Wellness
From gentle yoga by Lake Wendouree to early morning HIIT in Wendouree West, here's how Ballarat locals are getting active at council venues—when, where and what it costs.
Our reporters are based in Ballarat and cover local government, business and community. We are independently owned and editorially independent. Read our editorial standards →
Ballarat residents are turning out in record numbers to group exercise classes at council-run venues, with class sizes at the Ballarat Aquatic & Lifestyle Centre regularly reaching capacity since the start of winter.
The upsurge comes as the city grapples with growing concerns over teen wellbeing, screen time, and sedentary lifestyles—particularly after a recent spate of youth crime in Melbourne has parents and health advocates in Ballarat pushing for safe, community-based activities. Local physiotherapist Annabel King said she’s directed a 30% increase in referrals to group activity programs over the past year, as people look for social motivation and structured routines to boost both mental and physical health.
Council-run venues are spreading these sessions across Ballarat. The Ballarat Aquatic & Lifestyle Centre (Gillies Street North, Lake Gardens) leads the charge, running more than 50 classes a week. There’s water aerobics for joint-friendly cardio, Pilates, Body Pump, and popular over-55s sessions. In Sebastopol, the Ballarat Sports & Events Centre on Norman Street offers early morning boxing circuits, teen Zumba on Tuesdays at 5:15pm, and strength-building programs for beginners. Council’s own "Active Ages" calendar, available on the City of Ballarat website, lists new Tai Chi and gentle mobility classes popping up at Wendouree West Community Hub and Brown Hill’s Community Hall.
Costs are kept moderate thanks to council subsidies—a 10-session pass at Ballarat Aquatic & Lifestyle Centre costs $89 for adults, or $7 per casual visit. Pensioners pay just $5.50 with concession. Some programs (like the "Move2Music" seniors’ dance class at Eastwood Leisure Complex on Thompson Street) are free for Ballarat Community Health members.
The City of Ballarat’s June 2026 community report revealed that 3,125 people attended a group fitness class at a council venue in May alone, a jump of 18% on May 2025. Memberships at the Aquatic & Lifestyle Centre topped 4,500 in June, the highest on record since its 2017 refurbishment. According to VicHealth’s State Health Indicators, 38% of Ballarat adults were classed as insufficiently active last year, so council officials see these numbers as a sign that community facilities are helping to close the activity gap.
For those interested in trying a class, booking is advised, especially at popular times (weekday mornings and after 5pm). Details and timetables are updated weekly on the myBallarat portal. Staff recommend new participants arrive early for an orientation, and note that most venues provide loan equipment—just bring a water bottle and mat if you have one.
For more information, visit ballarataquaticcentre.com or drop into your closest council leisure centre for a printed schedule. Change room refurbishments are ongoing at the Aquatic & Lifestyle Centre through September, so allow extra time if visiting during peak hours. For individual health questions, Ballarat Health Services offers drop-in sessions with an exercise physiologist every Wednesday afternoon at Sturt Street Clinic.
Spread the word
Your reaction
About this article
Published by The Daily Ballarat
Daily brief
Free, in your inbox before 7am. Weekdays.
More from Ballarat
