Gold Coast Council Rolls Out Free Senior Fitness Programs to Boost Community Wellbeing

Gold Coast City Council has kicked off a new round of free fitness programs for over-60s after strong demand last year saw attendance numbers more than double at local parks and community centres.

The latest expansion comes as health experts warn prolonged isolation and inactivity during the southern winter months are taking a toll on senior wellbeing. According to Queensland Health, falls, weight gain and loneliness are all rising in residents aged 60-plus across the state. With more Australians living well into their 80s, councils are feeling the pressure to keep public health costs down by getting older residents moving.

Pilates at Pizzey Park, Power Walking at Palm Beach

On Tuesday mornings, Pizzey Park in Miami hosts a free seniors’ Pilates class, mats provided, with a view of the oval and kookaburras for company. At the northern end, Labrador Community Centre sees more than 40 regulars meet on Thursdays for tai chi, while Palm Beach hosts guided Nordic walking groups along Jefferson Lane. All sessions are free to residents thanks to City of Gold Coast’s Active & Healthy Seniors program, which now runs over 25 classes a week from Runaway Bay to Tugun.

"We want to make it as easy as possible to meet new friends, get moving, and stay healthy – without anyone worrying about money or fitness level," said a council organizer during a visit to Broadbeach's weekly gentle aqua aerobics at Gold Coast Aquatic Centre. Information about all sessions—ranging from gentle yoga at Robina Community Centre to beach volleyball skills workshops at Kurrawa Beach—appears on the Council's online Active & Healthy events directory each month.

Rising Demand and Local Impact

Figures released by City of Gold Coast show a 43% spike in senior event registrations since last winter. More than 3,800 Gold Coasters over 60 took part in Active & Healthy group classes between July 2025 and June 2026. The program’s costs are fully covered by council funds ringfenced from this year’s $79.6 million community services budget, so registration is free for all permanent residents, regardless of suburb or concession card status.

The most popular sessions remain water-based, but organisers say grass-roots partnerships are starting to pay dividends: Southport’s walking football competition, which started with just one team at Owen Park, now fields three sides exclusively for the over-65s, while last Wednesday’s free seniors zumba class at Ashmore PCYC had to turn latecomers away when attendance exceeded capacity for the fifth time this month.

How to Join and What’s Next

Any Gold Coast resident aged 60 or over can register online at goldcoast.qld.gov.au/activehealthy, by phone, or by turning up early to their chosen class (spaces are capped to avoid overcrowding). Organisers recommend checking the schedule each Sunday night, as class venues sometimes change due to weather. Some activities, such as bushwalks in Nerang National Park and Lamington’s Forest Fitness circuit, require advance booking for safety.

For seniors unsure where to start, the council’s free health check pop-up vans are touring local libraries every fortnight in July and August, offering free blood pressure checks and fitness consultations. While classes are capped, plans are underway to add more spots before spring if funding allows. And for anyone new to group fitness, Gold Coast’s instructors say there’s only one rule: show up with a pair of trainers and an open mind. Personal health advice is best sought from a local GP, but the Active & Healthy program is open to all, regardless of experience level or mobility.