MOVE DIFFERENT

Gone are the days of cookie-cutter workouts and treadmills on repeat. Around the Northern Rivers and Gold Coast, a wave of next-gen fitness spaces is rising — each with its own unique spin on getting strong, sweating smart, and supporting your whole self.

WRITTEN BY DONNA RISHTON-POTTER

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to fitness. Whether you’re drawn to creative movement, crave cutting-edge equipment, or seek a community with purpose, these five standout spaces are redefining the way we move, sweat, and recover.

Brotherhood Gym

REDEFINING MASCULINITY

Brotherhood isn’t your average gym – it’s a movement reshaping what it means to be fit, healthy and masculine in the modern world. With a mission to “Raise the Standard of Man,” this all-male fitness space offers a radically different take on strength training, one that prioritises emotional resilience and mental wellness as much as physical endurance.

Here, fitness is framed as a full-spectrum experience. Workouts are tough, but the environment is ego-free, supportive, and grounded in purpose. Brotherhood offers more than just training sessions; think post-workout breathwork, meaningful group connection, and an environment designed for holistic growth. The combination of indoor and outdoor training connects men to nature within all elements, alongside facilities including a spacious gym, ice bath, sauna, in-house physio, barber and BBQ area — every detail reinforcing the message: show up for yourself and others.

Led by Director Guy Anderson, who trains side-by-side with members, Brotherhood fosters a powerful sense of camaraderie. It’s not just about lifting heavier — it’s about showing up, growing stronger, and becoming the best version of yourself in every way. Whether you’re lifting weights or lifting each other, this is fitness with a difference.

brotherhoodgym.com.au | Gold Coast

Social Remedy

WELLNESS MEETS RECOVERY

A social wellness club built on the belief that fitness isn’t just physical — now that’s different. At Social Remedy Byron Bay, it’s all about nurturing your mind, body, and spirit in a culture grounded in authenticity, inclusiveness, and community connection.

Open 24/7, this contemporary space features a state-of-the-art gym, tailored personal training sessions, and a diverse lineup of classes — from yoga and Pilates to strength and breathwork.

But what truly sets it apart is the Recovery Lounge: ice baths, Finnish and infrared saunas, cryotherapy, IV drips, compression boots, and even a hyperbaric chamber. You can also personalise your post-workout recovery with curated treatment combos — like Fire and Ice, an invigorating infrared and cryo pairing, or Remedy Reset, designed to calm the nervous system and finish with a massage.

Train hard, recover deeply, and feel supported every step of the way. With flexible memberships, Social Remedy is as accessible as it is elevated.

socialremedy.com.au | Byron Bay

B3 Brunswick Heads

HOLISTIC PERFORMANCE

Movement meets intention at B3 Brunswick Heads. This boutique studio takes a refreshing, holistic approach to fitness — where strength, mobility, and breathwork are seamlessly combined to support both physical performance and mental wellbeing. Here, it’s not just about sweat — it’s about synergy.

With over 75 weekly classes — from strength and conditioning to yoga and guided breathwork — the schedule is deliberately flexible, offering both morning and evening sessions to suit real-life routines, not rigid fitness plans.

Each session is led by two expert coaches and a dedicated breathwork instructor, ensuring personalised guidance and a program designed for progress without burnout.

Pioneering a new way to train, B3 is the first gym in Australia to integrate breathwork, functional training, and contrast therapy (including ice baths) into one complete offering — all designed to help you live longer and feel better. A dedicated recovery zone with saunas, contrast therapy, and plunge pools enhances your post-session reset.

Add to that a warm, community-driven culture and flexible membership options, and you’ve found a space where transformation is about more than muscle.

b3.fitness | Brunswick Heads

STRONG Pilates Byron Bay

HYBRID STRENGTH TRAINING

Welcome to the future of Pilates. If the goal is growth, gains and getting strong, then STRONG Pilates Byron Bay is where to go for a high-performance, low-impact training experience that’s unlike anything else on offer. This revolutionary workout fuses Pilates-inspired strength movements with heart-pumping cardio intervals, thanks to the exclusive Rowformer and Bikeformer machines – part reformer, part rower or bike – designed to challenge your body without stressing your joints.

Brought to Byron by local personal training sisters Sami and Elle Mahoney (@peachyfitbyronbay), STRONG serves up athlete-designed programming across five class styles – from STRONG Body’s full-body flows and STRONG Loaded with heavy dumbbells and springs, to Saturday’s high-voltage STRONG Sweat. Every session is scalable – you control the resistance, tempo, and intensity – making it truly accessible for every fitness level.

With expert coaching by the girls themselves, alongside co-owner and studio manager Audrey Flemming and business partner Daniel McLean, this locally owned and operated fitness family deliver more than just a workout. STRONG’s cutting-edge reverse spring technology, combined with an uplifting community vibe, promotes longevity, supports sustainable training, and brings the kind of feel-good endorphins that keep you coming back for more.

strongpilates.com.au/location/byron-bay | Byron Bay

Star Pole Studio

EMPOWERED MOVEMENT

Think fitness, but make it fierce, flexible and fabulously fun. At Star Pole Studio in Byron Bay’s Industrial Estate, pole dancing becomes a dynamic fusion of strength training, cardio, flexibility – and unapologetic self-expression.

Founded by Raha Star, an international pole performer with 16 years’ experience and a trail of titles under her belt, this custom-built studio is all about empowerment. Upstairs, 11 poles line the training space, where group and private lessons run throughout the week. Downstairs, sister studio NRG, brings the heat with hip-hop, Caribbean mashup, and sexy heels classes that’ll have you moving like no one's watching (but they’ll definitely want to).

Star Pole is also a go-to for events – think hens parties, birthdays and corporate team bonding, with a side of sass. Whether you're looking to tone up, loosen up, or simply feel fabulous in your skin, this studio celebrates fitness as something joyful and deeply personal. It’s not about perfecting a routine – it’s about owning your power.

starpolestudiobyronbay.com | Byron Bay