First Look: Next Gen Canberra

Posted on 10 June, 2015

“We’re having dinner at the country club”.

It’s a phrase that I’ve heard countless times during my decades of dedication to American television and movies. Country clubs always seemed to be these slightly mysterious places where people went to dine, or play sport (usually golf or tennis), swim or socialise. But I never really thought it was an Australian concept, until I had a hard hat tour of Next Gen Canberra a couple of months ago.

Next Gen is opening up in Lyneham on 22 June, and when I got the first look it was very bare bones and still crawling with construction crew, but the potential was already mind- blowing. Now it’s nearly ready to throw open it’s doors and I suddenly understand why those American families were always heading off to the ‘country club’.

So, what exactly is it? It’s easy to throw buzzwords around like “health, leisure and lifestyle facility”, but that doesn’t quite cut it. In a town crawling with gyms, this is something…well, more.

Next Gen has a gym (with three group exercise studios, including a massive Les Mills fitness area, spin room with huge projector and a Zen space for yoga, pilates and children’s classes, and an enormous workout area with state-of-the-art Technogym Artis equipment and functional training zones), but it also has 32 tennis courts, six squash courts, two pools and a ‘rejuvenation spa’ with therapeutic spa, sauna and steam room, and tropical showers.

There’s also a restaurant and licensed bar, where you’ll be able to get everything from a Kale smoothie, schnitzel and chips to fine dining options and a business zone with computers and Wi-Fi. You can see it taking shape below.

We are a seriously active city, but we’re also very busy. So it will be interesting to see the impact that facilities like Next Gen have on the integration of ‘life’ and ‘fitness’.

Personally, as a busy working mum of two, finding time to get to the gym at a time when my kids are at school or cared for is really tricky. So I find it exciting that this is a place where the whole family can get active together – I can catch a class while the kids are at swimming lessons (rather than spending the 30 minutes sitting poolside, tapping away at my iPhone.)

Next Gen is also one of the first Canberra fitness facilities to introduce the Les Mills’ Born to Move program – group fitness classes for kids, tailored for specific age groups. They’re movement-based classes that take children from toddler age through to their teens and create positive physical habits they will keep for the rest of their lives. We’re lining up a Fitness Roadtest soon so we can tell you more about it.

There’s also a crèche and soft-play area for kids in the Members Lounge, holiday programs and party options.

While there are plenty of attractions for young singles at Next Gen, for me, the fact that there is something for every member of our family that really appeals. It’s that old adage, ‘the family that plays together, stays together’ – and I’m really looking forward to being able to do that all in one place.

This is a sponsored post from Next Gen Canberra. Read our Sponsored Post Policy if you would like more information. This article complies with the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission’s guidelines on Online Reviews.

the essentials

What: Next Gen Canberra
When: Opening 22 June 2015. Open Day Saturday 20 June.
Where: 1 Riggall Place, Lyneham
How much: Various membership packages are available
Phone: 1800 077 177
Web: www.nextgenclubs.com.au/home/canberra