What is the best student gym membership near me?

Choosing the best gym membership when you’re a student can be tough. Will it fit your budget? Is it open when you’re not studying or working? Can you get there easily from home or campus? Is it easy to cancel your membership if you need to? Does it have the classes or equipment you need? Any student deals or discounts? Will the ‘vibe’ be right for you?

Getting answers to these questions is important. Selecting the right student gym membership can make all the difference to whether you get good value, how often you go, or whether you show up at all.

The benefits of adding regular workouts to your routine aren’t just about improving your taha tinana (physical wellbeing). There’s also good evidence that exercise helps to balance your hormones.

women exercising at the gym

The benefits of gym memberships for students

For students in particular, there are even more reasons why fitting the gym in alongside your other commitments will pay off:

Mental health: We’ve heard from you that mental health is an important issue, right up there with climate change and the cost of living. It’s widely accepted that exercise has a positive impact on your mental health by reducing stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression. The gym is also a great opportunity to take a break from study-related pressure and focus on yourself.
Better academic performance: Regular exercise can improve your grades. Students who exercise regularly often experience increased productivity and better academic performance. Engaging in physical activity increases blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain, leading to improved concentration, memory, and mental clarity.
Improved Sleep: This is a big one. A 2016 study at Victoria University found 35% of university students are sleep deprived, and most of us will admit that we could do with better sleep habits. Going to the gym can help regulate sleep patterns, promote deeper sleep, and improve overall sleep quality.

How often should I go to the gym?

We all know someone who goes to the gym every day. But for most people, the number of times you go each week will depend on your lifestyle and your goals.

The Ministry of Health tells us we should be active every day, in as many ways as possible. For adults, that means at least two and a half hours of moderate exercise spread throughout the week. The Ministry also recommends some muscle-strengthening activities on at least two days each week.

What should I wear to the gym?

The two rules of thumb when it comes to what to wear to the gym are that your clothes should allow you to work out safely and comfortably. More important are the things you should avoid wearing to the gym, such as jewellery, clothes that are uncomfortably tight or too baggy, or worn-out shoes. It’s also a good idea to avoid clothes made of 100% cotton, as these absorb moisture and are slow to dry. Instead, look for clothing made from breathable, fast-drying fabrics.

Choosing the best student gym membership

We’ve heard from many of you that what matters most in a student gym membership are price and convenience. We’re going to break both of these down to give you a better picture of the options available out there.

Price

It’s no surprise that price is a key factor for students. You’ve told us that cost of living is the number one money worry facing students right now. With food, transport and other daily necessities becoming more expensive all the time, the words ‘affordable’ and ‘convenient’ were the most common we heard from you about why you chose your student gym membership.

In New Zealand, gym prices vary significantly. At one end of the scale, campus gym memberships are sometimes included free with student fees, or are heavily subsidised for students. Next up, budget options include City Fitness which offers memberships for $6.99 a week, while Jetts memberships start from $9.99 a week.

Mid-range gyms include the likes of Les Mills, without doubt the largest in New Zealand’s health and fitness ecosystem. Subscriptions cost between $20 to $30 per week, with student discounts available. Others in this bracket are Snap Fitness and Anytime Fitness, both of which have multiple locations around the country.

Moving up to specialist and boutique gyms can set you back considerably more. Crossfit, for example, varies by club. Joining in Wellington will set you back $45 a week if you’re a student. Boutique gyms generally don’t advertise their pricing, so if you’re looking to save money on your membership, they may not be your first choice.

But there’s also a catch to some of the cheaper gyms. Low weekly fees can come with hooks like joining fees as well as fixed-term contracts, which mean if you cancel early, you’re liable to pay a set charge or a percentage of the remainder of your contract. These can amount to hundreds of dollars, which no student wants to be hit with.

There are also minimum notice periods for cancellation to be aware of. These can be anywhere from several days to a month, depending on the gym. It’s a good idea to take the advice of Consumer NZ, which encourages people to take the time to study the Terms and Conditions of any gym membership they’re signing up for.

Convenience

When we asked you about why you chose the gym you’re currently with, being on campus or close to home was a common response. Many people say that between 10 and 30 minutes is a reasonable amount of time to spend travelling to the gym, but any more than that would be excessive. There have even been studies proving that the closer you are to your gym, the more frequently you go. Interestingly, people are prepared to travel further on Saturdays (but less on Mondays and Tuesdays).

If convenience is the most important factor to you, then campus gyms are an ideal choice. If things like the quality of machinery or the range of classes are more of a consideration, then you have a little more homework to do.

Classes, equipment and extras

Some of us prefer working out alone, while for others, group classes are a big drawcard to keep motivated. From High-Intensity Interval Training to Pilates, yoga or martial arts-based classes, there are endless options depending on your needs. Larger gyms like Les Mills have a much better range and schedule of classes compared to smaller gyms, so factor this into your decision-making, too. And be sure to check the schedules so you know whether the classes clash with your lectures or other commitments.

There are other added extras that will be deal breakers for some of you. If you’re a swimmer, you’re going to want a gym with a pool. Another one is access to multiple clubs, which is handy if you head home regularly during university holidays.

gym-classes

Best student gyms by region

Best student gyms in Auckland

Auckland, being the biggest city in the country, naturally has the widest range of options. Campus gyms include Auckland University’s Rec Centre and AUT Gym, both of which offer student membership prices for around $10 to $12 a week. Other cheap gyms in Auckland include City Fitness, Jetts, Snap Fitness, Anytime Fitness and Les Mills, which offer memberships for students for less than $30 a week.

Best student gyms in Palmerston North

Massey University’s Manawatū campus gym, sport & recreation centre offers student memberships for $8 a week. Other cheap gyms in Palmerston North include City Fitness, Snap Fitness and Jetts, as well as local gyms like HIIT Fitness, which offers memberships for $15 a week.

Best student gyms in Wellington

Victoria University has a range of student membership options starting from $5.69 a week, while Massey University Gym offers student memberships for $10 a week. Other cheap gyms in Wellington include City Fitness, Jetts, Snap Fitness, Anytime Fitness and Les Mills, all of which offer student memberships for under $30 a week.

Best student gyms in Christchurch

If you’re a University of Canterbury student, you get free membership to the campus Rec & Sport Gym when you pay your student levy. Ara Institute of Canterbury offers memberships for $10 a week. Other cheap gyms in Christchurch include City Fitness, Jetts, Snap Fitness, Anytime Fitness and Les Mills, all of which offer student memberships for under $30 a week.

Best student gyms in Dunedin

University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic students can access the University of Otago's student gymnasium, UniPol, free of charge. Other cheap gyms include Anytime Fitness, Jetts and Snap Fitness.

Ready to choose your student gym membership?

Here’s the bottom line: The best gyms for students in New Zealand are the ones that offer affordable membership fees, discounts for students, convenient locations, as well as a variety of equipment and classes if these matter to you.

That said, choosing the right gym is a personal decision, and what works for one student may not work for another. Take the time to carefully consider the price and convenience of each gym near you, and don’t be afraid to pay each of them a visit to check they have the classes, equipment or added extras you may be looking for.

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