Sunny Gymz has been part of the Whakatane community since 1985, and today it wears the title of Whakatane's largest gym. Found at 9 Peace Street on the edge of the CBD, it's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for members — a place built on the idea that healthy doesn't just happen, it's a habit. From legendary Les Mills classes and RPM spin to a huge cardio and weights area, a sauna, a smoothie bar and a super-friendly atmosphere, it's set up so coming to the gym becomes one of the best parts of your day.
The gym is owned and operated by Marty and Sian, both born and raised in the lovely Eastern Bay of Plenty. Their Sunny Gymz story began as members more than twenty years ago — Marty progressing as a competitive bodybuilder — before they stepped up in 2007 to continue the Sunny Gymz legacy. As Marty puts it: 'Sunny Gymz is more than just a gym, we are a community and a whanau. We're here to support each other, to motivate each other, to challenge each other - and to have a lot of fun along the way.'
Inside you'll find everything needed to train and get on with your day: a huge weights and cardio training floor, a dedicated 24-hour women's gym, a relaxing sauna, body scanning to track progress, showers and towel hire, and a secure kids play area so parents can train with the tamariki in tow. Sunny Gymz is also the only gym in Whakatane offering Les Mills classes — BODYBALANCE, BODYSTEP, GRIT, RPM and more — timetabled across the day to fit busy lives, with experienced personal trainers on hand for one-on-one help.
Getting started is easy: there's a range of membership options designed to suit your schedule, lifestyle and budget, plus casual visits and concession passes for visitors to the rohe, a free trial for Whakatane and Eastern Bay residents, a World Wide Workout Pass for travelling, and plenty of parking right outside.
Sunny Gymz has been part of the Whakatāne community since 1985, and today it wears the title of Whakatane's largest gym. Located at 9 Peace Street on the edge of the CBD, it's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for members — a place built on the idea that healthy doesn't just happen, it's a habit. The motto on the wall says local legends are made here, and everything from the class timetable to the smoothie bar is set up to help people keep showing up.
Behind the counter you'll find Marty and Sian, the Eastern Bay of Plenty locals who own and operate Sunny Gymz today. Their history with the gym goes back more than twenty years, when they joined as ordinary members — Marty eventually progressing as a competitive bodybuilder — before stepping up in 2007 to take over and continue the Sunny Gymz legacy. 'Sunny Gymz is more than just a gym, we are a community and a whanau,' Marty says. 'We're here to support each other, to motivate each other, to challenge each other - and to have a lot of fun along the way.'
Membership is designed to flex around real life: a range of options suited to your schedule, lifestyle and budget, from full memberships with 24-hour access to casual visits and concession passes, plus a Getting Started pathway for newcomers and a World Wide Workout Pass so your training can travel with you.
Being Whakatane's largest gym has a practical benefit: no waiting. The huge cardio and weights training area carries all the machines and strength gear you need, when you need it. There's also a dedicated women's gym — a 24-hour ladies-only space that members frequently single out for praise — plus a sauna for post-workout recovery and body scanning to track how your training is actually going.
Members come and go via secure 24-hour access, so early birds, night-shift workers and everyone in between can fit a workout in when it suits. Showers and towel hire mean you can train and get straight on with your day, and there's plenty of parking right outside the gym and along Peace Street itself.
Sunny Gymz is the only gym in Whakatāne offering Les Mills classes, billed as the ultimate mix of moves, music and life-changing fitness. Whatever your workout style, there's a class to suit: chill, stretch and strengthen with BODYBALANCE, pump up the jam with BODYSTEP, get strong with GRIT, or ride to the fittest you ever with RPM spin classes.
Classes are timetabled across the day to fit busy schedules, and the instructor team brings serious range — BODYPUMP, BODYATTACK, GRIT Strength, yoga and more, led by long-serving locals. If you'd rather have a plan to yourself, awesome personal trainers are on hand to help you reach your personal best.
Nutrition is covered too: the in-gym smoothie bar sorts pre- and post-workout fuel, and the shop stocks nutritious snacks and supplements. Parents get a break as well — a secure kids play area keeps the tamariki safely occupied while you train, part of the gym's mission to support healthy whānau.
The experienced, super-friendly team keep things fun and fresh. One member summed up the vibe in a review: 'They have friendly staff and a pleasant vibe... there is a relaxed feeling to the gym that says take your time, enjoy yourself.'
You don't need to commit to a membership to train here. Sunny Gymz warmly welcomes visitors — whether you're holidaying in the rohe, in town for work or just not ready to join — with casual visits and concession passes. Locals from Whakatāne and the wider Eastern Bay can book a free trial: a short gym tour followed by the chance to try a class, get a workout in, or simply get a feel for the place.
However long you're staying, the pitch stays the same: don't wait for tomorrow. Healthy starts here.