Uprising is a bouldering gym, yoga studio and fitness gym all under one roof at 199 Ferry Road in Waltham, Christchurch — a former disused brewery given a second lease on life as a vibrant, purpose-designed community space. Everything has been designed, built and run by a team of Kiwi climbers and yoga teachers, and after seven years at Ferry Road the facility has become one of Australasia's largest bouldering gyms.
Bouldering — climbing artificial walls without ropes or harnesses — is the heart of the place. Uprising describes it as 'fitness in disguise': safer and simpler than traditional rock climbing, yet challenging and fun for both the muscles and the mind. The main bouldering and fitness areas are drop-in, with no bookings required, while Blocland, the specialist children's bouldering area, runs on booked sessions alongside under-5s and youth classes.
The dedicated yoga studio is guided by over a decade of experience and formal training in Ashtanga Yoga practice and philosophy, with a timetable of classes and workshops kept simple, relevant and relatable. The fully equipped gym pairs top-of-the-range Technogym cardio gear and commercial strength equipment with climbing-specific training systems: circuit and campus boards, an LED Moon Board and a huge spray wall.
When you are done, the café/bar serves locally roasted, ethically sourced Rad Roasting Co Hang 10 coffee and tap beer from Two Thumbs Brewery, with food locally sourced where possible. Sustainability runs through everything — even the café's tetrapaks are upcycled into building materials. A pro shop covers apparel and gear, groups and parties are welcome, and gift vouchers are available online.
Uprising occupies a building with a story. What was once a disused brewery on Ferry Road in Waltham has been given a second lease on life as one of Australasia's largest bouldering gyms — a vibrant, purpose-designed space where a huge climbing wall, a dedicated yoga studio, a fully equipped fitness gym, a café/bar and a pro shop all sit under one roof. Everything here has been designed, built and run by a team of Kiwi climbers and yoga teachers, and after seven years at Ferry Road the gym has become a genuine fixture of the neighbourhood.
Bouldering is climbing stripped back to its essentials: small rock formations or artificial walls, climbed without ropes or harnesses. It is safer and simpler than traditional rock climbing, which makes it an easy sport to try, but far from easy to master — Uprising calls it 'fitness in disguise', an indoor adventure activity that is challenging and fun for the muscles and the mind alike. Climbing's profile is exploding worldwide, and bouldering is one of the most popular corners of this next-generation sport.
It is also a deeply social one. You can boulder solo, bring your mates, or book in as a group — Uprising hosts work teams, sports teams and party crowds, and the facility is purpose-designed to support and encourage Canterbury's growing climbing community. For the main bouldering and fitness areas, no bookings are required at all: register your details online and you can get started as soon as you walk in. The exception is Blocland, the specialist children's bouldering area, which does ask that you book ahead.
The yoga studio is guided by more than a decade of experience and formal training in Ashtanga Yoga practice and philosophy. The approach is deliberately simple, relevant and relatable: whether you want to build a steady weekly routine or explore deeper into the tradition of yoga, there are many classes and workshops to choose from, led by friendly teachers.
The fitness gym caters to everyone from the casual workout to someone training for the Olympics. Top-of-the-range Technogym cardio gear and commercial strength and conditioning equipment share the floor with a serious line-up of climbing-specific training systems — circuit and campus boards, an LED Moon Board, and a huge spray wall. Climbers can train deliberately, while regular gym-goers get a genuinely well-equipped facility in the same visit.
All that climbing and lifting builds an appetite, and the café/bar is ready for it. Coffee comes from Rad Roasting Co's Hang 10 blend — smooth, mellow, locally roasted and ethically sourced — while the tap beer is supplied by the team's mates at Two Thumbs Brewery. Food is locally sourced where possible, and the whole operation leans into sustainability: empty tetrapaks from the café are sent to saveBOARD to be upcycled into high-performing building materials. It is a fitting ethos for a business whose own home is a recycled brewery.
Kids are well looked after, with under-5s sessions and youth classes running alongside the main gym, and the wider calendar hums along too — bouldering competitions, school-holiday deals and community events all feature, including a seventh-birthday party for the Ferry Road site. A pro shop covers apparel and gear if you need kit, and gift vouchers are available online for the climber in your life.
Uprising opens 6:30am to 10:00pm Monday to Friday and 9:00am to 8:00pm on weekends — easy to fit around work, study or a weekend mission. You will find it at 199 Ferry Road in Waltham, Christchurch. First visit? Register online before you arrive and you can be on the wall in minutes.