Gyms

Les Mills: NZ’s Best Gym

Use it or lose it! Everybody knows the effects of a sedentary lifestyle and the detrimental effect it can have on health and wellbeing. But with the pressures of daily life, it’s often difficult to find time for fitness. That’s when being a member of a gym can help.

A gym membership is an instant, access-all-areas pass to a world of fitness. Whatever your gender, health and fitness goals or time constraints, there’s a gym membership to meet your needs.

But which gym to choose? Gym memberships are expensive, and facilities and equipment vary widely. As do levels of staffing and the general atmosphere of different gyms.

Indeed, in Canstar Blue’s latest research into the nation’s best gyms, three of the biggest grumbles made by gym members are about overcrowding, cleanliness and other annoying gym members.

So as part of our mission to inform consumers of the best NZ has to offer, this year Canstar Blue canvassed the opinions of 607 New Zealanders who regularly use their gym memberships, across a range of categories, to measure and track their satisfaction.

To decide which gym chain offers the best level of customer satisfaction, each was rated across the following categories:

• Atmosphere
• Equipment and Facilities
• Flexibility and Perks
• Staff Availability
• Value for Money

Coming out on top is Les Mills. The clear winner of Canstar Blue’s 2021 award for Most Satisfied Customers | Gyms, Les Mills is the only gym chain to achieve a top 5-Star award for Overall Satisfaction.

It’s a top score Les Mills replicates across all categories, except Value for Money, for which it earns a strong 3-star rating.

Behind Les Mills, three other chains stand out in this year’s award ratings: CityFitness, YMCA/Y Fitness and Anytime Fitness.

While all three earn 4-Star ratings for Overall Satisfaction, City Fitness is the only gym chain in this year’s ratings to earn a 5-Star rating for Value for Money.

What Kiwis Want From Their Gym Memberships

As we mention above, the state of a gym’s facilities are of paramount concern for members, as is the general atmosphere. There’s nothing worse than dirty, poorly maintained facilities, and too many people working out in an testosterone-fuelled, intimidating gym.

This is reflected in what those in our survey value most about their gyms. Equipment and Facilities are the biggest drivers of satisfaction (23%), while Value for Money (22%), and Atmosphere (21%) are close behind. Overall, the main drivers of satisfaction are:

Les Mills operates 12 gyms nationwide, in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Hutt Valley, Christchurch and Dunedin. At Les Mills you have a range of different membership options. The price depends on how long you commit to and which club(s) you can access.

A nationwide 12-month membership that allows you to use all Les Mills gyms is $29 p/w. On a 24-month contract it’s $26 p/w. A $29 joining fee applies. The membership covers:

• Les Mills At Home – streaming classes
• Unlimited Classes
• Free Passes for Friends
• Pause membership up to five weeks

Other membership options include:

• Discount for attending just one club: from $19.95-$28.50 p/w depending on the gym chosen
• Prepay option: pay one month at a time with no long-term contracts
• Student and corporate deals

All Les Mills memberships cover individual classes, e.g. yoga and spin. If you’re a woman and prefer to work out just with other women, you can do that, too, in some Les Mills gyms. There are women only areas at Les Mills Auckland City; New Lynn, Auckland; Hutt City; Taranaki Street, Wellington; Christchurch; and Dunedin.

So whether you’re already a gym bunny, or are just planning to start your fitness journey, why not check out Les Mills for your work out. As the winner of Canstar Blue’s award for Most Satisfied Customers | Gyms, you can rest assured that your six-pack and perfect pecs will come with satisfaction guaranteed.