The Canberra Climbers’ Association (CCA) was founded in 1998. Membership is steadily growing and CCA is now a respected body representing climbers’ interests across the ACT region. The CCA has a broad membership base and supports all types of climbing: rock climbing, mountaineering, sports climbing, aid climbing, etc.

The CCA aims to:

  • Promote the image of climbing in the ACT
  • Educate climbers and the public about climbing
  • Foster our local climbing areas
  • Provide social activities for ACT climbers
  • Maintain and ensure access to our crags with the help of local government agencies
  • Keep climbing safe by maintaining fixed protection.
Summer bouldering in the ACT region.
Summer bouldering in the ACT region.

Access and consultations

CCA is involved in many consultations with the ACT and NSW parks and conservation government services, about access to climbing areas. We work closely with the ACT Parks and Conservation Service to repair and maintain access tracks to climbing areas, particularly in the aftermath of bushfires.

Read more about CCA’s access and consultation work

Member activities

CCA members meet regularly to discuss local issues, catch up on recent exploits, as well as see and hear from a range of speakers about their climbing experiences in Australia and overseas. Members follow a diversity of climbing beliefs, styles and techniques, keeping the club lively. The CCA provides an opportunity for local climbers to network, organise trips and find new climbing partners.

Canberra climbers also get together on the CCA’s social climbing days, from visiting the traditional granite heartland of Booroomba Rocks to modern cragging around Canberra, as well as nearby areas such as Blue Lake in Kosciuszko National Park.

Calendar of CCA events

CCA committee

PresidentZac Zaharias
Vice PresidentBrian Mattick
SecretaryJohn Wilson
Treasurer & Membership SecretaryJack Pezzey
Public OfficerCostanza Maffi
Social Officer & Community Co-ordinatorsJanice Ho, Matthew Clark
Bouldering OfficerJames Lister
Website & Facebook ManagerCostanza Maffi
General MembersJustin Ryan, Rob Douglas, Peter Cunningham, Daniel Grant, Phil Thomas, Monty Nixon, Ben Hayes

First Nations sub-committee

The CCA’s First Nations sub-committee undertakes research on Indigenous cultural lore and how this impacts climbers in the ACT. The sub-committee also examines lessons learned from the Grampians, Arapiles, Nowra and other popular climbing areas in Australia that have been the subject of Traditional Owner claims under heritage/cultural protection banners, in order to inform the CCA’s aims and activities.

If you would like to be involved, please drop us a line via our website:

Contact us

Mt Coree, late afternoon