Clip 'n Climb Williamstown

Clip 'n Climb in Williamstown North

Clip 'n Climb Williamstown is a family climbing centre in a warehouse on Maddox Road, Williamstown North, in Melbourne's inner west. It is a franchise of the Clip 'n Climb brand, so instead of bouldering or belaying each other on ropes, visitors take on brightly coloured challenge walls, each fitted with a TruBlue auto-belay that lowers climbers gently back to the floor, so nobody needs a climbing partner or any experience. Highlights include the Twister tower and the Leap of Faith, which costs a little extra.

Sessions and prices

Every visit is a 50-minute climbing session that follows a safety briefing at ten past the hour, in which staff fit harnesses and show climbers how to clip in, check their gear and come down safely. Supervising adults join the briefing for children under 12, who need an adult or a member of staff to check their harness and belay line before each climb. Climbers must be at least 3 years old and weigh no more than 130 kg. Entry is $27 for anyone aged 5 or over, adults included, and $23 for 3 and 4-year-olds, with harness hire included. Sessions often sell out, so it's worth booking online.

Parties, groups and the café

Birthday parties add a party host, food and a party room for an extra $15 per climber, and the centre takes school, scout, sports club and corporate groups, as well as after-hours private hire of the whole arena. There's an on-site café serving food and drinks, though none is allowed in the climbing arena, and the centre is alcohol-free. It opens on Friday afternoons and at weekends, and during the school holidays.