Helping you choose the right gym franchise for you in New Zealand
There are lots of gym options out there and this can make it confusing to find the best fit for you. If you have decided that you want to join up with one of the main gym franchises, there are still things that you need to consider before you make your final decision.
Ready to join a gym? With so many options, where do you start in choosing one? A lot of people choose to sign up with one of the gym franchises but it’s not always easy to find out exactly what you get for your money. You may not know if there’s a joining fee or what classes are available, for example. We’ve gathered the information you need so you can see what each of the main gym franchises have to offer and if they fit your needs.
Featured Image Source: Instagram
| Gym | Number of gyms | Joining fee? | Cost | 24 hours? | Classes | Further information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anytime Fitness | 7 | $59; $39 for a 24 hour access card | From $14.95 per week | Yes, most locations | Spinning, cycling, Zumba, cardio, yoga, body conditioning | Full review |
| Jetts | 56 | $45 for most locations | From $8.70/week or $418/year | Yes, most locations | Functional movements, boxing & kickboxing, indoor cycling | Full review |
| Plus Fitness | 3 | $99; $49 access key fee | From $9.95/week for off peak memberships; from $31.90/fortnight for other membership options. | Yes | Varies depending on the location | Full review |
| Snap Fitness | 19 | N/a at most locations; access card fee at most locations from $49 | From $29.90 per fortnight, depending on location | Yes | HIIT, yoga, circuit classes, box fitness, bootcamp, Fithop (dance) classes | Full review |
| Les Mills | 12 | $29 | From around $25.50/week at most locations | Yes, some locations | Ccardio based, yoga based, martial arts style workout, dance based, weights based, Barre, Les Mills Tone and CXWORX, virtual classes are also an option | Full review |
| City Fitness | 25+ | N/a | From $6.99/week for basic membership (for 1 year) | Yes | Zumba, abs/core muscles, boxing and martial arts, cardio, dance, yoga, circuit training, yoga and Pilates | Full review |
No. of gyms: Seven in New Zealand and 3000+ worldwide. Joining fee: A one time joining fee of $59 and a one off fee of $39 for a 24 hour access card. Cost of membership: From $14.95 per week. Generally a 12-month minimum for standard membership but some locations offer flexi membership with a minimum of one month. 24 hours? Yes, most locations offer this. Classes: There are a few different classes on offer, including ones based on spinning, cycling, Zumba, cardio, yoga and body conditioning. Facilities: Private showers; private restrooms; 24/7 access and security; cardio equipment; free weights; weight/resistance machines; trainers and cross trainers; functional training equipment’ convenient parking (may vary between locations). Pros: 24-hour access; range of facilities; good choice of classes; flexible membership available. Cons: Cost of one time fees for joining and getting 24-hour access.
Source: Instagram1. Anytime Fitness
No. of gyms: 56 locations in New Zealand. Joining fee: Start up fee of $45 at most locations. Cost of membership: From $8.70/week or $418/year. 24 hours? Most locations have 24/7 access. Classes: Group training sessions are available. These focus on areas such as body weight, increasing strength, functional movements, boxing and kickboxing and indoor cycling. Facilities: Free Wi-Fi; cardio equipment; weight/resistance machines; lockers; private parking at most locations; private showers. Pros: 24/7 access; no cancellation fees; flexible membership available. Cons: Facilities are often quite basic and don’t include steam rooms, saunas or hairdryers.2. Jetts
No. of gyms: Three gyms in New Zealand. Joining fee: $99 joining fee on standard memberships and $49 access key fee. Cost of membership: From $9.95/week for off-peak memberships. From $31.90/fortnight for other membership options. 24-hour access? Yes. Classes: A range of classes and free fitness programmes. These vary depending on the location. Pros: Membership timehold is available if you can’t get to the gym for a while; no lock-in contracts. Cons: High joining fee.3. Plus Fitness
No. of gyms: 19 gyms in New Zealand. Joining fee: N/a at most locations but there is an access card fee at most locations (which starts at around $49). Cost of membership: From $29.90 per fortnight, depending on location. 24 hour access? Yes. Classes: The options for group classes include HIIT, yoga, circuit classes, box fitness, bootcamp and Fithop (dance) classes. Facilities: Private showers; 24/7 access; nutrition consultants available at some locations. Cardio, strength training and free weights available. Pros: No lock-in contracts and flexible memberships. Cons: One-off access card cost.4. Snap Fitness
No. of gyms: 12 locations in New Zealand. Joining fee: $29 joining fee. Cost of membership: From around $25.50/week at most locations and slightly cheaper if you take out a 24-month contract rather than a 12-month one. 24-hour access? Some locations offer 24/7 access but not all. Classes: A range of classes are available. Options include Body Attack (cardio based), Body Balance (yoga based), Body Combat (a martial arts style workout), Body Jam (dance based), Body Pump (weights based, Body Step (a cardio workout focusing on bums and thighs), Sh’Bam (dance based), Barre, Les Mills Tone and CXWORX (a Pilates-style workout). Virtual classes are also an option if you can’t attend in person. Facilities: Group fitness studios at most locations. Cardio area, weights gym and cycle studio. Sauna facilities at some locations. On-site parking and Wi-Fi at most locations. Lockers, hairdryers, and straighteners at most locations. Pros: Can pre-pay month to month on some memberships. Cons: There is a strong focus on class-based workouts, which won’t suit everyone.5. Les Mills
No. of gyms: 25+ locations in New Zealand. Joining fee: N/a. Cost of membership: From $6.99/week for basic membership (for 1 year). 24-hour access? Yes. Classes: Group fitness classes and training programmes are available. Options include classes focusing on Zumba, abs/core muscles, boxing and martial arts, cardio, dance, yoga, circuit training, yoga and Pilates. There is also a strength training class that using Barbells. Facilities: Massage chairs available during staffed hours with some memberships. 30+ pieces of equipment at each location. Pros: They offer adaptable impact classes that are aimed at new mums and the elderly, for example.6. City Fitness
Top tips before you join a gym
- Make sure you check the location of clubs. With some gym franchises, there will be lots of locations but others only have one or two locations in New Zealand. This can be really important if there aren’t any locations close to where you live or work as it can mean that you won’t get value for money from your membership. If you’re going to have to travel an hour or more to get to your nearest location, you’ll need to be seriously committed to keep at it!
- Think about what you want to get out of the gym. Are you wanting to attend classes to keep your goals on schedule or are you motivated enough to keep going with your own routines? Some gyms are more geared to the latter while others offer lots of different classes to help you vary your routine.
- Use the free trials. Lots of gyms offer short-term free trials to tempt you in. Don’t be scared to take them up on this. It’s one of the best ways for you to find out if a particular franchise offers what you need. Road testing a gym is also a great way to know if the gym will be too busy at your preferred times or if the range of equipment suits your needs.
- Make sure you can afford the weekly payments. This one may sound obvious but you can get caught out if you’re not entirely sure how much you’re paying for membership and how often you will be charged. Cancelling your contract can be costly and difficult with some franchises. Make sure you know what you’ll be paying and how easy it is to cancel before you commit yourself so there aren’t any nasty surprises.
- Freeze your account. If you’re going away for a while and won’t be going to the gym, look into whether you can freeze your account. Some gym franchises will allow you to temporarily suspend your membership but check first as this isn’t always the case.
- Sign up to a gym in person. Not all promos are advertised to new members but you may be able to take advantage of some juicy ones if you sign up in person and see what may be on offer. They may also throw in extra personal training sessions. You never know unless you ask!
