2 /5 Michael D: I visited Derrimut 24:7 Port Melbourne while travelling from interstate Queensland as a Fitness Passport holder, and unfortunately, there were several issues that stood out during my visit.
Parking
First off, there is no allocated parking for the gym. You have to find street parking, which can be quite difficult in that area. For a gym of this size, I was surprised there was not at least some dedicated parking available.
Cleanliness and Hygiene
This was one of my main concerns. I noticed that more than half of the people training were not using towels, and there were no sanitation or wipe stations anywhere to clean the equipment between use. In this day and age, that is disappointing. On a positive note, the bathrooms were modern and clean, so credit where it is due.
Floor Space and Layout
The gym floor felt quite cramped. We struggled to even find a section to do walking lunges, which says a lot given how big the building is meant to be. There is certainly a lot of equipment, but it feels like quantity over quality. The brands are all mixed including Hammer Strength, Life Fitness, and a couple of others which makes the setup feel chaotic. There is no clear organisation, for example, all leg machines grouped together. Everything just seems scattered around randomly.
Cafe and Protein Bar
We tried to buy a protein shake after training, but the ladies behind the counter told us they had run out of nearly all ingredients, except for two very basic options. For a large modern gym, that is not a great look.
Payment Options
Another downside is that there are no cash payments allowed. You have to pay by card only, which I personally think is un-Australian. It is something that really annoys me when businesses refuse to accept legal tender.
Crowd and Atmosphere
We attended at about 3 p.m. on a Tuesday, which you would think would be off peak, but the place was absolutely packed. I would hate to imagine what it is like at 5 p.m. It was difficult to move around or get access to certain machines.
Staff and Management
Staff were okay. I would give them about 7 out of 10. They were polite but did not seem overly engaged. I asked if there was a manager around because I wanted to share some constructive feedback, but I was told the manager finishes at 2 p.m. For a busy facility like this, that just adds to the feeling that there is a lack of care or oversight.
Fitness Passport Holders
One positive I will note is that as a Fitness Passport member, I appreciated that they do not charge a tag or key fob fee. A lot of franchise gyms charge exorbitant prices just to access the facility, so credit where it is due. It is nice to see Derrimut not doing that.
Overall Impression
The gym looks good on the surface and has plenty of equipment, but the layout, cleanliness, and overall experience were disappointing. I was not impressed, and I doubt I would return.