skills on the tall walls, with free climbing outside class times as part of the membership. Places are limited, so join the waitlist.

Upcoming events

In the events calendar at Cliffhanger Climbing Gym

As the wall announced them. Plans change, so check with the wall before you go.

  • Social

    Fright Night

    The gym's annual lights-out Halloween night: climbing in the dark, with costumes encouraged, awards for the best dressed and pizza for everyone.

Key Features

Food & Drink

  • Cafe
  • Hot Drinks
  • Snacks

Types of Climbing

  • Rope (any)
  • Top Rope
  • Lead Climbing
  • Bouldering (any)
  • Kids Wall

Climbing Training

  • Training Walls (any)
  • Moon Board
  • Spray Wall
  • Hangboard

Gym Facilities

  • Gym (any)
  • Free Weights

Access

  • Memberships
  • Single Day Passes

Equipment Hire

  • Shoe Hire
  • Harness Hire

Other Amenities

  • Merchandise Shop
  • Meeting Room
  • Spectator Seating

Classes & Programs

  • Classes (any)
  • Beginner Classes
  • Advanced Classes
  • Kids Classes
  • Local Competitions
  • Yoga Classes
  • Team Building

Venue Type

  • Climbing Gym

What climbers say about Cliffhanger Climbing Gym

4.7 out of 5from 301 reviews on Google

“A great climbing gym with super friendly staff. … There’s a great range of grades and the staff are always happy to help with technique.”

Google review,

“Social on Wednesday if you don't have a partner to climb with. … Dedicated bouldering area with super soft covers on the floor. It doesn't get busy.”

Google review,

Ratings as each site showed them in October 2026.

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Beta videos

How climbers have done climbs at Cliffhanger Climbing Gym, played from where they were posted. Walls reset their climbs every few weeks, so check when each was posted.

View all 5 videos at Cliffhanger Climbing Gym

  • Three new lead routes on Templar left

    • Lead
    • Ungraded

    By @cliffhangerclimbing on Instagram ·

  • The Progressor route at its starting grade of 17

    • Top rope
    • 17 · Intermediate

    By @cliffhangerclimbing on Instagram ·

  • Yellow 28 on the Templar lead wall

    • Lead
    • 28 · Expert

    By @cliffhangerclimbing on Instagram ·

  • Vic State Youth Lead Titles 2026: U15, U17 and U19 finals

    • Lead
    • Ungraded

    By Sport Climbing Victoria on YouTube ·

  • New pink route on the Project Wall

    • Top rope
    • Ungraded

    By @cliffhangerclimbing on Instagram ·

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