Exodus Gym – it’s a bit big.
Filed under: Cost of living, General Budgeting, Life in New Zealand, Things to do
One of the big problems I faced when we first arrived in Wellington as new ex-pats was trying to find a gym I felt comfortable in. We had both been members of a lovely health club at Fownhope in the UK – Wye Leisure, which a great gym, 2 pools, 2 saunas and 2 steam rooms. Just as we were leaving, they were renovating and expanding – and on a trip back to the UK – I was left drooling at the additions of another pool, sauna and steam room. One of the things we really loved about the place, was that you could do your workout and then you could have a nice relaxing swim, soothe your muscles in the sauna, and then collapse on the loungers around the pool and order some coffee. It was a good life.
Ideally, we were looking for something similar, because I really did become something of a gym-rat, but what kept me going was that relaxing bit at the end.
The problem was that in Wellington we couldn’t find the kind of Health Club style gym we wanted. We only found 2 gyms with a pool: Habit on Willis Street (but the pool as bit grotty and you sure as hell ain’t gonna relax next to it), and the Freyberg Pool owned by the council – but really didn’t want a huge families pool.
And the gym situation wasn’t that great for us either – the main ones were a chain called Les Mills – of which there are 2 in wellington and more around the country. They were TOO big and noisy. There was a Women Only Gym – but that doesn’t work as we both work out, and none of the smaller gyms grabbed me. Most of all – I was put off by the cost! We were paying £75 a month for a joint membership at Fownhope – New Zealand gyms were wanting about $35 a week. Each. (£120 using 2.5$:£1). And we weren’t getting as much for our money. I kinda objected to that.
So over the years we have collected some extra gym equipment (I already had some) was tried to work out at home – with very limited success.
Now we are living in the city, and the plan was to work out in the apartment’s onsite gym. But as that’s not being maintained – that didn’t really work out. The equipment is old, broken and filthy, and the pool is out of action.
But just up the road – about 5 mins slow walk – is the Exodus Gym. They were building it when we first moved here, but we were moving out to the country. And besides – still no pool. (They did tell me at the time that the problem they had with this was the council wont give planning consent for gyms to have pools cos they want to force you to use theirs!) But needs must when the pounds just keep clobbering you and you need to either deal with it or buy a whole new set of clothes (having got rid of all the “fat clothes” – I refuse to buy another set!) So off we went for a look round.
Which brings me to the headline – it’s a bit big! To be fair – the Les Mill’s Gym on Taranaki street is bigger, but exodus is not bad in terms of size. Theres 2 floors – the lower one being mainly Cardio equipment with a set of weights machines, and the upper floor being mainly the body building floor with a few Cardio machines.
While they do have a Sauna and steam room, they are in the changing rooms, so again, not somewhere I can relax with hubby after a killer workout (and our workouts are deadly!), but then with no pool anyway, we just go in, do the workout, then go home to shower and have a slap up breakfast.
You are still looking at about $35 a week each – there doesn’t seem to be any such thing here as a Joint Membership, but they do have corporate deals – so you may be able to get a cheaper deal depending on who you work for. Telecom for example!
By the way – if anyone is in Wellington and wants to try it out – I have some One-Day free passes which I’m happy to send you. Email me at avalon@avalonsguide.com with your address and I’ll send you one.
Like what Avalon has to say?
Click Here to buy Avalon's Guide or Click Here to buy the E-Book
Related posts:
Comments
Tell me what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!
Avalon’s Guide On Facebook
-
