Rope Climbing at Urban Jungle
Reach new heights on Perth’s tallest indoor climbing walls! Urban Jungle’s rope climbing delivers an inclusive, thrilling experience for climbers of all ages and abilities. From your first clip into a harness, you’ll be supported—literally—by our state-of-the-art ropes and auto-belay systems. It’s not just about strength; rope climbing also tests your endurance, strategy, and trust in your climbing partner as you scale our walls.
Fast Facts
Sport climbing (which includes rope climbing/lead) made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020. As part of the combined format, lead climbing joined bouldering and speed to crown the world’s best all-round climbers. Aussie athletes Tom O’Halloran and Oceana Mackenzie represented Australia in this historic event
Introduction to Indoor Rope Climbing at Urban Jungle
At Urban Jungle, we offer a comprehensive indoor rope climbing experience that caters to climbers of all skill levels. Our facility boasts some of Perth’s tallest climbing walls, providing an unparalleled environment for both beginners and seasoned climbers to develop and refine their skills. If you’re new, our friendly staff will start you off with a safety induction and basic techniques. For veteran climbers, our wide variety of routes and heights ensures you are continuously challenged.
Interested in lead climbing?
Find out more about our lead courses and book one now.
What is rope climbing?
Simply put, rope climbing is climbing with a safety rope attached to you as you ascend. It can be done in different styles – typically top roping or lead climbing.
In top rope, the rope is already anchored at the top of the wall, and a partner (belayer) manages slack as you climb, catching you immediately if you slip.
In lead climbing, you tail the rope with you, clipping into quickdraws along the way. Want to learn lead? Join our courses here.
Either style challenges your endurance and technique as you push toward that final hold. Expect a full-body workout and a big sense of accomplishment when you hit the finish!
Our Climbing Walls
Our climbing walls reach impressive heights and are designed with a variety of features to simulate an outdoor rock environment. You’ll find vertical faces, bulging overhangs, delicate slabs, and even crack-style routes. Each route is graded using the Ewbank system, which is common in Australia, to indicate its difficulty. Whether you’re tackling an easy top-rope climb or a challenging lead route, you’ll experience the thrill of scaling new heights in a safe, controlled environment.
Inclusivity is key – rope climbing is for everyone—whether you’re a beginner or an experienced climber looking for a tough challenge. We have easier routes perfect for kids and newcomers, as well as beastly climbs that will test experienced climbers’ limits. No matter your level, you can enjoy rope climbing at your own pace, with encouragement from our community every step of the way.
Belay Styles at Urban Jungle
Urban Jungle provides three distinct belaying options to suit different preferences and situations:
Top rope
Ideal for beginners and casual climbers, top roping uses a rope anchored above the climb. The climber clips in at one end while a partner (belayer) manages the other, ensuring safety while you focus on your moves. It’s a great way to build confidence on the wall while your belayer has your back.
Auto-Belay Systems
No partner? No problem. Our gym features auto-belay devices on select routes. These systems automatically manage the rope, gently lowering you to the ground if you let go—perfect for solo training sessions or gaining endurence and practicing the moves.
Lead climbing
For a more advanced experience, lead climbing starts with the rope on the ground attached to your harness and you clip into fixed quickdraws as you ascend. This method, which has a longer fall potential between clips, is the closest simulation to outdoor sport climbing. Note that climbers must pass a lead assessment before trying this advanced style, ensuring that you’re fully prepared and using the best lead climbing practises.
Bridging Indoor and Outdoor Climbing
One big advantage of rope climbing indoors is how well it prepares you for climbing on real rock. The skills you develop at Urban Jungle – belay techniques, route reading, efficient clipping, and good communication – transfer directly to outdoor climbing. Think of the gym as a training ground where you can build strength and technique in a controlled setting. By practicing indoors, you’ll gain the confidence and competence needed to tackle natural crags, where anchors, heights, and exposure add new dimensions to the experience.
If you’re interested in venturing outdoors, it’s important to learn about crag safety, gear, and local climbing areas. A great resource is the Climbers Association of Western Australia (CAWA), the peak body for WA climbers. CAWA can connect you with guidebooks, outdoor courses, and community events – check out their website at climberswa.asn.au for information on getting started with outdoor climbing. We love seeing our members transition from plastic holds to real rock, and we encourage everyone to climb responsibly and respectfully in nature.
Our staff and students outdoors
Climbing Grades
At Urban Jungle, we use the Ewbank grading system, which has been widely adopted in Australia and New Zealand. Other common grading systems are the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), French, British, and UIAA. Our grade conversion chart makes it easy to follow Ewbank, which is arguably the simplest system to understand.
Competition Climbing
Rope climbing isn’t just for recreation—it’s also a competitive sport on the world stage. In competitions, known as lead climbing events, climbers have a time limit (6 minutes) to climb as high as possible. Starting from the ground with no prior practice, higher holds are worth more points, and the climber who reaches the highest point or completes the route in a shorter time wins. This format tests strength, on-sight route reading, and the ability to stay calm under pressure.
All international competitions are governed by the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC), which oversees World Cups, World Championships, and the Olympic format. Sport climbing’s Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 included lead climbing as part of a combined event (along with bouldering and speed). For the first time, we saw climbers on an Olympic wall, and it was a proud moment for Australia: Tom O’Halloran and Oceana Mackenzie climbed for Australia in Tokyo, marking our nation’s first Olympic appearance in the sport. Their journey to the Olympics started in gyms and local competitions much like those at Urban Jungle.
In Western Australia, Sport Climbing WA (SCWA) is the leading body for competitive climbing. SCWA not only organizes local competitions but also plays a crucial role in developing emerging talent and connecting climbers to the broader international scene. Their initiatives offer a clear pathway from the gym to global competitions, ensuring that WA’s climbing community remains vibrant and competitive.
Urban Jungle is proud to support aspiring champions by hosting local competitions and training squads. Whether you’re competing for fun or eyeing international events, every climb brings you one step closer to realizing your competitive potential.
Ready to climb?
Visit us at Urban Jungle—WA’s premier spot for all types of climbing!
Grades conversions
Check out other climbing options at Urban Jungle
FAQs
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No prior experience is necessary for top rope climbing. Our trained staff will provide an induction to all first-timers to Urban Jungle to ensure you understand the basics and can climb and belay safely.
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To become certified for lead climbing, you'll need to pass our lead assessment, which evaluates your ability to lead climb and belay safely. Lead assessments are available all the time. Please be mindful of possible waiting during peak hours.