The Den
Coached strength and conditioning · Deakin · Since 2016
Forty-five minutes of mental stillness.
You can't think about anything except the rep you're in. The fitness is the byproduct.
- 10 years in Deakin
- 5.0 from 102 Google reviews
- Coached, every session
- No pool, no sauna, just a gym
- Free parking on site
- No lock-in contract
The Den Canberra is a coached strength and conditioning gym at 70 Kent Street, Deakin, open since January 2016 and rated 5.0 from 102 Google reviews. Every session is run by a coach who scales each movement to the person doing it, there is free on-site parking, and your first week is free.
Sessions built with zero impact
Train hard. Don't get hurt.
Most people over 35 don't stop training because it is hard. They stop because they get hurt. The programming here includes sessions built with zero impact, and in every session a coach watches the movement and scales it to your body, your injuries and your level.
Tell your coach about the back, the knee or the shoulder on day one. They will build the adjustment in rather than tell you to sit the round out.
It's impossible to get injured (this is what has pulled me away nearly every time from other gyms).
8 weeks in and no injuries, first time ever.
Coaching pedigree
A decade with the Raiders. A decade with the AFP. Now, you.
Head coach Mick Mackell has more than 35 years in strength, conditioning and injury rehabilitation coaching: ten years as Head Trainer of the Canberra Raiders, ten as head fitness coach for the Australian Federal Police, and strength and conditioning work with the Australian Under 21s rugby league team, the Brumbies, Vikings Rugby and state rugby league sides. He helped Nick Kyrgios rebuild strength and conditioning after injury and return to top-level competition, and Nick still trains here. The Den also runs strength and conditioning for the Canberra Capitals, the WNBL women's basketball side, and has done since 2025.
Mick co-owns The Den with Nicole Wellington, who brings her own coaching expertise and specialises in training women through peri- and post-menopause.
The pack
Members say it better than we can
Every word below is a verbatim Google review.
You never feel out of place, you are always supported by not only the Trainers, but the other gym junkies as well.
Avoid the chain/franchise gyms and try the Den great range of classes, class times and equipment & great trainers.
More exercise modalities, daily options and group training sessions than any other gym all with instructors who know what they are doing.
The board
Six to eight coached options, every slot.
20/10 intervals, metabolic conditioning, three weights splits, RAW Strength, Three2one, Dream Team, Primal, functional movement and Pilates, running side by side in every slot from 5:00am. The board changes weekly, so the session you did last Tuesday is not the one waiting for you this Tuesday.
Pick the session. The coach scales it to you.
Built for working Canberra
First class 5:00am. Trained, showered and at your desk by eight. Free parking at Equinox Business Park, coffee upstairs at the EQ Cafe. The 5:45am is the one that fills first, so book ahead for that slot.
Training through menopause
Nicole coaches women through peri- and post-menopause: strength work, sessions that respect recovery, and a room where you are not the oldest person in it.
Coached HIIT, not screen-timed HIIT
20 seconds on, 10 seconds off, on a board that changes weekly, built with zero impact so it does not cost you a knee.
FAQ
Questions people ask before they walk in
Do I need to be fit to start?
No. Most people are not fit when they start here. Every session is coached and every movement is scaled up or down to your level. Beginners and elite athletes train in the same class, and our reviews say it better than we can.
What happens in my first session?
Arrive about ten minutes early. A coach meets you, walks you through the format, checks on any injuries or health concerns and sets you up. You'll train in a pair, a small group or on your own, so there is always someone showing you the ropes. Bring a water bottle and a towel. We take care of everything else.
How much does membership cost?
$65 a week for unlimited classes and gym access. No joining fee, no lock-in contract, two weeks' notice to cancel. There is also a 10-session pass for $375, Fit for Teens at $29.50 a week, and casual visits at $40.
When are classes on?
Monday to Thursday from 5:00am, with six to eight class options in every slot and the last class at 5:30pm. Friday runs mornings only, finishing with the midday 20/10 MEGA. Saturday is 20/10 MEGA at 6:00am and 7:15am, both a full hour. Sunday is rest day.
Is there parking?
Yes, free on-site parking at Equinox Business Park, 70 Kent Street, Deakin. We're opposite Building 3, underneath the EQ Cafe, and there are plenty of free one-hour and two-hour bays.
What makes The Den different from a regular gym?
Every session is coached and supervised. Mick spent ten years as Head Trainer of the Canberra Raiders and ten as head fitness coach for the AFP, and the programming includes sessions built with zero impact. The Den has been in Deakin since January 2016, and a lot of the original members are still training.
Can I train with an injury or an old niggle?
Yes. Tell your coach and they'll adjust every movement around it. Plenty of members train with dodgy backs, knees and shoulders. We're coaches, not physios, so for anything medical see your GP or physio first. Then tell us any restrictions or suggestions they've given you and we'll build the adjustments in so you can come and train.
I'm in my late 40s or 50s. Is this for me?
Yes, and you won't be the odd one out. Nicole specialises in coaching women through peri- and post-menopause, and a big part of the membership is over 45. Read about training through menopause with Nicole.
Does The Den offer 24/7 access?
Yes, for full members. Ask us when you join and we'll sort it out.
I've never done weights before. Is that a problem?
No. Every session is coached and every movement is taught and scaled, so you learn technique with someone watching. Have a chat with us and we'll start you where you are.
Can you build a sport-specific program for my teenager?
Yes. Alongside Fit for Teens, we build sport-specific programs for teens who need one. Have a chat with us about what the sport needs and we'll work it out.
Seven days. Every class. Free.
No card, no contract, no sign-up fee. Train with the pack for a week and see if it fits. The trial is for Canberra locals genuinely looking for a gym home.