Australians are passionate about sports, and with our great weather, we get to enjoy them all year round.
Whether you love watching the professionals or getting involved yourself, there’s always something happening in the world of Aussie sports. So, grab your friends, find a local team, and dive into the action!
Watching sports
Get excited, grab some mates and watch the professionals do it, either at home on the screen or live at the match.
Check out the City Guides below and start following your new favourite local team.
Sydney | Melbourne | Adelaide | Perth | Brisbane | Hobart | Darwin | Canberra
Playing sports
Joining a sporting club is a great way to get fit, meet people and be a part of the community.
Find the sport and club that’s right for you.
Your university or institution
Most universities and institutions will have a wide range of sporting teams and facilities for you to join, no matter if you are a serious sportsperson or you are new to the sport and want to learn, or you just want to play a social game.
Australian Rules Football (AFL)
Australian Football, or AFL, is the national sport of Australia played in all cities. People of all abilities can get involved through the AFL Community. Even if you are unfamiliar with the sport, you will be out there kicking goals before you know it.
Basketball
Basketball is a sport played both indoors and outdoors in Australia and is one of the most popular participation sports with hundreds of thousands of registered and social players. Basketball Australia will point you in the right direction to find your local team and competition.
Cricket
Great to play outdoors during the Summer months or indoors during Winter. Play Cricket organises players for cricket teams around the country for coaching, social matches or competitions.
Football (Soccer)
Football is rapidly growing in popularity in Australia for both men and women and is played indoors and outdoors throughout the whole year. Find your local club through My Football Club to join up to social, competitions or futsal teams.
Handball
Handball can be played on the field, beach or on the street, and it’s growing in popularity in both Australia and the world. It’s a fun, action-packed game that can be played in most states. Check out the Handball Australia website for more information.
Swimming
If you are serious about your swimming then joining a Swimming Australia club is perfect for you. There are coaches and classes to improve your form in all cities and major towns, as well as meet-ups and competitions.
Tennis
Tennis is a popular sport in Australia with tennis courts everywhere for players of all abilities. Find a trainer to practice your volleys or get involved with competitions and events at your local Tennis Australia club.
Table tennis
Table tennis is a fast-paced indoor sport and its popularity as a social sport means it is played everywhere from universities to workplaces to student accommodation facilities. Keen table tennis players can find their local club for practice and competitions with Table Tennis Australia.
Volleyball
A non-contact sport for men and women that can be played on grass, indoors or on the beach all year round. Volleyball Australia organises both beach volleyball and indoor volleyball teams, events and competitions across all major cities.
Netball
Netball is the highest team participation sport for women in Australia however mixed teams are also growing in popularity. Netball Australia arranges nationwide competitions and teams for this fun sport for all abilities.
Parkour
Parkour is movement through the urban environment at speed by using your body and mind to run, climb, jump and vault. Australian Parkour Association runs classes, workshops and other events to teach parkour to everyone regardless of fitness level, experience or ability.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art practised for both defence training and health benefits. New beginner classes with the Taoist Tai Chi Association start regularly in multiple locations in all major cities.
Other ways to stay active
If team sports aren’t your thing, consider other ways to get fit in your city. Websites like Meetup let you discover a variety of sporting events and groups, from casual soccer to dragon boating. It’s a fantastic way to stay active and make new connections.
Don’t want to join a team but still want to get more exercise? Check out our series, Getting Fit in Your City.
