30 years ago, I had a dream. That dream was to climb the highest mountain on the planet. 5 years ago, that dream became real when I was offered a chance to join an Australian team that was going. At that point in my life, I was 20kg overweight, I hadn't climbed for over 10 years, I had just gotten divorced (lost most of my assets and most of my access to my daughter) and so financially/mentally I wasn't in the best position - yet I grabbed the team slot. In just 11 months leading up, Joe transformed me both physically and mentally into the shape of my life. On the 23rd May 2010 at 8.30am, I stood on the summit of Mount Everest, and I owe that to Joe Bonington. Interestingly, Joe coached the entire Australian team and we put all 5 on the summit. Joe, you should be damned proud of yourself - that was the most successful Australian team ever in the history of Australians climbing Everest (to put 5 on the summit in one team). The world is full of talkers.... very few walk the talk; you do and your results speak louder than any words could. Joe, thank you, I am forever grateful for your guidance, wisdom and for kicking my arse to 29,028ft.

- Stephen Bock, Everest Summiteer

I go to this gym because it is not like any other gym. It doesn’t feel like a gym, which is a GOOD thing. It is a space to work on yourself whether it be a class or with a personal trainer or doing your own thing. It’s been over 12 months since Dave and I joined. Initially, our motivation was leg strength to go skiing. Best snow ever at Thredbo in 2017 and no injuries. Now, our twice-weekly gym sessions with a personal trainer are part of our way of life and it’s our thing we do together. I realised that at nearly 50 I could no longer rely on my past abilities/health to keep me healthy into the future. I needed to make more of an effort. For me personally I also had severe back pain, which set in post kids, about 7 years ago. I put up with it for a long time, saw plenty of health practitioners, did yoga, but it was just band-aid results. At Joe’s Basecamp, he put me onto a chiropractor who worked in with my strength training program. And guess what? Together, doing strength work and having the necessary soft tissue adjustments, I am on top of my back issues. 12 months on, I am part of the Joe’s Basecamp family. Find yourself a gym like this because if you want to be healthy and strong into your future years, you have to actually do something about it; but you don’t have to do it alone. Check out the Joe’s Basecamp family if you live on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

- Lisa Harris

Before I embark on the long trip home, I want to give a heartfelt shoutout to Joe Bonington. Maintaining motivation for climbing mountains across the other side of the world, when you live at sea level and spend a lot of your time in urban and transient environments that value body image aesthetics over physical functionality, can be tricky. But Joe has made it a delight (mostly *wink*) and the community who train with Joe are a rad bunch of not just dreamers, but doers - the ones who actually go to the Arctic Circle rather than ‘hope to’ or ‘would have gone if...’, they’re the ones who run ultra-marathons around the world regardless of their running speed, or mountain bike in remote wilderness locations. People who see beyond expectations and feel the air of the outdoors and adventure calling.

- Kate Baecher, Mountaineer, Adventurer, Psychologist

I just love the positive vibe and strong sense of community at Joe’s Basecamp. No matter what level of fitness you are at, you can join in and start your fitness journey. I’m definitely gaining a better quality of fitness again training with Joe and his team. After easing myself back into the gym at the start of this year, I’ve noticed improvement in my strength and endurance. I really look forward to getting up every morning at 5.30am to train; my friends and family think I'm mad but I truly feel better for it!

- Becky McManus, Cosmetics Business Consultant

Over the last 5 years, Joe has trained me for expeditions to the polar regions, climbs in the mountains of Patagonia and the Himalaya, desert crossings and jungle river journeys. Through personal experience, he knows what it takes to travel and explore the world’s remote areas and he brings this insight into his coaching. Joe’s Basecamp is not just a state-of-the-art training facility, it is also a community of likeminded people planning and preparing for adventures great and small. I train here to be inspired by the people around me and to inspire in return. The Basecamp is the fuel that keeps our adventurous fires burning. It opens the door to wild places.

- Gareth Andrews, Anaesthetist

“I found a unique specialist trainer/mentor in Joe, who was there for me every step of the way. I got a program that I was able to stick to and every bit of knowledge I needed to successfully achieve my goal of summiting Kilimanjaro. I was clearly better prepared than anyone on our expedition. Thanks Joe you are the best and everything that you are planning to provide fellow adventures this year is so exciting!”

- Heather Rickard – Mount Kilimanjaro