PCYC Cessnock

An 18-metre wall in a Hunter Valley youth club

PCYC Cessnock is the Police Citizens Youth Club for Cessnock, run by the charity PCYC NSW. Its indoor climbing wall opened in 2017 and reaches 18 metres, with 23 ropes and more than 100 colour-coded climbs over overhangs and big walls, from easy routes to hard ones (club figures from 2022). Routes carry Australian grade numbers: the club's own posts show regulars on grade 18 and grade 22 climbs.

Climbing here

• Top rope: open to every level from age four, as long as climbers fit the club's harnesses and wear enclosed shoes. Under-18s need a parent or guardian to sign the acceptance of risk form.
• Lead climbing: for climbers aged 12 and over, depending on skill, after a lead induction booked in advance. Bring your own gear to be inspected or hire it at reception.
• Passes: casual entry, or a weekly direct-debit Flexi Pass for adults that also covers the skate park, weights gym, boxing gym and multi-sport courts. Juniors can buy a term pass.

Good to know

The wall opens on Tuesday to Friday afternoons and evenings and on Saturday mornings, and is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Enter from Mills Crescent. The rest of the club has an indoor skate park, an 1,100 m² gymnastics hall, a fitness and weights room, a boxing gym and an adventure play area for under-12s, and it runs school holiday programmes and birthday parties.