The Zoo Health & Fitness

Positive experience: Before joining the gym, I had read some Google reviews mentioning issues with being charged after memberships had ended, or difficulties canceling memberships. So from the beginning, I was very clear that I only wanted to stay for three months, and that my membership should end on July 7. Since payments are made in advance, I shouldn’t have been charged after that date. However, I was charged again on July 8 and then two weeks later (in total 3 extra weeks charged after finishing the membership). I spoke with the owners, and they said they would contact the bank and try to fix the issue. After a few days, they refunded me for two weeks. I recommend being cautious with this — make sure to clearly communicate your intended end date and confirm everything. Aside from that, the gym itself is very clean, the machines are usually available, and the staff was friendly. Overall, it’s a nice place — just be careful with the payment side of things.

Negative experience: Don’t bother. Spend your money elsewhere. Horrible owners

Fantastic experience: Great choice of fitness classes, clean and comfortable place to workout. Friendly staff, and a creche that is convenient for those 1-2hr workout sessions.

Fantastic experience: Owner/Manager is amazing

Negative experience: Too small, not enough equipments no help. After a year of membership, I thought my contract’s over with them. Nope, membership automatically rolls over. Absolutely terrible to deal with when cancelling membership. A warning to everyone before you sign up with these people make sure you read your contract if not they will bleed your pockets dry. Do not recommend.

Fantastic experience: Love this gym! My boys have kept me motivated on coming every afternoon as they really want to go to the creche and have the best time while I work out! After school we have to stop by so they don’t get cranky. Great space and plenty of equipment to use. Maryanne killed my arms in an upper body workout. Love the whole team as it feels like a BIG family and everyone wants to see you succeed.

Fantastic experience: The Zoo is awesome! I came here for my schools fitness classes and everyone was super engaging and work outs were challenging. Zoo will definitely be the gym I would sign up for when I’m older.

Fantastic experience: Love this gym ! Wide range of well maintained equipment. Great variety of classes daily including Spin (love:hate). Friendly staff and the Gym is always clean .

Fantastic experience: I love the dance classes Zumba currently twice each week and Scream a combo of Les Mills both are really exercise in disguise the gym has everything you need PT is available if you’d like. Spin class is a stretch definitely a workout for your legs… which I need I’d like colder aircon but guess that’s what you get when you exercise

Negative experience: Classes limited and only available when there is enough people , which is rarely. Not enough room on gym floor, no space between machines. Not enough machines. Not enough mirrors. No area to do abs or floor work.

Fantastic experience: Great friendly staff. The facilities are kept clean. Great crèche. Friendly people go there, always ready to have a chat.

Fantastic experience: It’s a great gym with 24 hour access and all the classes are free. They have a crèche for the kids.

Negative experience: They closed for a month while moving location and kept charging membership fees for that whole month. I was told by staff that they had asked the direct debit company to pause the payments, however when I contacted the direct debit company, they said the gym had not asked them to do that at all. The Zoo took a month worth of membership fees from every member for a closed gym and we were never refunded.

Negative experience: READ THE REVIEWS & BEWARE OF THIS OUT OF INTEGRITY BUSINESS!

Negative experience: Haven’t been there in 6 yrs and only went once and have just got a bill for $920

Fantastic experience: Great gym, great staff and great atmosphere!

Fantastic experience: Really nice clean gym, has everything you’d need to work out, not to mention the really nice and understanding staff.

Fantastic experience: Great Gym, Great staff. always frendly and help full.

Negative experience: So many issues with the location change and the lack of disclosing this before we signed up for 12 months (moved locations after we had our membership for 2months!) then not to mention they will not reply to our emails or calls to try and cancel this membership for many many months after being lied to multiple times. Avoid like the plague.

Fantastic experience: Amazing gym and the best value in Townsville. So many inclusions and so clean and friendly.

Negative experience: Very good at the sales pitch and taking your money, no help at all, signed up promised many things, support (no one available), a card for access, only to kept being told we will sort that for you next time.... never received it, other gyms far more supportive and cheaper. Never set foot in the gym since it moved, wasn't even aware it had until I was cancelling my membership which was a nightmare itself.

Fantastic experience: Our family have been going to the zoo for years..(previous and new location).. we enjoy the clean and friendly environment. Mary and Mel are always helpful and welcoming. Both myself and my teenage daughter have enjoyed PT sessions with Mary.

Fantastic experience: Always welcoming, friendly non judgmental atmosphere! Love Mary-ann’s enthusiasm to help you achieve your goals! Rory is an excellent trainer and have thoroughly enjoyed my sessions so far with him!!

Negative experience: Despite assurances that they were not going to move location on the day we were conned into signing up to this gym they moved from Garbutt to Hermit Park. We are still being harassed by a debt collection company on a weekly basis. The gym has refused to cancel our membership and their debt collectors are threatening legal action, even though we haven't stepped foot in the gym since it moved to Hermit Park.

Fantastic experience: Been back at the zoo for a few months now. Have not been disappointed so far. The gym is very clean and the staff are amazing. Always greeting you on arrival and willing to help if needed. The classes are great and the spin class will make you keep going back again and again. There is a crèche for a small fee so that your child can be looked after while you attend the gym or classes. The PT trainers are amazing and will help you to assist with your weight loss goals and fitness. Definitely recommend going to the zoo and the location is more central and easy offside parking.

Negative experience: Initially signed up at the pervious location for $19.99/week. This was fine as the facility was great. A few months later - they announced they’d be changing location. They should have disclosed this when I signed a 12 month contract! New location is smaller and just a terrible space to work out in. So I’m locked into the paying $20 a week for a terrible gym whilst new members only had to pay $14/week. Was told I could merge my membership with my fitness passport by one of their staff hence why I signed up for it but then was denied that and spoken to in an awful manner when I went back with my card to merge it. Money hungry and absolutely terrible to deal with when cancelling/merging my membership. Do not recommend even stepping foot in this gym.

Fantastic experience: Awsome instructors care about techniques to get better results

Fantastic experience: Well the spin class is epic the classes and organisation is also epic great gym highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: Once you do this Spin class at the Zoo you won't look back eva! It’s an amazing and unique way to get incredibly fit. I love it It gives me loads of energy and Mary Zoo who is the Instructor will get you cycling for the whole 30 minute workout. You'll walk out feeling like a champion

Fantastic experience: Staff are brilliant, friendly and helpful. Love the new space.

Fantastic experience: By far the best Gym in the region, for the following reasons. Hygiene: Cleaning products available for all customers even before Covid. Creche: Work out while your child is well looked after by professional staff. Ambiance: The environment makes me feel safe and don't feel judged. Staff: Friendly, helpful and always there to assist in anyway! Look no further if you are wanting a Gym to call 'Home'!

Fantastic experience: Good location, great atmosphere, awesome staff and first class equipment. Highly recommended

Fantastic experience: Locally owned and run, Fantastic staff, beautiful new gym with state-of-the-art equipment, and amazing group fitness instructors. Definitely the place to be if you want to achieve your health and fitness goals with great support

Fantastic experience: Been coming to the Zoo for years, love it. Awesome trainers, friendly receptionists and deadly creche workers. New location on Charters Towers road is perfect, closer to home. You mob too deadly ❤ keep doing what you guys do best. 5 star ratings from me

Fantastic experience: Great gym, great staff and great atmosphere!

Fantastic experience: Positive: Professionalism

Fantastic experience: Joined The Zoo about 6 months ago with a friend and was very nervous as hadn’t been to the gym for over 6 years but very happy my decision now. Staff and instructors are amazing, all have been so supportive and helped me learn so much about fitness and achieving my weight loss goals. Ladies in the crèche are fantastic, my kids always look forward to coming in and I know they are looked after which means I can really focus on my workout. Have met some great people along the way and after attending classes and PT this week I really look forward to continuing my journey at The Zoo’s new location with the same great staff, instructors and members ❤️

Fantastic experience: Excellent staff members all supportive, encouraging and approachable. A very fun and positive environment, couldn’t be happier with my decision to join The Zoo!

Fantastic experience: Absolutely love this gym. Staff and members are friendly. Lots to offer. Womens only gym, pool, classes, creche, 24 hour access, PT and a wide variety of up-to-date equipment.

Fantastic experience: Nice location. Great genuine staff. Love the wide range and variety of weights, machines and classes. If you're interested, out of curiosity, come check it out ✌.

Positive experience: Was very tidy and great hygiene practices in place!

Fantastic experience: Positive: Communication , Professionalism , Quality

Fantastic experience: Best place on a Thursday night to play some rebound volley ball from 530pm

Negative experience: Clean facilities, friendly staff, great machines, everything you would EXPECT in a gym. However, the membership does not compare! $25/week for 6 month contract plus sign up fee and access card ontop! Not to mention another $70 for a pool access card. Or $30/month for 3 months! Also, no shelving in gym area to put things like phone, so it's in range for Bluetooth headphones. Also charged me $20 for a 1 off use, which most gyms would be more then happy to give you a trial session, especially since I came in with my father and brother. I'd love to join, but with other gyms in the area charging less and have the same facilities, friendly staff and machines, I will have to join elsewhere.

Fantastic experience: Equipment is great, lots of it so no wait time. Very clean too.

Fantastic experience: Good equipment and layout. Large workout room. Good classes

Fantastic experience: We love the Zoo , the classes, and the friendly staff. We had moved away for 7 years and found no other gym compares. This gym has everything you need. Thank you to the Zoo staff for helping me get back in shape. I will never leave again!!

Fantastic experience: Great place. So supportive and willing to help.

Fantastic experience: Recently signed up, so far so good. The staff are super friendly and welcoming. All classes are included in memberships. They have the best creche in town!!

Fantastic experience: Great gym. Heaps of space, ample classes and the staff are lovely.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic gym with great facilities, something for everybody. Probably the biggest gym i have seen, there is so much space to do whatever kind of workout you wish.

Negative experience: Money hungry. Will make you're life hell if u ever try and cancel you're membership for any reason they dont care.

Fantastic experience: Really friendly staff, convenient location, bright & open layout. I felt really comfortable when I came in.

Positive experience: It's a decent gym

Fantastic experience: Fantastic set up great gym friendly staff

Fantastic experience: Simple it’s a one stop shop for everything you need. Yes the boxing area is amazing, great range of equipment, lap pool, creache, kids swimming lessons, massage, and not overcrowded with snobs looking at themselves in the mirror. Everyone is friendly. Great banter with the PTs as well.

Fantastic experience: Great place to work out. Friendly staff and 24hr access is a good benifit

Fantastic experience: Great gym, great staff. Have been going here for years. Awesome group fitness timetable and now 24hours access available.

Negative experience: Still taking money out of my account after my year contract is up even after changing banks and not giving permission for them to direct debit out of the second account. Signed up as a student and was told I had a certain amount of time to change my mind, however when I attempted to I could not. Not worth the hassle and impossible to get out of contract.

Negative experience: They are the most difficult, overbearing and predatory gym I have ever encountered. They are money hungry and will put hurdles in front of you before you can cancel a membership. Look elsewhere. There are better, cheaper, more friendlier options available

Fantastic experience: The best gym in town

Fantastic experience: Great gym, staff and classes. Have been a member for years and have just signed the kiddies up best thing I have ever done we love taking the 7plus years classes together great bonding time. As to those who are unhappy with being in a contract you could have walked straight by, you have free will and could have allowed yourself time to read the contract to understand the terms and conditions of it. you got caught up in the moment and signed away on with no fault but your own. The pitch was great because it's an easy sale Zoo you have a great product. Locals supporting locals you go guys.

Fantastic experience: Awesome and friendly reception staff and class instructors. Classes are awesome and a flexible/intense 12 week program that you can sign up for. Personal Trainers are a little slack getting back to you for the free initial assessment but you get a free training program and assessment every 3mnths. Great equipment and 50m pool being built. Women's area in spacious and there is a abs area in addition to the massive main area. Also TKD martial arts and boxing area upstairs for classes.

Positive experience: Great

Negative experience: Very unpleasant, can't let you cancel membership, and keep charging and charging when you can't afford it shittest place ever.

Negative experience: Great gym but they only think about the money and it is impossible to cancel your membership even after your 12 month contract!!

Negative experience: Money hungry. We were approached in a shopping centre and after a very convincing pitch we signed up for a membership, later on realising that we had just signed a year contract without even being told and that it was nearly impossible to get out of. We went back less than an hour later to tell her we changed our mind and we were charged a $75 admin fee just to cancel.

Negative experience: Owner of gym took advantage of her power and charged $75 to cancel a friend and my membership despite it being an hour after signing, and most definitely within the 48 hour cooling off period. After calling the gym and speaking to someone else whom apologised on behalf of the owner as she knew it was wrong, we were told that due to her being the owner no one could override her decision, therefore the payment could not be refunded. When my friend and I signed up we were NOT told of the 12 month contract we were locked into and were not made aware of it until after the forms were signed. They are money hungry, DO NOT sign up for this gym! They do not even deserve a one star rating!

Negative experience: I have been trying since January this year to cancel the membership. First I was told they didn't receive my email. the email wasn't sufficient it needed an original signature. I sent them a letter stating I wanted it cancelled with my signature on it and have heard nothing back from them. I have contacted them on multiple occasions all written because then I have tracking of the contacts made to get confirmation they received the letter and have received nothing back.

Negative experience: It was such a hassle to cancel the membership after going in with a sigbed letter and stating i want to pay out all the fees. They claimed i still had outstanding fees. Rang them 3 times and they said there were no outstanding fees. But on the fourth they claimed there was. Also not 24hr gym.

Fantastic experience: So many classes & childcare available 7 days a week. Staff are all friendly & so helpful.

Fantastic experience: Awesome facilities and equipment! Great range of group fitness classes. Staff are very friendly and helpful!

Negative experience: I was rushing through the mall when I got cornered by a rep from zoo fitness we started talking next thing I know I was signing up cause she said membership was free and it sounded good cause i was a full time student with no work and I was thinking of getting back on track with my fitness so anyways I got home, chilled out then I read a part of the contract which stated that there was a cancellation fee of $115 and of course I called them back the same day and said I wanted to cancel my subscription/acc since they had a 48hr cool off period. I spoke to the reception and she said my account was canceled etc so I was relieved . Then 5 months later I had a letter from the debt collector saying I was owing nearly $1000 to zoo fitness . I rang zoo fitness to sort it out and apparently if I wanted to cancel I had to have it in writing and since I was bound to a 12 month contract , I had to pay them . I literally tried everything to sell the membership etc but no one wanted it and I couldn't afford a lawyer and I tried explaining to them that I was a student and can't afford to pay them or at least have the amount reduced but they were persistent in getting $ so I was stuck paying them for a whole year for services and equipment I didn't even use. So a warning to everyone before you sign up with these money hungry people make sure you read your contract if not they will bleed your pockets dry !

Negative experience: Well-equipped gym. BUT posted written notice to end contract in October and they continue to take fortnightly direct debits. When I phoned to enquire, they claim not having received letter. Would not take email written notice as satisfactory, had to be posted. THEN... continue to take three more fortnightly payments (over 6 weeks) because 28 days is just shy of the 30 day notice requirement. Many others have had identical experiences. Avoid this greedy heartless business owners like the plague.