Get Active in Darebin

Get Active in Darebin Summer 2023 program

Get Active in Darebin is a program of free activities aimed at increasing physical activity and wellbeing in the Darebin community, especially within under-represented groups.

All activities are free of charge for people of all ages, abilities and fitness levels, and are facilitated by a qualified and enthusiastic coaches and instructors.

Get Active in Darebin Summer 2023 is a six-week program starting on 16 January 2023 which includes a wide array of sports and leisure activities to keep the young and the young at heart, healthy and active. Check out our Summer 2023 program below or download a printable poster.

You can also keep up to date with any of our free and low cost leisure programs by following Darebin Leisure on Facebook or joining our mailing list.

Summer season program

Check out our summer season program below or download a printable poster:

Program details

Zumba

Starts 16 January and runs 6 weeks

Mondays 1pm – 2pm

Reservoir Leisure Centre - 2A Cuthbert Road, Reservoir

Zumba is a fusion of Latin and International music - dance themes that create dynamic, exciting, effective fitness system! The routines feature aerobic and fitness interval training with a combination of fast and slow rhythms that tone and sculpt the body.

Seniors Balanced Group

Starts 16 January and runs 6 weeks

Monday 2pm – 3pm

East Preston Community Centre - 7 Newton Street, Reservoir

A mixture of Yoga and Pilates, these sessions focus on chair variations of all the movements to improve balance, mobility and strength. Please bring your own mat and a strap, scarf or theraband to stretch. Chairs will be available to make the sessions more accessible for everyone.

Rainbow Gym

Starts 17 January and runs 6 weeks

Tuesday 4pm - 5pm

Reservoir Leisure Centre - 2A Cuthbert Road, Reservoir

Rainbow Gym is an opportunity for trans and gender diverse and Non-Binary (TGNB) young people aged 16 – 25 to access information and support that will help them achieve health and wellbeing goals in a gym environment. The program will be held in a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment at the Reservoir Leisure Centre.

Please get in touch with gdhealth@yourch.org.au to register your interest.

Find out more

Get into Cricket

Starts 17 January and runs 6 weeks

Tuesday 4pm – 5pm

Bill Lawry Oval - 96-98 Westgarth St, Northcote

Get into the spirit of cricket by joining the free 6-week Get Active in Darebin cricket program delivered by Northcote Cricket Club. Activities focussing on kids’ abilities use plastic bats, softer balls of different sizes, as well as blind cricket balls, so kids can participate and develop at their own pace. Everyone will learn how to bat, bowl, catch and throw and then use those skills in fast paced games to have everyone involved. All equipment will be supplied, and each participant will receive a pair of Nike Sunglasses and a hat.

Register for cricket

Get into Football

Starts 17 January and runs 6 weeks

Tuesday 5pm – 6pm

AH Capp Reserve - Halwyn Crescent, Preston

Anyone up for footy? Delivered by the Darebin Women’s Sports Club. Coached by Aasta O’Connor, former Geelong AFLW/ Darebin Falcons and Western Bulldogs premiership player, these sessions are open for all girls and gender diverse young people interested in fun and fitness with a footy in hand! Come to any or all the 6 sessions. Age 13-18 years. Registration is compulsory. Bring your friends!

Register now

Touch Football & Rugby Skills Clinics

Starts 17 January and runs 6 weeks

Tuesday 5:30pm – 6:30pm

CH Sullivan Reserve - 2 Blake Street Reservoir

Get into Rugby this summer by joining the 6-week Touch Football and Rugby Skills Clinics delivered by Northern Panthers Rugby Union Football Club. These family friendly sessions are open to ages and genders and would consist of fundamentals skill training to play and enjoy Touch Football and Ruby Union. Register by email below or just show up!

Register by email

Get into Golf

For people with all abilities

Starts 18 January and runs 6 weeks

Wednesday 10am – 11am

Bundoora Park Golf Course - 1069 Plenty Road, Reservoir

Come down to Bundoora Park to have a swing and get involved in some summer golf sessions held by a fully qualified PGA All Abilities professional, conducted in a safe, fun and inclusive environment. Our sessions are free for all participants and are open people with all abilities in the Darebin area. If you’ve thought about giving golf a go – then ‘Get into Golf’ at Bundoora Park!

Register for Get into Golf

Yoga

Starts 18 January and runs 6 weeks

Wednesday 4:30pm – 5:30pm

East Preston Community Centre - 7 Newton Street, Reservoir

Focused on stretches and poses to improve balance and flexibility. This class is specifically designed for parents and children to exercise together.

Pilates in the Park

Starts 19 January and runs 6 weeks

Thursday 9:30am – 10:30am

All Nations Park - Separation Street, Northcote

Pilates is a form of exercise which concentrates on strengthening the body with an emphasis on core strength. This helps to improve general fitness and overall well-being. Like Yoga, Pilates concentrates on posture, balance and flexibility.

Get into Soccer

Starts 19 January and runs 5 weeks (except 26 January)

Thursday 5pm – 6pm

Mayer Park - Corner Leinster Grove and Normanby Avenue, Thornbury

With the Women’s Soccer world cup just a few months away, get into soccer by joining the free program delivered by Darebin United Soccer Club. Sessions open for girls of all ages will provide a fun and welcoming environment to learn the basics or improve your skills. Come to any or all 5 sessions. Bring your friends!

Register now for soccer

Tai Chi in the Park

Starts 20 January and runs 6 weeks

Friday 9:30am – 10:30am

Penders Park - Penders Street, Thornbury

Tai Chi (Taijiquan in Chinese) is literally an internal Chinese Martial Art that has been practiced in China since the 16th Century. Join in and experience this ancient Chinese Art developed as a tranquil way of keeping fit and improving your health. Class includes breathing and meditation techniques, focus on flexibility, balance and coordination through movement. Suitable for all ages and fitness levels.

Get into Badminton

Starts 20 January and runs 6 weeks

Friday 10am – 11am

Darebin Community Sports Stadium - 857 Plenty Road, Reservoir

Get active this summer by taking part in one of the most popular sports in the world. Badminton is a fun and easy to play sport whether you are young or not so young. Free courts are available under the Get Active in Darebin Program in summer.

Places are limited and registrations are compulsory.

Register for Badminton

Get into Pickleball

Starts 20 January and runs 6 weeks

Friday 10am – 11am

Narrandjeri Stadium - 281 Darebin Road Thornbury

What is pickle ball? It’s not tennis and it’s not badminton! Did you know that pickle ball is one of the world’s fastest growing sports and is a combination of tennis, badminton and table tennis, played on a smaller sized court. A fun-filled and challenging social game – it’s a game for the young and the young at heart. Come and see what all the fuss is about!

Register for Pickleball

Get into Cycling

Starts 21 January and runs 5 weeks (except 4 February)

Saturday 8:30am – 9:30am

TW Andrews Reserve Velodrome - Corner Cuthbert & Fordham Roads, Reservoir

Learn the fundamentals of riding this summer and develop a lifelong active lifestyle. Delivered by the Preston Cycling Club at the outdoor velodrome, sessions are open for everyone interested in learning to ride or developing safe riding habits under the guidance of certified instructors.

Register for cycling

Parkrun

Starts 21 January and is ongoing

Saturday 8:00am – 9:00am

CT Barling Reserve - Plenty Road, Reservoir

A free community event coordinated entirely by volunteers where you can walk, jog or run five (5) kilometres, volunteer or just spectate and socialise

Register now for Parkrun Darebin

Get into Tennis

Starts 22 January and runs 6 weeks

Sunday 8:30am – 9:30am

Cranross Tennis Club - 151A Albert Street, Preston

Looking for a Tennis workout during the summer of tennis? Join the free 6-week Cardio Tennis program delivered by Cranross Tennis Club. Cardio Tennis is a tennis workout program catering to all fitness levels. Run by Tennis Australia Qualified coaches, these sessions will bring together a variety of cardio workouts and tennis drills, all to a high-energy soundtrack.

It doesn't matter if you're a beginner or an experienced player, your coach is trained to mix up the activities to cater for all skill and fitness levels to make it fun and challenging.

Racquets and balls will also be provided. Registration is compulsory.

Register for Get into Tennis

Free exercise with at-home workouts

If you’re on a tight budget or prefer exercising in your own time, here are some more free exercise options:

• Reservoir Leisure Centre's Facebook page offers free online fitness classes you can follow from home.
• Get Active Victoria offers a range of free online workouts, challenges and games to help you be active from home.
• YMCA YThrive home workouts include a range of online exercises for both adults and children.
• This Girl Can is a campaign that celebrates and supports Victorian women to embrace physical activity
• Active Seniors offers a range of free online class videos specifically tailored for seniors 50+.
• Fearless Movement Collective offers exercise for members of the LGBTIQ community.

Outdoor equipment

Looking to get active outdoors in our parks and build more strength, cardio and stamina? Why not try our outdoor gym equipment at a time that suits you.

Now available to a range of local Darebin parks including:

• A.H. Capp Reserve (Halwyn Crescent, Preston)
• All Nations Park (Separation St, Northcote)
• Bundoora Park (Playground Drive, Bundoora)
• C.H. Sullivan Memorial Park (Blake St, Preston)
• Edwardes Lake Park (Griffiths St, Reservoir)
• I.W. Dole Reserve (Dole Ave, Reservoir)
• J.C. Donath Reserve (Harmer St, Reservoir)
• Mayer Park (Normanby Ave, Thornbury)
• T.W. Andrews Reserve (Fordham Rd, Reservoir)
• W.R. Ruthven V.C. Reserve (Malpas Street, Preston)

Walking and running

It's important to try to exercise for at least 30 minutes per day, so why not try walking around local Darebin Parks and streets. Get your free Heart Foundation Personal Walking Plan and get moving today.

Find a walking group near you, visit the Heart Foundation website for more information to search via suburb for your closest groups to join.

For those up for more of a jog or run, why not try parkrun. A free and social community event coordinated by volunteers where you can walk, jog or run 5 kilometers. parkrun is held each Saturday at CT Barling Reserve (Plenty Rd) in Reservoir from 8-9am. Find out more about parkrun and register.

Reduced gym membership

If you’re having financial difficulties, you might be able to get a subsidised gym membership. This will give you access to Reservoir Leisure Centre from 6am to 4pm. To find out if you're eligible, please call 03 9462 4611 and enquire today.