If you have not heard of pickleball yet, chances are you are about to.
The Australian Sports Commission has officially named it Australia’s fastest growing sport, and it is easy to see why. If you have teenagers who need to step away from a screen, a partner who keeps saying you should find something active to do together, or a group of friends who want a regular catch up that involves more than coffee, this could be exactly what you have been looking for.
And the best part? It is coming to Caringbah.
What is pickleball, exactly?
Think tennis, but on a smaller court, with a paddle instead of a racquet and a lightweight ball that moves at a pace most people can actually return. It is social, fast moving and genuinely funny in the early stages while everyone works out the rules. Then, before long, people are hooked.
It is also low impact, which makes it easier on the knees and more approachable for people getting back into exercise, playing sport later in life, or simply wanting something active that does not feel too hard to start.
One of the biggest drawcards is that it really is a sport for everyone. You, your mum, your teenager and your neighbour could all end up on the same court and have a good time.
More than 155,000 Australians are already playing, and the Sutherland Shire Pickleball Club has more than 640 members. This is not a passing trend. The sport has already built a strong following here, it has just been waiting for a proper home.
A new home for pickleball in the Shire
That home is about to arrive.
The Picklr is the world’s largest indoor pickleball brand, with more than 500 locations soldworldwide. In 2026, it will open its first Australian club at 7 Box Road, Caringbah, with another 49 locations to open across Australia and New Zealand following shortly thereafter.
The Picklr Cronulla will not be a makeshift court in a hall. It is a purpose built indoor facility with professional courts, structured programs for all levels, and a membership model that allows members to turn up and play as often as they like. No court hire. No booking scramble. Just a welcoming community built around the game.
It is also fully indoors, which means weather will not get in the way. When the rain rolls in, your plans do not have to fall apart with it.
General Manager Lara Giltinan, a touring professional pickleball player who has traded the international circuit for the Shire, sums it up well.
“Pickleball is the most inclusive sport I’ve ever played. It doesn’t matter if you’re picking up a paddle for the first time or you’ve been playing for years, you can walk on court and love it within an hour.”
How to get involved
The Picklr Cronulla is now taking registrations of interest ahead of its opening later this year. If you register your details, you will be among the first to hear about membership options, opening events and exclusive early access opportunities.
If you have been looking for a sport the family can do together, something social, easy to start and genuinely fun, this is one to keep on your radar.
Register your interest at www.thepicklr.au
