New Climbing Gym Opens in “Sports and Fitness Hub of Bali”

Bouldering walls at Rock Island — *Last September, Rock Island opened in “the heart of Pererenan, Canggu, Bali,” the gym’s* *website* *says, as a way to provide locals and travelers with more indoor activities on the island. (All photos are courtesy of Rock Island)*

Rock Island
Bali, Indonesia

Specs: Rock Island, a mixed-discipline climbing gym in Bali, Indonesia, opened on September 21^st in the Kabupaten Badung regency and is reportedly Indonesia’s largest climbing gym, per the facility’s website. Rock Island Co-Founder and CEO, Ronald Karamoy, had previously co-founded a gym in Jakarta, Indonesia, and over the years has visited many climbing gyms with his wife, Prisca Adelina, the second Rock Island Co-Founder. A gym that they found particularly memorable was Kletterzentrum Innsbruck in Austria, where they loved the atmosphere and amenities. “They have speed, top rope, lead, bouldering, competition walls and [a] community hub all packed in one location, which is beautifully situated in the Tyrol [region],” Karamoy explained. “From beginner to athletes, outdoor to indoor climbers, all ages and backgrounds, the gym basically invites everyone to climb in that beautiful and massive gym.”

After leaving his previous gym, Karamoy and his family visited Bali, which sparked the idea of opening a gym on the island with a similar concept in mind. “We were having a casual discussion about how Bali is the perfect place for building a climbing gym like Kletterzentrum Innsbruck, albeit the smaller version, and we felt that Bali is beautiful in a different way, and that was the seed of Rock Island.”

Karamoy said he and Adelina found the resort village of Canggu in the Badung Regency “to be the liveliest area of all [in Bali], even during the early post-COVID area, even with all [the] travel restrictions.” And, combining that energy with “the reputation of Canggu being the sports and fitness hub of Bali, we [thought] that it was a no-brainer to start here,” he added.

Karamoy and Adelina presented the idea for the gym to the facility’s third Co-Founder, Dian Rosanti, who Karamoy said “is Bali-based, deeply connected within the local climbing community, and shares the same vision and passion.” She immediately came on board before construction began. The gym was built ground up in Pererenan, a coastal village located about 10 minutes by bike to the main Canggu area, with “many similar businesses in the sport and wellness industry” nearby, Karamoy continued. The build-out resulted in a full-service facility that has 1,013 square meters (10,904 square feet) of floor space and houses 803 square meters (8,643 square feet) of climbing wall surface.

Roped walls at the new climbing gym — According to Karamoy, planning for the new gym started in March 2024 and Rock Island launched as soon as the team could open the space, which features “everything from bouldering walls to top rope and lead routes up to 12 meters [39.4 feet] high,” their *website* *reads.*

In line with Karamoy’s vision of a version of Kletterzentrum Innsbruck fit to scale, the gym features 15 anchors for top rope climbing, 12 anchors for lead climbing, auto belays, and two floors of bouldering. While Rock Island is a family-friendly place, with rental options and beginner-friendly walls, the gym also offers training amenities, like a Kilter Board and strength training zone. Visitors can attend introductory climbing classes at the facility—including bouldering, lead and top rope classes—in addition to private coaching sessions. There is also a café, coworking space and retail area, which is expected to soon expand and offer more apparel and gear. “Beyond climbing, Rock Island is more than just a gym,” the website says. “It’s a social hub where locals, travelers, and the global climbing community come together.”

Another roped climbing area at Rock island — *Rock Island recently announced its Family Climbing Lab, where an* *Instagram post* *details that children and parents will take part in game-based practice to become “stronger and braver.”*

Walls: Walltopia
Flooring: Owner/contractor
CRM Software: GymRealm
Website: rockisland.id
Instagram: @RockIsland.ID

In Their Words: “Inclusivity and sustainability, they are very important to us. Indonesians have very different income levels compared to our average international customers and long-term residents. [Local pricing] helps keep the gym accessible for locals while keeping our business sustainable, and currently we are planning even more inclusivity programs for the locals.” – Ronald Karamoy, CEO and Co-Founder of Rock Island